An attempt by store and restaurant owners of the Rosedale Main Street BIA to get some parking on Yonge between Crescent Rd. and Scrivener Square has been completely shot down. Earlier this year it appears that Ward 27’s Krystin Wong-Tam acceded to this measure. But the subsequent anger of motorists and local residents has brought it a crashing halt. Josh Matlow, whose Ward 22 drops down from Woodlawn Ave East of Yonge to the CP tracks westbound, did not like the congestion complaints caused by the parking. It was thrown out at Council this week in an “urgent” vote. The short-lived idea permitted parking on Yonge on weekends. Now that is gone and so, apparently are others things like pay-and-display parking on both sides of Yonge between 7 p.m.and 12 a.m. One local voice called the traffic situation “totally bizarre”. Yonge is a provincial highway. Apparently the street was backed up badly and it was dangerous for cyclists. One has to feel sorry for business along Yonge street. But the street is rather notorious for no parking. On South Bayview, it is very busy as well. Sometimes incredibly so and for various reasons. But few would countenance removal of street parking It is something for the new BIA to take to heart about the forces of faster commuting. Proposed speeds of 30km/h on residential streets are only one part of safe driving. Rush hour traffic on South Bayview is frequently unsafe for motorists (both local and through) as well as pedestrians. .
