Q. Will a car-free Mile-End not have any vehicular traffic in the neighbourhood?

A. CFME is interested in feasability of car-free alternatives for the Mile-End in an effort to improve the quality of life, raise the standards of business and transform the neighbourhood into a world class community. One model to consider is the Woonerf, where cars are allowed, but are lowest on the chain of priority, and where pedestrians are at the top. This means people will be able to come to the area by car as before, but would be required to adopt a different mentality in doing so.

So far CFME has one street in mind: St. Viateur Ouest, between Ave. du Parc and St. Urbain, but we are open to all strategies that will achieve our broadest goals over the long term.

Q. Where would I park?

A. Parking is a perceived necessity for those who come by car, and some creative solutions can accommodate an acceptable level of visitor traffic to the neighbourhood. But it is important to remember that reducing vehicular traffic is an important goal, central to CFME. By focusing on other modes of transport it is possible to increase the number of visitors to the neighbourhood, while reducing the number of cars, eliminating the need for current levels of parking. Reduced parking can be phased-in over the course of several years while people adapt to alternatives. Montreal witnessed a good example of this process with the implementation of the Bixi public bike-sharing system.

Q. Won't this kill businesses on St. Viateur?

A. It is a common reaction to think of the closure of a street to traffic as having a negative effect on business, but this is usually based on false assumptions about how communities’ economies thrive. It has been soundly demonstrated in other cities that a safe car-free zone invariably attracts more business because people like to come to such places. Cities such as Portland; New York; Geneva; and Copenhagen are all word class examples of this success.

The Mile-End is a densely populated neighbourhood (24 000 people) already well-serviced by pedestrian traffic, and businesses know it. They are likely candidates as champions of the idea.

Q. Why St-Viateur?

The first, and most obvious answer to this question is : because we live here! We walk, bike, play, work, raise our families and spend our lives here in the Mile-End, the neighbourhood that surrounds St-Viateur. We believe that change happens by starting in your own backyard, and so we are choosing to do just that. St-Viateur is a vibrant street with businesses ranging from restaurants and cafés, to children’s stores and barbershops, to local designers and bookstores. People visit from all over to wander and take in the culture. As a hub for our community, this street is a perfect route to re-imagine as a pedestrian-friendly, greener and less-polluted space for all to share.

Q. Why cars?

Keeping in mind the vast amount of answers we could give to this question, we focus on pollution, public health, and the future as our main reasons.

Although corporations and big business may seem to be the bigger pollution culprits, the personal car is no small contender. Today’s car use burns oil at an alarming rate, contributing to the massive carbon footprint of transportation devices worldwide. Imagine what would happen if each individual person chose to use their car less. The results would be staggering! On a community level decreasing cars on our streets decreases smog and particulate matter in the air we breath, thereby helping to reduce health-related problems such as respiratory illness and disease. People will walk, take public transport and bike more frequently and the streets will feel safer. Obesity can be reduced and general fitness and well-being increased. Small businesses are given a chance to flourish, away from the threat of being replaced by box stores that cater to and, in fact depend on, a car culture. Gardens will grow wider. Children can run safely. Not to mention you may get to know your neighbours and stop to smell the flowers more often.

All this, and we did not even touch on the fact that petroleum is a finite resource that cannot be replaced once it is gone. Although this day may not happen in our lifetimes, it makes sense to start planning now. It is true that each one of us can make a change, every day. One less car is nothing to ignore, and it can grow into a movement of sustained change for our planet.

Q. But, how can this make a difference in the bigger picture?

Acting locally empowers and strengthens communities. As well, it is the most immediate way we can make change. Indeed, when we begin to work towards change in our own backyards, we see that we can make a difference, step-by-step. What’s more, the effects of our actions can reach further than our own community. This is because other groups are inspired to make changes as well, and through sharing common goals, links are forged between like-minded communities around the world. We will hopefully feel that the changes we want to see in the world are not so overwhelming. By acting locally, we are truly thinking globally.

Q. Who are you people, anyway?

A. We are a group of Mile-Enders who meet informally to work on this project in a volunteer capacity. To find out more about who we are, please see our About Us page. If you would like to get involved, send us and email! We'd love to have you on board.