Parking-gate: PQ minister takes aim at Jewish ‘parking tolerance’

How lucky we are that the PQ isn’t in charge of parking.

That didn’t stop PQ Democratic Institutions Minister Bernard Drainville from coming up with the latest moronic notion of what parking rules would look like in an independent Quebec where the PQ would control everything from pasta on menus to the language kids may use while playing in the schoolyard.

PQ parking rules would never accommodate any Jew whose religion prohibits him or her from driving on a holiday. But G-d forbid that Quebec would ever remove the display of Christmas trees, or close roads for a Santa Claus parade or remove the crucifix from the National Assembly. Not to mention other tolerances such as road closures for the St. Patrick parade or Italian festival or any number of multi-cultural or religious festivities enjoyed by hundreds of thousands across Montreal. Secularism in the PQ’s Quebec is one way, against “les autres”.

The PQ doesn’t miss a chance to insult or denigrate one minority or another in its pursuit of linguistic purity and uni-culturalism. Whether it’s parking, playgrounds or pasta this mean-spirited and ill-advised government has shone a light on itself for the world to see.

Does parking tolerance here or there threaten the French language any more than a christmas tree threatens Judaism?

The vast majority of Quebecers know that accommodation is reasonable, that tolerance is welcoming. The PQ should figure it out too. Live and let live. Park and let park.

Read more:

PQ minister takes aim at Jewish ‘parking tolerance’ in apparent attempt to inflame Quebecers | Full Comment | National Post.

Related articles

• PQ minister nixes parking accommodation for observant Jews (cbc.ca)
• PQ minister riled up over street-cleaning delays on Jewish holiday (montreal.ctvnews.ca)
• Rotrand calls eased parking restrictions on Jewish holiday ‘a Montreal value’ (cbc.ca)

Yield signs will replace stop signs in Beaconsfield

Less frustration for motorists.  Less pollution in our neighbourhoods. Still safe for pedestrians. Good idea or madness?

Beaconsfield will soon be replacing stop signs with yield signs, improving the flow of traffic on their side streets. This somewhat off-beat sounding method is the norm in many jurisdictions outside of Quebec.

When I first saw this kind of setup 25 years ago in Winnipeg I thought it was kukoo.  But lately we’re seeing roundabouts make an appearance in Quebec and so this yield sign craze might just take off too.

Can it work in Cote Saint-Luc? It’s worth watching Beaconsfield and studying the situation here at home.  I’ll be bringing this idea to our Transportation committee to ask our experts what they think.

Meanwhile, what do you think?  Please offer your input by clicking comment.

Read the Gazette article here: Yield signs will replace stop signs in Beaconsfield | West Island Gazette.

Public Security agents enforcing local bylaws

Cote Saint-Luc Public Security officer Jean-Noel Champagne

While I’m often asked about the issuance of tickets in Cote Saint-Luc it can be said that many of thee are a voluntary tax.  If motorists respect the bylaws that are in place for the safety and security of all there would hardly be a need to issue a ticket in the first place.

That said, the CSL Public Security department issues hundreds of tickets each month for vehicles parked in handicap spots without the required permit, parking in emergency lanes (the area marked as no parking in reserve for fire trucks and other emergency responders in front of buildings), parking in bus stops or otherwise blocking traffic.

CSL PS routinely patrols school zones (in fact they’re at a different local school every morning) along with the Montreal Police Department. Day in and out there are parents illegally parked in front of schools making it more dangerous for all the kids going to and coming from school.  The schools as well as parents and local residents regularly ask for increased patrols and enforcement in these important spots.

CSL PS only issues tickets for non-moving violations and other municipal bylaws.  The police are uniquely mandated to enforce moving violations under the Quebec Highway Safety Act.

For more information on municipal bylaws including parking, traffic and public safety, click here.  Obey the signs and rules of the road and save yourself the cost of an unnecessary ticket.

