Posted at 4:00 p.m.
Long live the diversity
I think that we must above all not repeat the mistakes of the past. France with its “new towns” in the suburbs of Paris has headed straight for horrible places to live. Among other things, cars have been banned in the center. It created all kinds of other problems. Evry ville nouvelle is a good example. The “car-free” gave rise to dismal areas which very quickly became unsafe. The city has become unlivable. I met the municipal authorities there in the early 2000s and they were looking for a way to bring back some car traffic to revitalize the center. I think the approach like rue Sainte-Catherine Nouvelle is preferable. A mixture of cars, pedestrians, bicycles… And then, soon, all cars will be electric. There will be less problem of air and noise pollution. Maybe we could only allow electric vehicles in the city center? Like in London? Allow well-managed diversity.
Ronald Houle
Europe as an example
I lived in Central Europe for a few years, car-free neighborhoods have existed for a long time and not only in small towns: Vienna, Bratislava, Nitra, Lubjiana… When you discover the happiness of a car-free neighborhood, you don’t understand why America takes so long to understand! Quebec has cities that could easily adapt to it. Maybe someday…
Jean-Guy Dalpe
Priority to public transport
The goal of a car-free neighborhood is laudable, but improving transport provision would be more beneficial. I live in the Sainte-Rose district, in Laval. Already, many of my trips are made on foot: library, bank, grocery store, pharmacy are within walking distance. When I want to get out of my neighborhood, it gets complicated. I double my transport time if I choose public transport over the car to go to the André-Mathieu hall or to go to Montreal or to the Cité-de-la-Santé.
Marc Villaggi
Laval must not make the same mistakes as Montreal by focusing on cycling and closing streets, two short-sighted policies that do nothing to solve congestion problems. It is by improving public transportation (direct routes, more frequent transit by buses and subways, use of shared taxis), that we will encourage more people to leave their cars behind.
Laurent Cauchon
Blue Beanies
Why not consider this approach for the development of the Blue Bonnets space and the Namur space? It would be appropriate to install an express electric metro-bus to travel through the development and bring its citizens to the Namur metro station.
Alain Briere, Cote-des-Neiges, Montreal
Political courage?
Finally, a vision for the city of Laval. But will Mr. Boyer have the political courage to move forward? For the moment, the current network of cycle paths indicates rather the opposite.
Charles Bonin, Laval
Not for here
I find the idea excellent for… Florida. My mayor seems to forget that we are a Nordic country, with its icy or snowy sidewalks. Will these sidewalks be covered with salt so harmful to the environment in order to be able to walk on them in a safe manner?
Julie Van Den Bossche, Laval
For the climate
I find the idea extremely interesting; it greatly deserves serious consideration. Certainly part of the solution to global warming and the environment. I will get the book.
Helene Tousignant
Improve our quality of life
Why not ? Either way, we don’t really have a choice. Our current way of life, where the car is queen, is killing us all little by little… We have to act, so we might as well do it in an organized way and take advantage of the existing infrastructures. Giving up parking lots, asphalt and hours lost in travel is much more positive! The daily life of each, the quality of life and a real community life are surely more beneficial for our mental and physical health and the more secure environment for the future to exist. The change is definitely worth the effort.
Charline Jourdain, Boisbriand
The advantage of local services
I practice it at my age (84) because I live in an old part of town where everything is walkable. This is called living in a borough close to local services (school, church, convenience store, hospital, grocery store, pharmacy, hair salon, etc. including bus transportation). I am a fan of electric bikes and, unfortunately, no public market offers this security service that would allow cyclists to leave their bike there with confidence. I am convinced that several residents of my hometown do the same thing as me…! I congratulate the mayor of Laval for saying out loud what several elected municipal officials dare to say quietly! There is a beginning to everything as long as we talk about it and discuss it calmly.
Yvan Bastien
Not possible outside major cities
It may be possible in town if everything is nearby, although again it all depends on the age of the people. But outside the big city, that wouldn’t be possible. A great ideal for a small environment where everything is nearby. But this is not the case everywhere.
Pierre Chatelain