Raise the Hammer

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.

I don`t recall the CAA came and aske me that question ... and after alll the CAA are looking to make more money with one-ways

Oh and the CAA come and aske that survey in the neyborhoods of wards 1 to 4

Wow...so only 9% of the reasons opposing the two-way conversions are safety-based. The rest are pure hilarity. My favourite is the 31% who are 'used to the one-ways'. If 31% of these 400 people live AND work AND shop AND do all of their living 365 days a year exclusively on one-way streets, then this is a valid answer. If any of them live, or shop, walk or work on two-way streets, these results should be voided, because apparently they are also "used to" two-way streets.

How does the CAA possibly make more money off one way streets?

Some digging deeper into the numbers has some great info for us. 64% of those 18-24 support converting our east/west streets. 63% of those over 65 don't. The city would be wise to prepare for the future.

it has nothing to do with my point of view, and everything to do with making decisions based on facts, not someone's preference. We're holding up an awful lot of potential new business, investment, tax assessment, population growth, tourism, quality of life, safety, liveability, vibrancy and revitalization for some people's "personal preference".

I don't care if they put in roundabouts in Ancaster, why would someone in Ancaster care if Herkimer is one way? This is a strange survey to not break down further than the city level.

Easier to change opinion than previously thought. City council simply has to craft policy that privileges facts, logic and reason over emotion.

clearly this guy isn't from Hamilton, or doesn't follow our political scene. Almost every decision is made based on emotional responses and not financial or safety concerns.

Craft it, and then follow up with votes to support it. We have lots of sound, progressive policies on the books, but falter when it comes time to muster the political will to implement them.

I was encouraged by this survey too. Not just the numbers, but the fact that what is essentially a lobby group for motorists, is stressing the fact that the objections to two-way on the east/west arteries are largely emotional and therefore open to change.

It may be that the CAA realizes that two-way streets can benefit motorists as well. Either way, it's nice to see them getting involved on this issue and taking a relatively progressive stance.

Comment edited by highwater on 2013-02-27 10:20:37

My point exactly.

Comment edited by slodrive on 2013-02-27 11:52:23

Surprising results on the admittedly unscientific Spec poll too.

The CAA are interested in reducing accidents too, as an insurance company, less risk is better for business, and as experience has illustrated, two-way streets tend to be safer with fewer accidents.

John is actually the chair of the Chamber's transportation committee and the joint LRT task force.

Hamilton has a terrific accident rate. One of the best in Canada. I believe that this is in a great part due to our one way street network. With one way streets there is traffic from one direction only making it easier to see what is happening for both drivers and pedestrians. Reducing the directions of traffic at any intersection has to make decision making easier for everybody involved.

If safety is the basis of your desire to change to a two way network I believe you are way off base.

See my comment above and that might throw some light why many of the village elders know that converting our roads to 2 way just will not accomplish what you want.

Let the downvoting begin.

You are so out of touch it's not even funny.

In every successful city, there is a price premium on downtown detached homes. In fact, the land is so valuable, that their very existence is sparse.

Hamilton is the exception to the rule. The fact that our downtown streets make for totally unlivable neighbourhoods is a huge part of the problem.

No one is saying that two way conversions are the single silver bullet solution to the problems facing our core, but creating livable streets and neighbouhoods is the number-one thing we need to do in order to bring people back downtown. And re-thinking our one way through streets is the first step to livability.

When your generation dies off, Hamilton will have a chance at success again.

aye kan cee awl uv thum comming aout uv thuh would werks two