Comment 80828

By highwater (registered) | Posted September 11, 2012 at 12:23:57

Couple of thoughts here. First, there may have been method in their madness. Yes, McHattie has a great track record for stick-handling contentious issues, but he has also never shied away from being provocative. As a result of this motion, there are alot of angry, galvanized two-way supporters who are more committed than ever to moving this issue forward sooner rather than later. In addition, because some of their colleagues were caught off-guard, they are now on record as saying some pretty bone-headed things in support of one-ways that they will need to walk back if they want to be taken seriously as the debate moves forward.

It was an inherently risky move. Could it have been handled better? In retrospect, yes. Has it set the cause of two-way reversion back? IMO, no. What we need to do now, is channel the anger and frustration into a new, and hopefully relatively unified, narrative.

My second thought isn't so optimistic. I am at a bit of a loss as to what this new narrative ought to be. In order to convince people that a revitalized downtown will increase tax revenues, you must first convince them that two-way reversion is a key part of this revitalization, a Herculean task given that many one-way proponents stand firm in their belief that the reversions of James and John have been utter failures that have made downtown worse, not better.

Nor do arguments of fairness and equity resonate with many. A new twist on the debate has emerged in the fever swamps of the Spec comment sections. Some pro one-way commenters concede that the quality of life on two-way streets is superior to that of one-ways, but declare that lower city residents have only themselves to blame, and if they don't like it they should move.

The death grip so many people have on one-ways in this city is a mystery to me, but as Jason rightly points out, it is tightly bound with tales of the fearsome 'Gridlock'. I'm having trouble conceiving what form the vorpal sword should take, and if it could ever do more than shake loose a handful of engaged, open-minded citizens.

Comment edited by highwater on 2012-09-11 12:28:04

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