Description
Every morning - as early as 530am - between 6 and 10 dump trucks park along Charles Street East, with no regard for how close they are to stop signs, making it unsafe for cars turning right on to Charles from Church, and especially dangerous for pedestrians. This morning, two different vehicles came within inches of me as I was crossing Church Street on the north side of Charles.
UPDATE: December 7, 2012 - The construction trucks this morning were so close to the NE corner of the intersection, vehicles speeding off Mt Pleasant on to Charles who then turn right on to Church are turning the corner blind, because they have to travel so far around the construction truck hugging the corner that those turning on to Church do not see pedestrians, cyclists or people just trying to safely walk their dogs.
.....
The sidewalk parking has ended for the most part, so there is improvement in that regard.
I understand condo construction is important to the City and those people who build and buy them, but not so important as the safety of existing residents.
11 Comments
Charles St E Watch (Registered User)
A year on & three condo sites are now active on Charles, between Yonge & Church - Casa II & III & the Chaz development. Every morning, trucks feel the need to park on the sidewalks, making it hazardous for people with mobility issues and outright dangerous for people with pets.
I don't know how to resolve this, other than clearing the north side of Charles to have trucks line up until the need to service the sites, but it definitely remains an ongoing safety issue.
wmcwonca (Registered User)
tmsmith (Guest)
Charles St E Watch (Registered User)
I keep being prompted for comments, so here's another one. A truck parks on the south side of Charles, just west of Church, its driver-side wheels on the sidewalk. People with pets have to move carefully, and people on mobility assisted devices have to take to the grass to get by, depending on the day.
At the same time, three dump trucks idle since before 630am on the north side of Charles, creating a very dangerous passageway for pedestrians, cyclists, and even other drivers.
Charles St E Watch (Registered User)
Charles St E Watch (Registered User)
Time for another update .... this time, the Chaz condo development is the biggest offender. They have trucks from Master Building Materials come two or three at a time, and they park on the south sidewalks of Charles, opposite the post office. Not only do they block the sidewalk - entirely - they also cut off the walkways from the buildings to the street and sidewalk.
With the assistance of a willing Toronto Parking Enforcement Officer, the drivers were told where it is not appropriate to park (sidewalks, on people's walkways, etc ... you know, common information taught to all beginning drivers, not to mention truck drivers), that they should park elsewhere or closer to the Church & Charles intersection.
It has only been a week or so, but those specific vehicles are not reoffending yet. Instead, it is other materials vehicles and service vehicles who either park on the sidewalks or crowd the intersection.
It is getting better, but only after much fighting to get the truck drivers to respect common courtesy and the general rules of the road the rest of us have to follow.
Charles St E Watch (Registered User)
Charles St E Watch (Registered User)
ski hill road (Guest)
Charles St E Watch (Registered User)
Closed Charles St E Watch (Registered User)