How to Avoid Traffic in Toronto ?
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Here are some tips on how to avoid or beat traffic caused by road constructions, G20, G8, Molsen Indy, Toronto Pride, Caribana and accidents:
1. Check the traffic report on radio, tv or your computer before you leave the house.
2. Keep the radio on. There will be traffic reports every 10 minutes.
3. Monitor at least two radio stations for traffic reports.
4. Take in to account the direction you are travelling. If there is a major accident on the opposite side then depending on the accident it could still effect you.
5. The decision on when to get off the highway in case of congestion would depend on whether or not it is recurring or regular congestion. If it is recurring then you should stay on. Obviously this is the optimal route and side roads would likely be just as busy or worst. In case, this is an incident congestion you should take the exist. The side roads are likely less congested.
6. If a radio reporter tell you which entrance you should take back to the highway. Try to take the one after. This also applies to when you should get off the highway, ideally the exist before the recommended one.
7. Study the map. It helps to identify alternate routes.
8. If you have the money then it is definitely worth it to invest in a real-time GPS system or advanced traveler information service. Studies have shown it will reduce the risk of being late from 22% down to 8%.
9. Use a web enabled, hands free cell phone in the car. Bell Canada recently announced cellphone GPS service with traffic updates. According to Bell daily commuters spend on average 79 minutes on the road and the service would really help commuters.
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China’s Terracotta Army in Toronto
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It makes us wonder how come we haven’t discovered anything with all this constructions on 401 !
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G8 Traffic Restrictions
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Before, during and after the G8 Summit, there will be a significant number of police officers and increased security in the Huntsville and Muskoka regions. There will be a total marine exclusion zone on Fairy and Peninsula lakes as well as on the canal that links them. This will apply to all motorized vessels and non-motorized craft.
Residential access only (in pink)
Harp Lake Road and Williamsport Road will be accessible only to people living on these roads or those visiting them. No detour or through traffic will be allowed.
Limberlost Road, Highway 60 east of Hidden Valley Road
Residents living on these roads or travelling to and from Limberlost Road and Highway 60 east of the easternmost security gate will have to travel east on Highway 60 and south on Muskoka Road #9 (South Portage Road), to access the southern detour route to go to Huntsville.
Through-traffic: heavy commercial vehicles and cars will be rerouted to Highways 11, 35 and 118 (in green)
Cars traveling through the area, semi-trailer trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles should use Highway 118 to bypass the restrictions on Highway 60.
- Those coming from the South will get off Highway 11 at Highway 118 and proceed to Highway 35 and then Highway 60, east of the restricted area.
- Those coming from the North will have to go past Huntsville to Highway 118. Read the rest of this entry »
U.S. Department Issues Travel Warning to Toronto
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The U.S. State Department has issued a warning today to Americans living in Toronto or planning to visit during the G20 summit to avoid city’s downtown. The warning states the
“U.S. Citizens should avoid traveling in or thourgh downtown Toronto during the Summit.”
To which Mayor David Miller responded,
“While I respect the State Department’s right to do what it thinks is in the best interests of U.S. citizens, I feel this alert is an over-reaction,” ”I would encourage everyone, whether they be citizens of the U.S., Canada or any other country living in or visiting Toronto to experience the man outstanding attractions, excellent restaurants or vibrant neighbourhoods that populate our great city.”
Premier Dalton McGuinty said,
“We’re only talking a few days, and after that this is still one of the best places in the world to visit. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump over on the other side of the border.”
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2010 June Events in Toronto
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Toronto Waste Water
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Below is a meter showing the rate of oil spill in the gulf of Mexico. This is a real global catastrophe. We hope the G20 leaders will set aside some time to discuss the environmental issues that are closely coupled to the global economy.
As the weather warms up many residents in Toronto are washing their cars more frequently and here is your opportunity to do something for the environment. The water that comes from your car wash contains hazardous chemicals.
In case you did not know, the City of Toronto has two types of sewer systems. The sanitary system takes the used water from homes and businesses to a wastewater plan for cleaning. The other one is the storm sewer system with the square gates on the side of the road, which take the rainwater and snow from the streets and release it untreated in to rivers, streams that end up in lake Ontario.
