tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777096.post1578556330383692353..comments2023-11-02T05:16:59.191-04:00Comments on Briques du Neige: Une Brigade TrottoirOlmanFeelyushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521657876810568251noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777096.post-49470490264698119962009-12-10T10:04:49.798-05:002009-12-10T10:04:49.798-05:00I was under the impression that the plan was to sc...I was under the impression that the plan was to scale back 'snow removal' on weekends and all the overtime that entails - but not 'plowing the streets' which in my mind would mean that the streets would be passable as usual and therefore the 'emergency argument' doesn't really come into play.Red Devilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17689551523307435198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777096.post-24316996259953585832009-12-06T11:11:06.842-05:002009-12-06T11:11:06.842-05:00Not at all. My argument is based on the realisatio...Not at all. My argument is based on the realisation that there is a trade-off to be had. Sure, the EMT crew can run up the street to the house with their stretcher and defibrelator, and then trundle the victim back down the street into the ambulance. More people will die (but not from smog).<br /><br />The meals on wheels people can surely walk. Many more of them will be needed, of course, to cover the routes, but volunteers are a dime a dozen, so why not.<br /><br />And so what if the fire engine can't reach the duplex with its hoses. It's not like fires spread from one building to another, so the who cares if a building burns down. Fires aren't all that frequent, so I'm sure there would only be a few additional deaths and the insurance rates wouldn't go up much. Probably there will be less air polution caused by burning buidings than by the cars that were once on the road.<br /><br />My argument is not at all based on the assumption that people can't transport THEMSELVES. It's based on the assumption that emergency services, contractors, and delivery people can't transport their tools and goods in a timely fashion (or ven at all in the case of heavy items) without a road network. We can restict or deny these people access to the roads, but there will be a trade-off and it isn't one that I think most people will want to make.<br /><br />Maybe in an emergency you can't protect against every eventuality, but you can certainly protect against this one.<br /><br />Wouldn't it just be way easier to charge people for driving their cars in the city, like they do in London?<br /><br />BTW I liked your piece on the food at the airport. Montreal is a culinary destination and should put its best foot forward in this regard. Maybe next time, though, you could do a piece about the food at the train station.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777096.post-51979249745944320122009-12-05T21:47:37.956-05:002009-12-05T21:47:37.956-05:00Ah yes, the classic "emergency" argument...Ah yes, the classic "emergency" argument. Shit happens. People die. You can't protect against every eventuality. There are so many factors in an emergency situation, that you can never rule out all of them. So an ambulance has to park on the end of the block and the EMT's have to run to the house in the middle of the block. They lose 5 minutes. Maybe they lose 5 minutes if the front door is locked. We should now force everyone to keep their doors unlocked? <br /><br />And can't the Meals on Wheels people walk the meals to their clients houses? <br /><br />Anonymous, your entire argument is based on the assumption that human beings are not capable of transporting themselves without cars. It is a mode of thinking that we need to get ourselves out of and this brave move by the new mayor of the Plateau is a small step in that direction.OlmanFeelyushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17521657876810568251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777096.post-46312785110859788762009-12-04T10:39:58.767-05:002009-12-04T10:39:58.767-05:00I guess the people who need meals on wheels or hav...I guess the people who need meals on wheels or have heart attacks in their homes early sunday morning are out of luck if the drivers can't get through. Yeah - count one victory for the pedestrian - woo hoo!<br /><br />A lot of people forget that the roads are used by more than just rich commuters, and while the desire to get casual drivers off the road and into subways is laudable, keeping the roads clogged with snow doesn't seem like the best way to go about it. Sure, maybe most people don't NEED to be driving, but some of those that do need to drive REALLY NEED to get through in a hurry.<br /><br />Not clearing snow from the streets on the weekend seem very ill-considered.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777096.post-92093096172442881362009-11-28T16:57:31.646-05:002009-11-28T16:57:31.646-05:00Looks like Vancouver is joining the trend:
"...Looks like Vancouver is joining the trend:<br /><br />"The City of Vancouver is considering a proposal to force all homeowners in the city to remove snow from their sidewalks.<br /><br />Already, owners of properties in the downtown core and multi-unit residential properties outside the downtown — such as condominium and apartment buildings — are required to keep their sidewalks snow-free.<br /><br />"What we're proposing is that council consider expanding that bylaw to include all properties," said assistant city engineer Neal Carley. "So even single-family residences and duplexes would then be required to shovel their sidewalks."<br /><br />http://bit.ly/7p4NGiJason Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669997643023511165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777096.post-8189232013686902172009-11-26T09:14:14.447-05:002009-11-26T09:14:14.447-05:00Hi WalkerP
I'm happy you understand the issue...Hi WalkerP<br /><br />I'm happy you understand the issue and decided to write about it so eloquently! <br /><br />On a different note, if you want to stay in touch with our activities and discover ways to volunteer, the best way is to become a member and let us know what type of stuff you like to do: http://www.projetmontreal.org/join/<br /><br />Cheers, and hope to get to meet you! (and good luck with the language battle - I know it's not always easy)<br /><br />Caroline<br />Community Manager at Projet Montréal<br />www.twitter.com/projetmontreal - official<br />www.twitter.com/lapinsec - personalCaroline Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14032409047280116449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777096.post-21674172410010901232009-11-25T09:06:11.274-05:002009-11-25T09:06:11.274-05:00Such a shame Richard didn't get the whole city...Such a shame Richard didn't get the whole city. Can you imagine the difference?Christian Jarryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00123215287069440139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777096.post-63755929108037459612009-11-25T08:45:49.496-05:002009-11-25T08:45:49.496-05:00Si seulement j'étais un dessinateur j'aura...Si seulement j'étais un dessinateur j'aurais quelques idées de caricatures pour cette info :)boulethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08713530459856030736noreply@blogger.com