International Driving Permit (IDP) in Florida: CAA-Quebec confirms the law’s repeal

International Driving Permit (IDP) in Florida: CAA-Quebec confirms the law’s repeal

 

QUEBEC CITY, April 2, 2013 – Now that Florida authorities have finally set aside the new requirement for all foreign drivers to hold a valid International Driving Permit (IDP), CAA-Quebec is pleased and relieved to see that the efforts of recent weeks have paid off. In fact, the Governor of Florida signed just today the document officializing the legislative changes.

 

“We welcome this return to normal and wish to inform all Quebecers who are preparing for a stay in Florida that there is no longer a legal obligation to have an IDP to drive there,” says Sophie Gagnon, Assistant Vice President, Public and Government Relations, for CAA-Quebec. In February the organization learned, to its great astonishment, about the quiet introduction of this measure effective January 1, 2013, with no prior announcement.

 

CAA-Quebec quickly reacted, joining forces with the Canadian and American Automobile Associations (CAA/AAA) to condemn this measure and have it changed. Today, it is delighted with this turnabout, which demonstrates that Sunshine State authorities are giving due consideration to the importance of the many visitors — including hundreds of thousands of Quebecers — to its large tourism industry.

 

“The adoption and implementation of this legislative change creates a much clearer and more reassuring context than the tolerance that local authorities had been asking for, up to now, from those responsible for enforcing the law,” Ms. Gagnon explains. “The CAA in fact reported some isolated cases of people having had problems because of this situation. So we are very satisfied and can assert that CAA-Quebec contributed to this happy outcome by taking part in the decisive joint action of the CAA and AAA.”

 

The IDP is a piece of identification that complements a local driving licence and that serves essentially as a recognized official translation in some 10 languages. It is very useful — and even mandatory — for many destinations. CAA-Quebec is the organization authorized by the government to issue IDPs in Quebec.

 

CAA-Quebec, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1904, provides automotive, travel, residential and financial services and privileges to its 1,210,000 members.

 

Police nabbing CSL motorists in Hampstead

Hampstead’s maze of nonsensical traffic signs continue to frustrate many West End motorists, particularly Cote Saint-Lucers.

Today, for at least the third time in a month, the Montreal police traffic squad is handing out tickets to those who do not calculate the permissible turning times off of Fleet.

Motorists know just how confusing the contradictory signs placed by the Town of Hampstead can be.  Some intersections allow turning at various intervals (green circle signs) while others prohibit turning during other intervals (red circle signs).  The text size is also very small and text heavy.

Police officers hide their cars so that they cannot be seen when turning off of Fleet.  Some officers have been from the traffic division (cars bearing the number 60) while most have been from Station 9.

Hampstead residents have been on the hook too as some have been nabbed at Belsize and Netherwood where the sign forces motorists to turn toward Fleet rather than continuing straight, through Hamsptead’s side streets.

Hampstead forces motorists off its side streets and back to Fleet (Belsize corner of Netherwood)

As written previously on this blog this is nothing more than a frustrating game of entrapment by Hampstead with compliance by the Montreal Police.  I personally would fight such a ticket in court in hopes of having a judge quash the nonsensical maze of confusing signs which constitute a traffic hazard.

Use of a phone while driving is a no no.  How about use of a calculator while driving?

Read more:

Ire, ridicule greet Hampstead left-turn rule

Change needed at CSL-MoWest intersection: MoWest resident

Change needed at CSL-MoWest intersection: MoWest resident

CSL engineering dept. recommends simple stop at corner: Housefather

Joel Goldenberg, The Suburban

January 23, 2013

The flashing lights stop signal at Westminster and Westover in Côte St. Luc should be dismantled and replaced with a walk signal to improve pedestrian safety, council regular Daniel Markuze told Montreal West council at the late November meeting.

The signal is located north of the Westminster hump, right at the border with Montreal West, and has been in operation since 1963.

