Large gatherings don’t bode well

Re: “Quebec sends mixed COVID message” (Aaron Derfel, July 24)

Quebec has decided to allow public gatherings — indoors and outdoors — of up to 250 people as of Aug. 3. And yet we continue to have the highest caseload and death toll from the coronavirus in the country.

Undoubtedly many of these large gatherings will be by people in their 20s. At the moment, there are COVID-19 outbreaks as a result of even small gatherings of young people in public areas. This decision looks like a recipe for disaster, with a possible nightmare scenario ensuing.

A mother asks her young son: “If little Richie crosses against a red light, does that mean you will too?” I hope people will avoid such gatherings even if they have been given the green light.

How will things be at the beginning of September when students return to classes? Of course, I hope I am wrong about my “doomsday” forecast.

Robert Filler, St-laurent

Keep the design, change the colours Re: “Public can vote on Quebec’s English community flag” (Montreal Gazette, July 25)

I propose that the flag representing the anglophone population of Quebec be the same design as the current Quebec flag — but in red and white, to represent the colours of Canada.

Francine Lespérance Robinson, Ste-anne-des-lacs

Others must raise their voices, too Re: “Joe Beef’s co-owner slams Notre-dame St. W. changes as ‘authoritarian’” (Montreal Gazette, July 31)

David Mcmillan’s assessment of Valérie Plante’s administration as “authoritarian” is a long overdue clear voice from the business community. At least in this case the city responded by dropping its plan to remove parking spots on Notre-dame St.

Businesses and communities in Côte-des-neiges— Notre-dame-de- Grâce need to make their voices heard, too. The removal of parking in favour of bicycle lanes has made supporting local merchants difficult for many who need their cars to get around.

From the beginning this administration has shown its willingness to use heavy-handed tactics to impose its agenda. Making the city a cyclist’s paradise doesn’t translate into making it a success for businesses.

At 70, I am not shopping for food or anything else on my bicycle.

Joan Hopkins, Ville-marie

A better solution for Terrebonne St. Re: “EMSB says plan to axe parking on Terrebonne for bike lane ‘bad idea’” (Montreal Gazette, July 17)

I have come to realize how little respect and consideration elected officials have for the residents of Côte-des-neiges—notre-dame-de-grâce.

They have decided to install two bike lanes on Terrebonne St. where there are schools, churches and a Buddhist temple. We have been told residents, merchants and community groups have been consulted. I’d like to know: Which ones?

What is the plan for school buses and parents who drop off their children? Where are worshippers supposed to park to attend services?

What about Concordia University students who park near Loyola campus and take a shuttle downtown — should they be taking their cars downtown instead? (Does the city want cars downtown or not?) Will residents on Terrebonne and those that intersect receive property tax reductions to compensate for the loss of service and inconvenience?

More creative solutions could have been found. For example, build only one bike lane and reconfigure the street accordingly.

I do not reside on Terrebonne but I will remember all this next year when I go to vote.

Luigi Arena, C.D.N—N.D.G.

More in the streets vs. more in the till Re: “Success of car-free zones helps support Plante’s vision” (Allison Hanes, July 30)

How does one measure success? Mayor Valérie Plante seems to believe the number of pedestrians and cyclists out and about is an indicator.

If people stroll commercial streets only to window shop and linger on street corners, or watch the jugglers and the clowns, does this spell success for the city and its merchants?

A hockey player’s success is not judged by how many shifts he takes on the ice, but by the numbers he puts up on the board. Does the mayor have studies measuring the effects of increasing bike lanes and enhancing pedestrian spaces on cash register activity?

This is not the time to reinvent the wheel. It’s the time to let the wheels roll.

Howard Greenfield, Montreal

Step-by-step guide to parking removal

As I see it, here’s how to kill a commercial street:

First, set up a “sanitary corridor” where there is already a reserved lane for buses. Result? During the afternoon rush hour, no parking on either side of Côte-des-neiges Rd. between Queen-mary Rd. and Jean-brillant St.

Then, remove parking spots on side streets, so that now part of Jean-brillant features a pedestrian alley with boulders and giant flower pots. West of Côte-des-neiges, a bicycle lane has taken over more parking spots.

Never mind that there is a bike lane on the very next street, Lacombe Ave. And never mind that some of these parking spaces were used by patients of St. Mary’s Hospital, where parking is a problem. Never mind. Micheline Giard, Côte-des-neiges

City must cater to all Montrealers

Vision vélo is a plan put forth in Rosemont to increase the amount of bike paths — another 65 kilometres for a total of 155 km.

On de Bellechasse St., two bike lanes were created from Châtelain St. all the way to St-denis St., and the direction of traffic was changed to accommodate this — from two lanes, east/west, to westbound only.

Initially, it seemed only “some” parking spots would be lost, but in the end all have been removed — a total of 800.

Would one bike lane not have sufficed considering that St-zotique St., just two streets over, already has two bike paths?

Is there so much traffic on these bike paths that cyclists can’t just deal with it, like we do in our cars, as opposed to inconveniencing area residents who can no longer park in front of their homes?

What about the elderly who now must look for parking on adjacent streets? Or merchants waiting for deliveries and clients? Is this really urban planning at its finest?

I assume residents will be paying in other ways, too, in the near future — with reserved parking vignettes thrust upon them to help ensure they get a spot.

I’m not saying cyclists don’t deserve to ride safely, but why does the administration of Mayor Valérie Plante seem to be catering to only one group over and over again?

I know who I am not voting for in the next election. Time for a change, for someone who works for all Montrealers. Christina Giannangelo, Rosemont

Thankful for my bicycle helmet

On July 4, while cycling along the Lachine portion of the canal path, I hit a bump, flew off my bike and suffered a concussion. I have no memory of the incident; I only regained consciousness in the ambulance.

I have since recovered and was told by a neurologist that my helmet saved me from neurosurgery. Please share my story with all those cyclists who refuse to wear a helmet.

Charna Young, Montreal

Less with more at Parc Jean-drapeau Re: “Osheaga’s summer of silence” (You, July 25)

The concert wasteland that now awaits no one is a prime example of “doing less with more.” It lies in stark contrast adjacent Buckminster Fuller’s Geodesic Dome — built with the philosophy of “doing more with less.”

For a short concert season, an ecosystem that had been designed with a careful selection of regional plants was obliterated along with 1,000 trees. The now erased landscape was submitted for recognition as an example of sustainable development to the United Nations in 1991. Sadly, this taxpayer-funded, careful attempt to build a park in harmony with nature for the benefit of citizens was bulldozed at taxpayer expense — only this time for the benefit of commercial enterprise.

At least there are still crickets.

Jim Banks, N.D.G.