Two-Way Conversion Survey Shows We Have Work to Do

Transportation

Two-Way Conversion Survey Shows We Have Work to Do

By Ryan McGreal
Published February 26, 2013

CAA South Central Ontario has just released the results of a survey on Hamiltonians' feelings about two-way conversion.

Of the 400 people surveyed between November 14 and December 10, 2012, 57.8% said they do not support the two-way conversion of major east-west streets, while 37% support conversion and 5.3% are undecided.

Support for converting secondary north-south streets and downtown side streets was stronger, with only 38% and 40.5% opposed, respectively.

The survey indicates that we need to have a broader and more evidence-based discussion about two-way conversion. Half the people surveyed did not even know the city is considering converting streets back to two-way.

The most common reason not to support conversion, with 30.8% of respondents, was being "used to the one-way". Another 27.9% believe that conversion would cause "too much confusion".

Similar sentiments were widespread before converting James and John North to two-way in 2002, and again before converting James and John South to two-way in 2005. In both cases, the fears were proven to be unfounded. Drivers quickly learned how to drive on a two-way street, and the predictions of "gridlock" and "chaos" did not materialize.

It's clear that the CAA is correct in its assessment that the opposition to two-way conversion is mostly "emotional, not safety or financially founded".

It's worth noting that less than 20% said their reason for opposing two-way conversion was that one-way streets allow for "faster flow" of traffic. One of the major benefits of two-way conversion is that it balances traffic flow with safety and comfort for pedestrians, cyclists and local traffic.

Done correctly, two-way conversion does reduce high-speed traffic - but this is a good thing. Given the recent study from Toronto finding that traffic passing through a neighbourhood is a higher risk for pedestrian collisions than local traffic, it is particularly important that we re-tune our streets so that they are safer and more welcoming for their communities.

Other reasons not to support conversion were: "waste of taxpayers money" (9.6%), "greater chance of accidents" (5.8%), "roads are too narrow" (3.8%), and "one-way is safer" (3.8%).

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

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By slodrive (registered) | Posted February 26, 2013 at 12:22:24

If this is an 'across Hamilton' survey, this isn't much surprise. My guess would be that my fellow 'burbanites have little understanding of one way vs. two way. So, their only interaction is the convenience of speeding through the city. To them, the status quo is fine.

All but those in downtown/ lower city neighbourhoods may widely hold this opinion...since, the topic is a bit outside their usual scope of interests - generally speaking, anyway.

Personally, I think this is more of a decision that should be made at the neighbourhood level. I don't really see how asking someone in Ancaster or Flamborough, (even 'city-of' moutainers, for that matter) should have an equal say on this matter...the way, I assume, a survey would have done.

I generally assume I'm one of the rare members of Lloyd Ferguson-land who sees the merits/ benefits of making downtown more liveable and walkable.

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