“Right now, they’re just flashing and it’s an accident waiting to happen,” he added. “The problem is for pedestrians. We need something where you press a button and its all right for people to cross. It’s needed especially for older people. It’s dangerous there.”

Mayor Beny Masella said Montreal West originally shared the cost with Côte St. Luc to install the flashing light signal. “Côte St. Luc, from what we’re understanding, is not sure they want to replace the lights completely, which is a $200,000 job, or just to change the controller, which is a $50,000 to $60,000 job. We’ve told them we’d probably be willing to participate in the costs. They’ve done a traffic study at the intersection, they’ve collected their data and it was supposed to be presented to their council. We asked that it be presented to our council to see if all of this is warranted. We’re waiting for that data [regarding traffic volume] to get back to us so we can make a decision how we can participate.”

Côte St. Luc mayor Anthony Housefather told The Suburban Friday that his city has done traffic counts at that intersection “and intends to leave this as a flashing light stop sign for now.

“All information we have is being shared with Montreal West,” the mayor explained. “The costs of this light, which are at the border of the two communities, were originally shared between the communities but Côte St. Luc has been maintaining it since installation. The costs of repairing the controller or replacing the light are not justified based on the assessment by our engineering department of the traffic at that intersection and they recommend using a simple stop. If Montreal West has other suggestions we will certainly consider them.”

Côte St. Luc Councillor Steven Erdelyi, who represents the area, said Montreal West originally installed the lights and Côte St. Luc helped pay for them and later, Côte St. Luc was in charge of their maintenance. Erdelyi said the current lights are 49 years old and need major work, and traffic studies have shown a 10 to one ratio between cars travelling on Westminster and cars on Westover. He said the data indicates a traffic light would not be necessary there, and that a regular or flashing stop sign are options. In comparison, at Côte St. Luc and Westminster where there is a button-controlled crossing such as what Markuze requested, “The ratio is roughly half and half between cars going on [the two streets]. Based on criteria from the Ministry of Transport, it doesn’t seem it’s necessary to have the traffic light” at Westover and Westminster.

Hydro work on Fleet to end, finally

The urgent repair work by Hydro Quebec that has resulted in traffic snarls entering and exiting Cote Saint-Luc along Fleet road for several weeks will finally come to an end tomorrow.

Hydro reports that their work has finally wrapped up and concrete is being poured to replace the sidewalk and the road surface is being restored.  All lanes will return to normal with this construction completed ending weeks of frustrating tie ups and traffic jams.

This situation underscored the important need for the Cavendish extension.  Discussions continue among the suburban and Montreal mayors.

Related articles

• Urgent work by Hydro Quebec on Fleet Road (gjnashen.wordpress.com)
• No Treat on Fleet (gjnashen.wordpress.com)

 

Motorist pepper-sprayed

Station 9 Police Watch

Isaac Olson, The Free Press

October 23, 2012

Station 9’s Constable Vincent DeAngelis commended a young Côte St. Luc resident’s courage and ability to stay calm and within the confines of the law during a violent, seemingly unprovoked road-rage assault.

On October 5, just after 4:30 pm, the 20-year-old victim was driving on Mackle Rd. near the somewhat confusing Stephen Leacock Ave. intersection, said DeAngelis. The area, under heavy construction, has been difficult to navigate in recent weeks and the driver was taking longer than usual at a stop sign as he sorted out which way he was supposed to go. A 22-year-old motorist behind him, however, did not appreciate the delay and started honking. The victim says he indicated, with a hand gesture, that he needed one minute to sort out which direction to go, said DeAngelis. In response, the suspect exited his vehicle and approached the victim. The victim rolled down his window to talk to the other driver, but the suspect unloaded a can of pepper spray into the young man’s face. The suspect then hopped back into his car and took off, said DeAngelis, but the victim was able to regain his composure and follow the suspect to Cavendish Blvd. to record his license plate.

