Updates from November, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Kate 20:39 on 2019-11-18 Permalink | Reply  

    On Monday, the mayor honoured Erick Marciano, the driver who used his SUV last week to protect pedestrians from a driver fleeing police, with a certificate and a ceremony involving signing the city book.

     
    • Kate 12:55 on 2019-11-18 Permalink | Reply  

      Rosemont borough is responding to the recent report of negligent drivers on its busiest streets by adding more stop signs.

      (Radio-Canada cites 18 pedestrian deaths this year, although the mayor mentioned 19 in her statement last week.)

       
      • CE 16:50 on 2019-11-18 Permalink

        I’m in Parc-Ex so not the same borough but they’ve been putting in new stop signs, speed bumps, and pedestrian signals at traffic lights and I feel like it’s making a difference.

        Even though it’s a minor street, crossing Ogilvy at Birnam was difficult before the new stop sign because so many cars would be racing to get to Acadie before the light changed. Now they have to wait if you want to cross and it’s a lot easier and safer. They put a speed bump right in front of my building a few months ago and the number of cars speeding down my block has decreased dramatically. That and the cars can’t overtake me as quickly when I’m on my bike, which is nice.

        Now if only they’d do something about Jean-Talon. It would be nice not having a four lane street that people treat like a highway running through my neighbourhood!

      • Raymond Lutz 08:21 on 2019-11-19 Permalink

        Stupid speed bumps! FCS, if I take my car, it’s because I’m late! Get out of my way, pinkos.

        I’m fed up: I’m ordering a Bose electromagnetic suspension kit for my Macan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KPYIaks1UY

      • qatzelok 11:54 on 2019-11-19 Permalink

        I’m with Raymond here. If I am driving a large, powerful car, it’s because I’m in more of a hurry than all those schlep weaklings who are either wasting time on bicycles or wearing shoes which touch the ground as they “walk.”

      • Jack 13:46 on 2019-11-19 Permalink

        I want to be positive but when our police chief said it’s all about “education” I lost some faith.
        Here is what are police force puts out.
        https://spvm.qc.ca/fr/Fiches/Details/Securite-des-pietons
        It reads like wear orange and a flashing light on top of your head and have world class sprinting speed and you will survive crossing the street.
        I think what will work is coercion, built in enforcement and large fines directed at automobiles.They do the killing and not vice versa.

      • Tim S. 13:05 on 2019-11-20 Permalink

        Today, I noticed police monitoring the crosswalk outside my child’s school – first time I’ve seen that in 5 years. Hopefully it’s part of the new policy and not simply a coincidence.

    • Kate 09:06 on 2019-11-18 Permalink | Reply  

      City hall is promising to give pedestrians more time to cross certain streets with particular attention to crossings near hospitals, schools and daycares. This story is being reported in advance of a full announcement later Monday, so more details are to come.

      Update: the city is promising pedestrian lights to be added to all locations that have regular traffic lights now.

       
      • ant6n 10:50 on 2019-11-18 Permalink

        I’d say the better way to improve walkabaility, at least at intersections where streets aren’t so wide, is to reduce all traffic light times. Basically, people don’t want to wait at a red light. Whereas cars like very long green-phases. If you go to places like Zurich, you’ll not extremely short traffic light cycles.

      • Bill Binns 12:25 on 2019-11-18 Permalink

        A couple of years ago they changed the timing of the signals on Sherbrooke E in front of LaFontaine park. I don’t think the pedestrian signal is any longer but for the first 5 seconds or so, no cars move at all. This allows pedestrians to get out into the middle of the street and be seen before turning car traffic starts moving. Really makes all the difference in the world.

      • PO 19:14 on 2019-11-18 Permalink

        @Bill: in a lot of intersections without the pedestrian sign, the lights start out at “forward green arrow” indicating only driving forward, no turns. Then it switches to a full green, and drivers can turn, but pedestrians have already had a chance to make their way into the road. You’re right, it’s a good feature. If the city intends to add pedestrian lights at all traffic lights, hopefully they use this delayed configuration.

    • Kate 08:58 on 2019-11-18 Permalink | Reply  

      A nice piece on a New York blog visits Montreal and looks at our Art Deco buildings. The photos are a little heavily zoomed and cropped but, besides obvious entries like the Aldred building and the UdeM tower, the piece reminds us of buildings we see all the time that were conceived in that spirit.

       
      • Blork 10:44 on 2019-11-18 Permalink

        Years ago I noticed that many of the otherwise unassuming apartment blocks in Côte-des-Neiges have Art Deco entrances. Most are pretty subtle, but there are a few outstanding ones. Of course now that I’m trying to find examples I’m coming up short, but they’re there if you look.

        OK here’s one. Subtle, and the rest of the building is unremarkable, but it’s nice that some thought was put into the entrance; something the residents pass through every day when they are arriving at home:

        https://goo.gl/maps/e9Uwdvi1N83YQyxi6

      • Orr 19:36 on 2019-11-22 Permalink

        The book Northern Deco covers local Art Deco in some detail.
        https://cap.banq.qc.ca/notice?id=p::usmarcdef_0000498578

    • Kate 08:47 on 2019-11-18 Permalink | Reply  

      Although this week will be milder than last, in general we’re all facing a long, cold, snowy winter according to a Weather Network forecast.

       
      • Bill Binns 12:33 on 2019-11-18 Permalink

        I feel like winter came on super suddenly this year. We usually have that overlap period with a few small snow events that quickly melt away, a few warm days, some rain etc. Right now it’s looking like the first snowfall of the season is still going to be on the ground in March.

      • Mark Côté 13:41 on 2019-11-18 Permalink

        I was just thinking “at least maybe a steadily cold winter will mean less ice on the sidewalks”, and then immediately read this: “there will be a mix of precipitation. That means rain could often wash out snow after large dumps, and that there could be potential for icy conditions.” Ughhhhh

      • Tim S. 17:44 on 2019-11-18 Permalink

        Didn’t they also predict a cool, rainy summer?

      • Janet 19:59 on 2019-11-18 Permalink

        Went xcountry skiing today (in the Townships; don’t know what it’s like up on the Mountain). That seems a very early start to me. But if you can’t escape it, embrace it.

    • Kate 08:43 on 2019-11-18 Permalink | Reply  

      The blue line is down and will be down till 8 because of smoke in the tunnel.

      Update: It’s back.

       
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