It's not exactly clear what a pedestrian is supposed to do when they get to the northeast corner of Scenic and Upper Paradise. Just one example of the half-assed approach to pedestrian safety and comfort on the west mountain #HamOnt #VisionZero

This may seem like nitpicking, but it's the attention to small details that make the difference between public space that is barely-usable vs. delightful to experience. Since people make decisions on the margins, a small change in quality equates to a big shift in behaviour.

In a city like #HamOnt, where there is not already a culture of excellence in walkability design, it often comes down to local councillor leadership to make sure a given project stays focused on making walkability a priority rather than an afterthought.

Needless to say, on the West Mountain, that local councillor leadership has been absent for a long time. The overarching priority is driver convenience, not accessibility and inclusion for everyone. And that priority is reflected in how road redesign projects get executed.

It's why Scenic doesn't have sidewalks or continuous bike lanes, even though it was repaved 2 years ago. It's why planned bike lanes to Mohawk College were dropped from the West 5th rebuild in 2016. But they made room for five lanes of car traffic.

Because walkability and cycling are still considered 'niche' transportation design concepts, we end up with a balkanized patchwork network when some councillors focus on it while others dismiss it as an unnecessary frill - or actively obstruct it.

At bottom, making streets more walking and cycling friendly makes them safer, healthier and more inclusive for everyone, and especially the most vulnerable people on the street - children, seniors, people with mobility challenges.

The cultural and political barriers to a more inclusive city include chronic classism and anti-urban resentment, which a certain mountain councillors actively stoke and foment while pandering shamelessly to the worst impulses of a certain segment of their constituents.

There is a straight line between blocking or undermining a traffic calming initiative and fearmongering about people living in a homeless encampment. They stem from the same politics of spite and both conspire to protect the exclusionary status quo from becoming more inclusive.

And yes, I realize this is rather a lot to hang on a crosswalk that ends awkwardly on a stone instead of a sidewalk. But it's the thin edge of a wedge that has been used to keep this city divided against itself for decades.