Parking regulations not being enforced in Old Montreal, community group says
A community group in Old Montreal is frustrated with its parking regulations it says aren't being enforced.
It's a tale as old as time — parking in the heritage district has always been a dilemma. For one community group, it has also become a safety issue.
"If a fire truck can't get down the street because there's 20 cars parked illegally or cars parked in front of a fire hydrant or cars in a bus lane and therefore the bus has to stop in another lane and block traffic, it has a ripple effect," said John Kennedy, founder of the Old Montreal Community Patrol.
That's why the group is asking the city to do something about it. Among its demands: parking enforcement restored on weekends, which it says is a peak period for visitors. It also wants more agents patrolling and handing out tickets.
"Tickets won't move those cars, but it'll serve as a deterrent," Kennedy said.
The municipal parking agency says it carried out a weekend blitz in January to evaluate if changes are needed in the area.
In a statement to CTV News, the agency says that, "For greater efficiency, it was recommended that this group of citizens transmit their requests for parking agent intervention via our phone line or web form. Our call center, set up last year, provides a dispatch service to our surveillance services."
It also says it is planning another blitz for the next two weekends. Meanwhile, some Montrealers say they're irritated.
"I think it's pretty difficult for the restaurants and the stores to attract people who actually want to come with cars. I would never think to bring a car at lunchtime, it would be impossible to find a parking place," said Norm Steinberg.
"I run and stuff like that and I walk often in the streets and sometimes it's blocking the way," said Sandrine D'Aragon-St-Laurent, a worker in Old Montreal.
"I don't come in the Old Port by car. It's traffic. First of all, traffic and also parking is so expensive," said Montreal resident Margaret Borkowski.
According to the Old Montreal Residents Association, 6,000 people live in the historic neighbourhood and another frustration for them are drivers without residential parking permits taking up reserved street spaces. It wants the city to take action.
"You need to have human beings that are there and that they see the vehicle pool and they're, like, move along, move along, move along and keep helping move along and having more clear indication where there's an access point for parking," said the association's president, Fiona Ham.
The parking agency says it's looking to implement automated licence plate reader technology to help further enforce parking regulations.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'No one has $70,000 dollars lying around': Toronto condo owners facing massive special assessment
The owners of a North York condominium say they are facing a $70,000 special assessment to fix their building's parking garage. '$70,000 is a lot of money. It makes me very nervous and stressed out of nowhere for this huge debt to come in,' said Ligeng Guo.
Police ID mom, daughter killed in Old Montreal; video shows person break into building before fatal fire
Police released the identities of the mother and daughter who were killed after a fire tore through a 160-year-old building in Old Montreal on Friday.
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf of Mexico, could intensify as a hurricane threatening Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located 220 miles (355 kilometres) north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico.
Trump returns to Butler, Pa. for a rally at the site of assassination attempt
Donald Trump plans to return Saturday to the site where a gunman tried to assassinate him in July, as the former U.S. president sets aside what are now near-constant worries for his physical safety in order to fulfill a promise — “really an obligation,” he said recently — to the people of Butler, Pa.
'I screamed in shock and horror': Family faces deadly Vancouver hit-and-run driver during sentencing
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
Northwestern Ont. woman charged with arson with disregard for human life
A 30-year-old northwestern Ontario woman has been charged with arson following a structure fire Thursday night, police say.
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi draws a crowd for arrival at Toronto's BMO Field
Argentine star Lionel Messi was on the bench to start Inter Miami CF's game in Toronto on Saturday.
Looking for cheap flights for the holidays? Here are some tips to remember
Travelling on a budget can be stressful, but there are ways you can ensure you're getting the best deal on flights as the holiday season approaches.