Tuesday, 22 september was "In town without my car !" day , 2009 edition.
On that day, my mother, who is 87 years old, went downtown for an very important appointment on University street. But she has not heard of that event. You know, even if she would have heard the news, she would not have understood the real meaning of this event "In town without my car !".
She has difficulty to walk and she must use the Paratransit service. They came to get her on time for her appointment but they were not there when she wanted to return at the noon hour because streets were closed. Well, it seems to me that someone of paratransit services could have advised her when she took her appointments, 3 days before.
There was no question that she takes the subway. She had to go outside the perimeter and try to find a taxi but this was very hard for her, she felt so much disoriented and besides that, she had problems to walk. From downtown to her apartment in the west, had cost her $40.00 of taxi. This is a lot of money for her.
"The main idea behind this campaign is to encourage the use of alternative forms of transport and travel and to raise awareness within the community of what is at stake with regards to long term mobility in towns and the risks connected with pollution."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_town,_without_my_car!
Does she care? my mother!
What is the idea of closing an entire perimeter to traffic. Does it really reduce traffic? Perhaps, in this perimeter, but what about all outside? My opinion is that it's even worse, because a car will have to make several turns around the perimeter to try to find a parking space becoming more scarce.
And turn the engine turns to go around, and oops! it is a oneway street oops! You have returned to your starting point, we'll try the other side!
Many people will comply, those who can travel with the Metro or have an easy route. But those who have no choice to take the car, consultants, delivery vehicles, persons with disabilities, is there an alternative for them? My mother could not take a "biki". It should also be a good idea to provide three-wheel bycicle Taxi like in Beijing.
The day without cars, it's just smoke and mirrors. If we really want to fight against air pollution and also improve the quality of city life, we should have make a free day of public transport for everybody. City administrators would be very surprised with the results, but maybe it's too simple.
Gelisa
On that day, my mother, who is 87 years old, went downtown for an very important appointment on University street. But she has not heard of that event. You know, even if she would have heard the news, she would not have understood the real meaning of this event "In town without my car !".
She has difficulty to walk and she must use the Paratransit service. They came to get her on time for her appointment but they were not there when she wanted to return at the noon hour because streets were closed. Well, it seems to me that someone of paratransit services could have advised her when she took her appointments, 3 days before.
There was no question that she takes the subway. She had to go outside the perimeter and try to find a taxi but this was very hard for her, she felt so much disoriented and besides that, she had problems to walk. From downtown to her apartment in the west, had cost her $40.00 of taxi. This is a lot of money for her.
"The main idea behind this campaign is to encourage the use of alternative forms of transport and travel and to raise awareness within the community of what is at stake with regards to long term mobility in towns and the risks connected with pollution."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_town,_without_my_car!
Does she care? my mother!
What is the idea of closing an entire perimeter to traffic. Does it really reduce traffic? Perhaps, in this perimeter, but what about all outside? My opinion is that it's even worse, because a car will have to make several turns around the perimeter to try to find a parking space becoming more scarce.
And turn the engine turns to go around, and oops! it is a oneway street oops! You have returned to your starting point, we'll try the other side!
Many people will comply, those who can travel with the Metro or have an easy route. But those who have no choice to take the car, consultants, delivery vehicles, persons with disabilities, is there an alternative for them? My mother could not take a "biki". It should also be a good idea to provide three-wheel bycicle Taxi like in Beijing.
The day without cars, it's just smoke and mirrors. If we really want to fight against air pollution and also improve the quality of city life, we should have make a free day of public transport for everybody. City administrators would be very surprised with the results, but maybe it's too simple.
Gelisa
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