Canadian Urban Canyons

[MonkeyRonin]

Hamilton


things are looking up by Jeff Hayward, on Flickr

[rousseau]

Ramshackle!

That walk up James and onward up the stairs to the mountain (i.e. upper part of the city) is a decent lung buster.

[TorontoDrew]

That view always reminds me of this.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.50064...7i13312!8i6656

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

That view always reminds me of this.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.50064...7i13312!8i6656

You may say that, but it really, really, doesn't actually look or feel the same when you're there. At all.

Sadly.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

That view always reminds me of this.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.50064...7i13312!8i6656

I actually did think it was Montréal when I initially saw the pic.

[isaidso]

I'd take Hamilton over most cities in Canada. Hamilton just needs a little TLC. Ok... a lot of TLC but I've always loved going there. I always feel more anchored there than when I'm in Toronto.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I actually did think it was Montréal when I initially saw the pic.

I did not. The agressive yellow trafic lights is the first obvious clue that this could never be in Montreal.

[megadude]

Speaking of traffic lights. A major complaint of mine when driving in Montreal is the low, sideways black traffic lights on some of the streets. They were so hard to notice as a non-native that is not used to those lights, especially when on unfamiliar streets.

So why are some black, some yellow, some sideways and some standing up? Isn't the purpose of traffic lights to be noticeable?

[isotack]

Originally Posted by megadude

Speaking of traffic lights. A major complaint of mine when driving in Montreal is the low, sideways black traffic lights on some of the streets. They were so hard to notice as a non-native that is not used to those lights, especially when on unfamiliar streets.

So why are some black, some yellow, some sideways and some standing up? Isn't the purpose of traffic lights to be noticeable?

Montreal wants to be Paris in the worst way. They pattern those stupid lights after those in Europe

[isotack]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

I did not. The agressive yellow trafic lights is the first obvious clue that this could never be in Montreal.

Aggressive? You're joking right? Now traffic lights (thinks safety) are aggressive? WOW!

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by isotack

Aggressive? You're joking right? Now traffic lights (thinks safety) are aggressive? WOW!

Well, Montreal has less than half the pedestrian fatalities of Toronto (19 vs 41), so Montreal’s more subtle traffic signals don’t seem to pose a safety hazard while looking a lot better.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Well, Montreal has less than half the pedestrian fatalities of Toronto (19 vs 41), so Montreal’s more subtle traffic signals don’t seem to pose a safety hazard while looking a lot better.

But Montréal is roughly half the size of Toronto...

Personally, I like Montréal's downtown traffic lights. The city feels less cluttered, more pedestrian friendly, less car oriented, even with the wide boulevards. Coming from Ottawa (very cluttered traffic signs and signals), I do have to slow down and pay more attention in Montréal because of the different layouts, but maybe that's the point. I'm also a big fan of the "no turning right on a red light". It takes a whole lot of guessing work out of driving and probably makes city streets safer.

[isotack]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Well, Montreal has less than half the pedestrian fatalities of Toronto (19 vs 41), so Montreal’s more subtle traffic signals don’t seem to pose a safety hazard while looking a lot better.

Are you comparing Montreal's size to Toronto in your argument? Because you are going to lose. Other than that...one reason for less fatalities is due to no right on red on the island. Other than that, those lights along Sherbrooke are ...as I said, just stupid.

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by isotack

Are you comparing Montreal's size to Toronto in your argument? Because you are going to lose. Other than that...one reason for less fatalities is due to no right on red on the island. Other than that, those lights along Sherbrooke are ...as I said, just stupid.

I’m not going to lose. The City of Montreal has 1.8 million people; the City of Toronto has 2.8. If Montreal has the same fatality rate as Toronto, 26 people would have died.

[rousseau]

It's something I've never noticed before, but now I can't unsee it. Montreal's stoplights look understated and classy. Ontario's look like they belong in a Fisher-Price playset.

Montreal wins again.

[Darkoshvilli]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

But Montréal is roughly half the size of Toronto....

VERY roughly

[Martin Mtl]

Montreal wants to be Paris, Toronto wants to be New York... dated clichés. They don’t.

As an active montrealer driver, I never have problem seeing the trafic lights. It’s not that complicated.

[isotack]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

Montreal wants to be Paris, Toronto wants to be New York... dated clichés. They don’t.

As an active montrealer driver, I never have problem seeing the trafic lights. It’s not that complicated.

so says the guy who called a traffic light "aggressive"...lol

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

Montreal wants to be Paris, Toronto wants to be New York... dated clichés. They don’t.

As an active montrealer driver, I never have problem seeing the trafic lights. It’s not that complicated.

Real talk though, I get far more of a New York vibe from Montreal than I do Toronto.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

Real talk though, I get far more of a New York vibe from Montreal than I do Toronto.

Halifax = Boston
Montreal = New York
Ottawa = Washington
Toronto = Chicago
Winnipeg = Minneapolis
Calgary = Denver
Edmonton = Houston
Vancouver = Seattle