dt_toronto_geek
Superstar
Jarvis is, architecturally, one of the best streets in the city. The only "mediocrity" here is that the issue has become so contentious - cleaning up a heavily populated corridor and making it pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists is the right thing to do.
I remain suspicious of pedestrian streets. I actually prefer streets that have cars, just cars moving in an environment that seems safe and reasonable within the city. Church Street is lively, and if it has problems it is more to do with the physical constriction of the commercial core of the street, which limits its growth and makes rents too high. I have no desire to have Church as a pedestrian street, the cars there move in the way that cars should move in a densely populated city - slowly and carefully.
Jarvis is a traffic funnel.
But we're arguing for nothing - no one will convince TKTKTK, who will be still be driving presumably when gas is $5 a litre. And my own eyes and considerable experience crossing and walking Jarvis tells me that the fifth lane is bad for the city, bad for business, bad for everyone.
Very well put, you hit it all on the head.
Why are so many people afraid that moves like this are "anti-car"? That's hardly the case.