Cross-posted from Spacing Votes — by Claire Salloum
September 22 (today!) is International Car Free Day. This year in Toronto, the city is having its first major weekday, downtown celebration in the history of Car Free day. I called around to a number of councillors to find out how they plan on celebrating. On the whole, of the councillors I spoke to, all were aware of what tomorrow is and either planned to participate, or were hoping to. Here are some of the highlights in order of who called me back first:
Adam Giambrone:
As Chair of the Cycling Committee and Vice-Chair of the Transit Commission, it should not be a surprise that Councillor Giambrone is celebrating Car Free Day in style. Not only was he invoved in organizing the political side of the day, this councillor doesn’t even own a car. On a regular day, he gets by alternating between riding the Rocket and riding his bike — he assured me that today would not be any different. The staff in Giambrone’s office are just as admirable. Of the eight people working for the councillor, only one owns a car, but does not use it to get to work — he walks. You can see Giambrone speak as part of the Car Free festivities on Yonge Street.
David Shiner:
Councillor Shiner went to the trouble to re-arrange his calendar so that he wouldn’t have any events that would require him to drive his mid-size car on Car Free day. While this sounds like an admirable gesture, I assume that whatever events didn’t take place today will surely have to take place some time, so he’ll have to burn the fossil fuel at some point… but I guess it’s the thought that counts. Two of Shiner’s staff carpool to work, the rest drive separately. Shiner pointed out, however, that one of her staff members drives because she takes her kids to school every morning.
Janet Davis:
Councillor Davis wanted me to know that in previous years she has always, always participated in Car Free day, but that tomorrow morning she has a meeting at Hwy 400 and Finch at 9am! When I talked to her Thursday at 4:30pm, she still had not decided how she was going to make it to that meeting: biking was out of the question; taking the TTC would probably be a good way to get to understand the “TTC hell” that suburban commuters go through daily; then again, she might just drive her Pontiac Vibe (but she’ll feel bad doing it). On a regular day, Davis will either drive or take the TTC. None of Davis’ staff own a car, they either bike or take the TTC to work.
Howard Moscoe:
I reached Councillor Moscoe at his home — a nice lady in his office gave me his number — so I tried to be as quick as possible. Moscoe is celebrating Car Free day by driving to Downsview station and parking there to take the subway to work. He does this transit dance about half of the time, the other half, he drives. Two out of Moscoe’s three staff members don’t own a car, the third drives in from Pickering.
Of the councillors that contacted, they all seemed genuine and intended to make an effort, except for those who are already transit do-gooders, and in their case, an effort was not necessary. Generally, I was most impressed by the councillors who make concerted efforts throughout the year. It is important for City Council to have an understanding of the challenges inherent to cycling/walking/TTC-ing to work every day — not just one token day a year.
Hopefully, I will update my Car Free exposé as I hear from the other six councillors I left messages with.