You should consider one of these options to avoid getting dirty water run into the storm sewer system:
1. Take your car to a commercial car wash facility that release contaminated water into the sanitary sewer system.
2. Find a location where the wastewater won’t flow into the storm sewer, like washing your car on a grassy lawn. You will be watering your lawn at the same time.
3. By using a pail, washcloth and small amount of water. You can then dispose the waste water into our sanitary sewer system.
Courtesy of PBS NewsHour (How this is calculated)
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WorldCup, G20, G8, TTC and Toronto Constructions
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FIFA President supported the use of vuvuzelas at the World Cup. I think we should all contemplate on getting a vuvuzela in Toronto. You could use it in so many ways, if you don’t like G8 or G20, what better way to show it. It is non-violent and extremely annoying.
If you are soccer fan in Toronto who already has one or maybe two flags then get a vuvuzela to really stand out.
If you are stuck in the constructions, let them know what is on your mind.
To wake up your local TTC ticket collector, here is how you get the attention you well deserve.
Only one country can win the cup but that is not the case with vuvuzela, we could all have one in Toronto.
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2010 ideaCity
- Image by Vieeto Voom via Flickr
IdeaCity, also known as ‘Canada’s Premiere Meeting of the minds’, is a three day event that is taking place tomorrow at the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Koerner Hall at 273 Bloor St., in Toronto.
Fifty bright minds including artists, adventurers, authors, cosmologists, doctors, designers, entertainers, filmmakers, inventors, magicians, musicians, scientists and technologists are coming together for this grand event. Here is a link to the agenda and registration.
They will be engaging and thought-provoking discussions on hot topics such as Gulf of Mexico, Middle East, environmental issue and more. Notable presenters at this event include Bonnie Brooks (CEO of the Hudson’s Bay Company), Margaret Atwood (Author), Adora Svitak (Youth Advocate), Belinda Stronach (Philanthropist and Former Politician) just to name a few. There will be no parallel sessions or scripted speeches. There will be extra time after each session to give you an opportunity to mingle with some of these legendary people.
Vidafine, an online trend hunting magazine and advocate of inspiration and change have teamed up with ideaCity 2010 to offer exclusive online live coverage of this event. They will be offering summary posts for each day of this event.
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G20 Traffic Impact – HW 427, 401, QEW, DVP, 27
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There will be major closures and restrictions on highways 427, 401, QEW and the connecting arterial roads. Avoid going anywhere near Pearson International Airport on June 24 and June 27.
Here are some details on these road closures:
Thursday June 24
- Lane reductions on Highway 401 eastbound collectors to Highway 427 southbound at Renforth Avenue: expect significant delays.
- Highway 427 southbound collector lanes: expect periodic full closures and significant delays.
- Highway 427 southbound express ramp to the eastbound Gardiner Expressway: expect periodic full closures and significant delays. At Highway 427, all eastbound traffic will be re-routed to Highway 427 northbound. The eastbound York, Bay, Yonge Streets exit will be closed. Read the rest of this entry »
Toronto Councillors Donations and Trip to Vienna ?
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On April 15, 2010 City Council approved a 5% reduction in the office expense budget of each Councillor until Nov. 30, 2010. This is because 2010 is an election year so each councillor now has an office expense budget of $46,241.
If you examine the expenses in the last quarter you can notice questionable expenses. Take Kyle Rae from Toronto Centre-Rosedale, he traveled to an International Aids Conference in Vienna Austria.
The conference was from July 19-23 yet his ticket was booked from July 17-31. Basically a week longer stay in Austria ? The final cost to tax payers, $4,615. I am sure we could better spend helping a patient or a charity in Canada.
Sandra Bussin from Beaches-East York managed to donate over $2,812 in just 2-3 months, the donations went to Community Soccer League, Ted Reeve Hockey Association, Dare Art Foundation, Blooms in Motion, Beach Garden Society, East Toronto Basketball Association, The Rotary Club of Toronto Beach, Beaches Advisory Council.
Donating is a good thing in principle but the city has no money so why are they donating it ! Also – wouldn’t you rather choose your own charitable organization ?