In the mean time, however, the suspect noticed he was being tailed, spotted some friends nearby, demanded their help and, together, they crowded around the victim’s car at a stoplight and started pounding on the vehicle. The pepper-spraying suspect went as far as to smash the rear window.

After the suspects fled, a witness approached the victim, handed him his business card and said, “I’m a lawyer. I saw everything. Let me know if you need any help with pressing charges.”

With the license plate and witness reports, it didn’t take long for police to track down and arrest the suspect at his home in CSL. The suspect’s vehicle was searched and the pepper-spray can was found in the car. The suspect has not said a word, said DeAngelis and because the case is still being investigated, the police cannot release his name.

So far, the suspect faces several charges such as mischief and armed aggression that could, if convicted, lead to a prison sentence.

CSL’s little known bylaws

by Joel Goldenberg, The Suburban

October 17, 2012

Some of Côte St. Luc’s strict bylaws are very well known to residents, such as its law requiring cyclists to wear bicycle helmets, its laws banning smoking in various public places and its overnight parking prohibitions.

Some aspects of Côte St. Luc’s noise bylaw are also well-known, particularly times when contractors can operate their machinery to do garden work. Work can begin 7 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends and statutory holidays, and must end 9 p.m. weekends, weekdays and statutory holidays.

Less known is that “you cannot make loud noises such as excessively honking your horn, blaring loud music or using any other sound reproduction device to do so,” according to the city’s website. Loud music emanating from cars, especially bass-heavy rap music, is a common aural experience on streets like Ste. Catherine West.

Most parking bylaws are obvious, such as prohibitions against parking near fire hydrants, during designated hours as indicated on signs and in designated handicap spots.

But less known to the general public is that “you cannot park a trailer or truck anywhere in Côte St. Luc except for loading or unloading purposes,” says the website.

As mentioned above, the city’s helmet law for cyclists is well known, but it also applies to all ages, and also for those using in-line skates and roller blades “on any street, sidewalk, lane or any public place in Côte St. Luc.”

A couple of years ago, there was a big debate regarding Dollard des Ormeaux’s restrictions on the playing of street hockey. In Côte St. Luc, permission must be sought from the city before sports items such as basketball and hockey nets are placed in public areas such as streets and sidewalks.

Côte St. Luc also has bylaws that ensure private properties remain clean and safe. “The owner of land, whether built or not, may not allow branches, bushes and long weeds to grow thereon, or to leave scrap iron, rubbish, refuse, paper or empty bottles or materials or any objects that might be a hazard to health and safety,” says the website.

“You cannot tolerate on your land, shallow areas gathering stagnant water, open ditches, large boulders, mounds of earth or any conditions that may cause directly or indirectly bodily harm to any person or persons.”

A few years ago, The Suburban published a story in which some residents objected to a law against feeding wild animals within the city limits. It remains prohibited to feed pigeons, squirrels and other non-domesticated animals.

Not only that, residents can’t keep wild farm animals or poultry on their land as possible pets.

And while Montreal is rethinking its law banning, for the most part, street vendors selling food, in Côte St. Luc, “all street vendors require a license from the municipality prior to carrying out their tasks.

Update on Hydro Quebec work on Fleet Rd.

 

City Communique:

 

Last week, the Hydro Quebec project on Fleet Rd. was put on hold when their sub-contractor discovered a ruptured high voltage cable in the excavation. The Quebec workplace health and safety board (CSST) ordered the work to stop until the situation has been fixed.

 

 

 

Work resumed on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. We have asked Hydro Quebec to make up lost time and they have agreed to add additional manpower in order to have all the work complete by November 30, 2012.

 

 

 

Also, we expect to be able to re-open an additional eastbound lane (towards Décarie Blvd.) by Monday, October 29, 2012.

Update on Hydro Quebec work on Fleet Rd..

