Frosty Tuesday, Oct 27th, '26...

[Andrew Shadow]

Sounds rather abusive. I'll bet that if the politicians are asked if they are waging a war against automobiles they all indignantly deny that they are. Their actions would seem to indicate otherwise.

Our previous mayor was implementing similar policies and all the while she was denying waging a war against automobiles. If your policies constantly restrict people's ability to use their automobiles all over the city, purposely introduce measures that significantly reduce the capacity of long existing road networks, increasingly make it more and more difficult for people to get to businesses using their cars resulting in those businesses struggling financially, make it increasingly difficult for trucks to deliver goods to those businesses increasing those delivery costs, it certainly makes people believe that there is a hostile agenda against automobiles by the city administration not matter how much it is denied. If it walks like a duck ......!

 

[Weaselinsuit]

I'll wade in as the lone contrarian. I think it makes sense for cities to discourage automobile use in their centres. Transit, as long as it's well done (I know, I know, dare to dream) is much more efficient. A great example are the trains to the airport in both Toronto and Vancouver from their respective city centres. Much more efficient, and frankly pleasant, than trying the drive.

We are too car dependent and I say that as someone who loves to drive/ride, so my hypocrisy is on full display.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

I think it makes sense for cities to discourage automobile use in their centres.

That is a separate debate. Even if that is the goal the policies being enacted are not the way to do achieve it. I am not against mass transit. In fact I selfishly figure that the more mass transit there is the better it is for me because there will be that many fewer cars on the road, so bring it on I say. These policies go far beyond simply trying to get people to take mass transit however. It is as much about about social engineering, something that they were not elected for. You would not believe some of the things that the previous mayor did, many of which backfired spectacularly on her.

Due to the impact of many of her policies I avoid going downtown like the plague. Everyone who I know avoids going downtown like the plague for the same reasons. There are regular stories on the local news about businesses in the downtown core that are struggling and that are closing in no small part because their customers have abandoned them because it has simply become to difficult to patronize these businesses. She is gone now but the damage has been done. Businesses in the suburbs have seized the opportunity and have taken over providing the retail and services that people used to get downtown. Those customers are not going back downtown no matter what changes. Continuing down this path will achieve the goal of having many fewer cars in the downtown core because no one will be going there be it by car or mass transit.