Road Configurations Then And Now

It’s a popular topic on local radio talk shows, especially as this is an election year in Montreal. Of course, I refer to street configurations. Our current mayor, one Valérie Plante, is at best not a fan of cars. At worst she is downright anti-car. Since her election four years ago she has overseen the

Masks And Eyeglasses

I have to imagine that the most used/heard word since March, other than COVID, is mask. I’d like to cast my vote now, suggesting Time Magazine’s Person of the Year be the Mask (although I imagine COVID has as lock on that)

COVID-19: Hank Aaron Knew What To Do With A Curve

It should come as no surprise that some, arguably all, politicians, from time to time, tell a wee lie. Sometimes, of course, they are real porky pies, and not wee at all. Outright lying is one thing, unacceptable under almost any circumstances other than life or death. The current US President is an example of

COVID-19: Isolation vs Economy

In North America, we’ve reached an odd point in our collective COVID-19 experience. Government leaders, in daily statements, are trying to strike a balance of two diametrically opposed positions. On the one hand, they hammer home the importance, for everyone’s benefit, of staying home. While also dropping hints about getting the economy restarted. Unless we

Working From Home: Pros And Cons

One of the serendipitous discoveries of the “stay at home” ordinance now in effect in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is just how unnecessary offices are. Many companies, big and small, have told their employees to stay at home; work from there, it is safer. Many of those employees are finding that

Sucking The Life Out Of Downtown Montreal One Parking Spot At A Time

We are now well into the month of December. While many may lament the too early appearance of Christmas decorations in stores in November (October?), all bets are now off. Seasonal shopping is in full swing; decorated windows, street lights, and pretty much anything that does not move are now deemed fair play. But now

Name Griffintown REM Station for George Springate

Recently Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante suggested naming the REM station in the Griffintown area for former Quebec premier Bernard Landry. Work is well underway around Montreal on the Réseau express métropolitain (REM). A 67 km (42 mile) rapid light rail system that will link several suburbs with Downtown Montreal via Central Station. It involves the

Pedestrian Dos and Don’ts

Tourist season has struck Montreal as it does every year following the F1 Grand Prix and the opening of the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Visitors from far and wide have descended upon our metropolis armed with cameras and, one hopes, pockets stuffed with money. The best way to get around the city core is on

Bicycles On Sidewalks

Here in Montreal, the weather has finally shown signs that spring may just arrive at long last. Most if not all of the snow has been washed away by rain, sidewalks are being cleaned of the various abrasive substances used for pedestrian safety during the winter i.e. sand and gravel. I saw a few top-down

Congestion Fees

If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street,If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat.If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat,If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet. George Harrison London has it. Singapore as well. It’s coming to New York in a couple of years. The concept of congestion