Walkability Fail

Walkability Fail on Main Street West

By Ryan McGreal
Published October 01, 2013

There is no pedestrian crossing on Main Street West just this side of Ancaster, between 1950 Main West (across from White Chapel Cemetery) and Whitney Avenue, a distance of 500 metres.

There are several large multi-unit dwellings on the west side of the street, including senior citizens' apartment buildings.

There are also three bus stops between the two crosswalks on both sides of the street, including a bus stop right at the centrepoint between them. A transit rider getting off an eastbound bus who lives in the building at #1884 has to walk a 500 m round-trip on a narrow sidewalk to either crosswalk just to cross the street.

Senior citizens walking are the most vulnerable road users, as evidenced by the Ontario Coroner's Report on Pedestrians and the spate of tragic pedestrian collisions involving seniors over the past year.

No residential neighbourhood - and especially not a high-density residential neighbourhood with a high concentration of seniors - should have a 500 m stretch of arterial roadway with no pedestrian crossings.

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 Pxtl (registered) - website | Posted October 01, 2013 at 14:39:59

Following up on previous walkability fails: the http://ForWard1.ca participatory budgeting process is up for vote now. It includes several crossings, including pedestrianization of the Dundurn/King/Main mess.

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By Joshua as Anon (anonymous) | Posted October 01, 2013 at 14:50:53

It sounds like Fennell Avenue between Upper James Street and Clarendon Avenue.

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By PearlStreet (registered) | Posted October 01, 2013 at 21:46:50

Good business for the cemetery!

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By Vod Kann (anonymous) | Posted October 04, 2013 at 14:44:07 in reply to Comment 92837

Ah yes that IS hilarious....

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