Sunday, September 22, was World Car-Free Day, almost everywhere in the world and therefore also in Quebec. In fact, for me, it was a day like any other, since I don’t have a car and I never have had one. My car-free day takes place 365 days a year. Oh sorry! I sometimes take taxis and buses, I confess!
But I am first and foremost a city pedestrian, who likes to walk as he pleases, where he wants and as he pleases. Whether on the sidewalks at his disposal or on the streets to cross, using of course a notion of safety essential to the smooth running of this very simple, natural, even harmless activity.
And we must not lose sight of the fact that many motorists are also pedestrians in their time and that they are able to see for themselves – more than anyone else – the problem of car-pedestrian sharing in the city.
It’s 2024, I know, and the good old days of pedestrians safe from all danger and whistling at their leisure are well and truly over. So be it!
So the city belongs to motorists. Whether in Montreal, Quebec City, Saguenay or even a small town like La Malbaie, the city vibrates and is first and foremost subservient to users of four-wheeled vehicles. That’s the rule! For pedestrians, it’s a bit of a jungle. But in recent years, more and more cities have opted to pedestrianize some of their arteries, as is the case in Quebec City and Montreal. This is not without displeasing more than one person. But it bodes well!
While Car-Free Day may seem a bit superfluous to many, it is nonetheless thought-provoking. It seems obvious to me that pedestrian safety in Quebec is a priority issue and that protecting the most vulnerable road users must be collectively addressed. This is a major challenge for the coming decades.