Neighbourhoods are more livable with lower speed limits

GLOBE EDITORIAL

Neighbourhoods are more livable with lower speed limits

The Globe and Mail

Published Friday, Sep. 28 2012,

 

It isn’t an attack on the car to say that residential speed limits in parts of Canada are too low. It’s an admission that neighbourly reciprocity has not survived into the 21st century. Big-city residents in particular do not take the attitude that “I will go slowly and carefully through your neighbourhood, because I hope and expect you will go slowly and carefully through mine.”

 

We support the car, we drive the car, but do we have to pledge allegiance to the car? On some divided highways, there’s an argument for increasing speeds to 110 km an hour from 100. But cars make life in neighbourhoods less livable – even drivers can admit that. Children take their lives in their hands by playing ball in their front yard. Strolling home from school becomes hazardous. Speed breaks the calm, and neighbourhoods should be calm. That feeling led London to set a speed limit of 20 miles an hour (a little more than 30 kmh) in 400 neighbourhood zones since 2001. Research published in the British Medical Journal found a 46 per cent drop in deaths and major injuries in the zones.

 

The “gateway” treatment in New York marks the lower speed limit with prominent signage and stenciling on the street. G&M.

It’s a sensible idea, particularly on streets with an elementary school or park on it. Why should people drive 40 km an hour (which to many drivers is a license to drive 50), or 50 (which means 60) when children are playing or crossing?

 

And where do speed limits come from, anyway? “Traditionally, speed limits have been set by traffic engineers using samples of actual speeds and calculating the 85th percentile speed,” says the Transportation Association of Canada. Drivers are the last group who should be setting their own limits — as drivers would be the first to admit.

 

Some Canadian cities have begun trying out lower residential speed limits. In Edmonton this summer, neighbourhoods were given the right to lower speed limits to 40 from 50. Winnipeg,is studying whether the 50 km speed limit should be reduced to 40 in residential areas. In Vancouver, the speed limit has been cut to 30 on a downtown stretch after three pedestrians were killed. In Montreal, boroughs have been lowering speed limits to 40 from 50 since 2009.

 

Any reductions in speed limits need to be backed by police enforcement. Life won’t be any worse for drivers, but it will be much better for neighbourhoods and children.

 

In my opinion:

Cote Saint-Luc has reduced residential street speed limits to 40 from 50 km/h in the last couple of years.  As chair of the CSL Transportation Committee I introduced the notion of traffic calming through street line markings, bollards, middle-of-the-road crosswalk markers and traffic constrictors at intersections.  These  measures reduce the distance needed to cross the road and forces motorists to slow down.  Also, cement and raised crosswalks have been introduced at strategic locations.

All these measures are fine and good but it takes a culture shift to slow down in urban settings, particularly on residential side streets.  Parents must play a vital role in training, monitoring and enforcing safety rules with their family’s young drivers.

How do you get to the hospital?

Click to enlarge

 

 

 

Click to enlarge

 

CSL Shopping Centre to get drive-through restaurant

 

Isaac Olson, The Free Press

September 11, 2012

On August 27, the Côte St. Luc city council, in a special meeting, approved a zoning change that paves the way for what will be the only drive-through restaurant in the area.

Representatives of the Côte St. Luc Shopping Centre (located at 7073 CSL Rd. near Coronation Ave.) applied for a zoning change to allow the construction of a drive-through in the mall’s parking lot, explained Mayor Anthony Housefather in an email.

As of press time, the Free Press was unable to confirm which restaurant is eying the property as Gregory Menzies of First Capital Realty Inc., which owns the mall, was unwilling to reveal the business until the deal is finalized.

As the by-law was being drawn up, councillors Dida Berku, Glenn Nashen and Steven Erdelyi have reportedly voiced concerns, not because of the construction, but because of a desire for more area parking lots to be “greened up” rather than remaining heat islands.

On Nashen’s blog, he states he is in favour of having a restaurant open there as it would be a popular spot and conveniently located for CSL and NDG residents alike, while providing local jobs. However, he wrote, “What irks me is that this zoning amendment provides an opportunity to request, or demand, that the shopping centre provide more trees on its lot to create shade on what is one of the hottest spaces in the area.”

