Great article about Vancouver joining the ranks of New York, San Francisco, Portland, Bogota, etc in embracing the car-free streets movement. They'll be closing off 4 neighbourhoods to cars on Sundays in July and August, creating 20 car-free routes just for pedestrians and cyclists.
Toronto has 7 car-free Sundays in Kensington Market this year... and really, a lot more downtown areas should embrace the concept too. The Church and Wellesley area would be fantastic with no cars on Sundays in the Summer. My personal favourite though, would have to be the Yonge-Dundas Square area... Yonge from Gerrard to Queen and Dundas from Victoria to Bay (excepting streetcar passage, of course). Some may put up a fuss, but businesses would do well, and tourists would love it!
Toronto Star: Where the streets have no cars
The Toronto area hasn't found a political champion for the car-free Sunday concept, says Gil Penalosa, of Walk and Bike for Life in Mississauga. Yet in a time of economic restraint, there is no cheaper or more effective way to encourage fitness than allowing pedestrians and cyclists unimpeded access to the street, he said. (more at the Toronto Star)
