Tewder
Senior Member
the horror was the goon squad...
AKA the Black Bloc. There was some bad behaviour among our police force, no question, but most of that poop show was due to rabble rousers, both local and visiting (expressly).
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the horror was the goon squad...
It's the ridiculous ads on the radio that get me. They're all about how Torontonians should adjust their travel routines to accommodate the games, as opposed to telling us how the games will accommodate Torontonians.The lane closures are from the athlete's village downtown to the venues, many of which are in 905 or outer-416.
The "traffic chaos" isn't from traffic related to people travelling to the games. It's from the closures of lanes on the DVP, Gardiner, Lakeshore, 401, 404, 427, and QEW from late-June to mid-August, and what this will do to rush-hour traffic.
Personally, given that July and August are the least busy times on those highways, that at worst they'll be no busier than they normally are in September/October.
Do you think its a coincidence that Pinball Clemons (the spokesperson for the PanAm Games) is now doing TV commercials asking Torontoians to be kind and do random good deeds?
I laughed when I heard the CEO of the games saying "This will be a summer you will never forget" when speaking about the expected traffic.It's the ridiculous ads on the radio that get me. They're all about how Torontonians should adjust their travel routines to accommodate the games, as opposed to telling us how the games will accommodate Torontonians.
Locals would have spent the money in the community anyways so there's no lift. There will be visitors during the games but that only counts above the regular numbers for the time of year (and those visitors will be staying away because they don't want to be there during the games). There is also the opportunity cost of lost business travel and conventions because of the timing. Repeated studies have shown that there is no halo effect for tourism for cities before and after major sporting events.
Pride and TIFF are extremely profitable for the city because they do bring lots of out of town visitors and the capital outlay is relatively miniscule. They are also recurring events so can build a following over time and reuse any infrastructure spending.
Deal.
Getting Ontario fit would save billions per year in health-care costs. Heck, we could save $100M just on hospital equipment scaled to support obese people. If you get the obesity rate in Ontario down to low single digits (afully documented process), I will work my ass off to ensure you get a $100M consulting cheque from the government.
It's the ridiculous ads on the radio that get me. They're all about how Torontonians should adjust their travel routines to accommodate the games, as opposed to telling us how the games will accommodate Torontonians.
Toronto drivers LOVE to complain (just look at the Gardiner East tear-down whining) so in that regard the Pan Am Games will be very accommodating.
Every traffic delay, every red light, even the line-up at Tim Hortons will be blamed on the Pan Am games and tourists.
I've yet to hear anyone I know complain about the traffic. CP24 and the rest them seem to think it'll be carmageddon.
That's me. I've booked two weeks on Vancouver Island during the games. I'll be ocean side or hiking instead of tolerating the traffic and overall nuisance the games will bring.Uh, I know many who have planned their vacation during the PAG's in order to avoid the traffic.