Studies indicate an increase in morbidity and mortality linked to higher temperatures, he stated, and, in Montreal, heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense with urban heat islands worsening the situation.

“CSL has no location or specific desire to add drive-throughs,” stated Housefather, noting no building permit has been issued. “It suited this one property … Safety on the site is the responsibility of the property owner, but the city worked with the property owner on a traffic configuration for the parking lot that made it safer than it is today.”

 

Urgent work by Hydro Quebec on Fleet Road

28 Sep 2012

We know that many residents and motorists are curious about the work on Fleet Rd. that started on Thursday, September 27. In short, Hydro Quebec is doing urgent work to replace an underground electrical chamber in the intersection of Fleet Rd. and Pinedale Ave., near the border between Côte Saint-Luc and Hampstead.

According to Hydro Quebec, the underground electrical chamber was suffering from serious deterioration and needed to be urgently replaced. The electrical chamber concerned helps deliver power to many parts of Côte Saint-Luc and Hampstead. Were it to collapse, it is our understanding that many residents in the area would lose power and significant harm would also be done to the road and adjacent infrastructure.. Although, we recognize the serious inconvenience to residents and visitors to the area and apologize profusely for the complete lack of advance notice , Côte Saint-Luc felt that it had no choice but to permit Hydro Quebec to undertake this urgent work. Here are answers to questions you may have about the work.

How long will the work last?

The work is expected to last approximately six weeks, but could take a few weeks longer if rain causes work to be delayed. Côte Saint-Luc is asking Hydro Quebec to take all steps possible to complete the work more quickly, if possible.

What is the effect on lane closures?

Unfortunately, the Hydro Quebec electrical chamber is below the south side of Fleet Rd., so at least one and probably both eastbound lanes will have to be closed. Therefore, we have reconfigured the road to allow one eastbound lane and one westbound lane on the other side of the median. Hydro Quebec has advised us that CSST rules related to the space between the work and cars traveling do not allow us to keep more than two lanes opened. Côte Saint-Luc is trying to find a way for Hydro Quebec to open an additional lane so that morning rush hour traffic eastbound and afternoon rush hour westbound traffic will have two lanes available, but we have no idea if we will be successful in finding a solution to allow this at this point.

What steps is Côte Saint-Luc taking to improve the flow of traffic?

Côte Saint-Luc will be stationing a Public Security agent on Fleet Rd. near the narrowing of the road during the morning and afternoon rush hours to help move traffic more efficiently. We are also posting detour signs to inform motorists about alternate routes, such as using Côte Saint-Luc Rd. to access Décarie Blvd. We are working closely with the Town of Hampstead and Station 9 police to coordinate a traffic plan and will be communicating any and all updates on our website at www.cotesaintluc.org. Please keep a close watch on this site. In the meantime we highly recommend that all motorists seek alternative routes to Fleet Rd. at rush hour.

We wanted to let you know what is happening so that you can be aware the situation and plan accordingly. If you have any questions please contact the Department of Public Affairs and Communications at 514-485-6800 ext. 1802 or dlevine@cotesaintluc.org.

Urgent work by Hydro Quebec on Fleet Road.

No Treat on Fleet

I know, I know. I was just as frustrated as the other motorists who were jam-packed on Fleet this (Thursday) morning and again this afternoon.

The traffic jams that occurred today on Fleet Road related to emergency work being done by Hydro Quebec.

The City of Cote Saint-Luc has asked Hydro Quebec to stop the work and open all lanes to allow us time to work out a plan together. Our goal, you’ll agree, is to devise a traffic plan to keep lanes open in both directions eastbound during the morning rush hour and westbound during afternoon rush hour.

It looks like the lane closure will still be in place on Friday morning and hopefully will be resolved shortly thereafter.

The city will keep you updated as to the discussions with Hydro Quebec. Updates will be posted on the city’s website.