Posted in Community, Infringement Festival, Walking, tagged Community, Infringement Festival, The Main on June 21, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
We are pleased to announce another Candyass & King Red Light District Walking Tour as part of the 9th annual infringement festival!
Saturday June 23, 2pm
$10
Starts at le Midway, 1219 Saint Laurent
http://www.infringementfestival.com/montreal/fest/king-candyass-red-light-walking-tour.php
Gazoo article http://www.montrealgazette.com/Infringement+Festival+Main+protest/6808766/story.html
Posted in Walking, tagged Pedestrians, Slate, Walking on April 16, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Part 4 of an excellent series over at Slate.
By Tom Vanderbilt Posted Friday, April 13, 2012, at 6:30 AM ET
The plight of life on foot in America was nowhere more poignantly expressed than in the conviction, just last year, of a Georgia woman for vehicular manslaughter. What brought the case to national prominence was a single, Kafka-esque detail: She was not driving.
What happened? Raquel Nelson, having just disembarked from a bus across from her apartment complex, was crossing busy Austell Road with her four children when a driver—who admitted to having consumed a “little alcohol,” was on prescription painkillers, and is partially blind in one eye, and who already had two hit-and-run charges on his record, but a very active driver’s license—struck the group, killing her 4-year-old son.
Photo Sally Flocks
The bus stop from which she’d alighted was directly across from the apartment complex that represented, in essence, its user base. And yet, transit users like Nelson were asked to walk one-third of a mile to the nearest traffic signal, on a narrow sidewalk abutting a street on which cars regularly drive 60 mph; to wait to cross at the intersection; and then to return another third of a mile. (To see for yourself just how daunting this is, head north from the apartment entrance on Google Street View.) At the time of the accident, Nelson and her family had been crossing directly at the bus stop, where there is no crosswalk. For this, Georgia prosecutors charged her with second-degree vehicular homicide. The driver, who was initially charged with “hit and run, first degree homicide by vehicle and cruelty to children,” later had his charges dropped to hit and run. (more…)
Posted in Griffintown Cultural Corridor, Griifintown, Walking, tagged Griffintown, Walking tours on January 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Sorry for a such a late posting but been very distracted lately. I can’t make it myself but this one looks like it will be really interesting!
English version follows (more…)
Posted in Silo, Walking, tagged Silo, Walking tours on October 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Héritage Montréal: UNE VISITE EXCEPTIONNELLE DE LA POINTE-DU-MOULIN ET DU SILO NO 5 // A UNIQUE GUIDED TOUR OF THE POINTE-DU-MOULIN AND SILO #5
Dans le cadre de leur 35e anniversaire, Héritage Montréal présente, en collaboration avec la Société immobilière du Canada (SIC) et l’Administration portuaire de Montréal (APM), une version hors série des ArchitecTours qui permettra de découvrir un emblème du patrimoine montréalais : le secteur de la Pointe-du-Moulin et le Silo no 5.
Cette promenade à travers l’un des éléments les plus imposants de l’héritage de l’époque industrielle de Montréal sera animée par des guides bénévoles chevronnés et passionnés de la métropole et de ses secrets. Les visites se dérouleront principalement à l’extérieur mais comprennent aussi l’accès au rez-de-chaussée de l’élévateur B, lieu où les grains étaient déchargés des trains.
Ce lieu habituellement inaccessible au grand public sera ouvert lors des visites guidées qui se tiendront les 9, 10, 16 et 17 octobre.
D’une durée de deux heures, cette exploration urbaine tout à fait particulière sera présentée 3 fois par jour à 10 h, 14 h et 14 h 30 les samedis et dimanches, beau temps mauvais temps. Les visites de 10 h et de 14 h se dérouleront en français tandis que celle de 14 h 30 sera en anglais. Exceptionnellement, les réservations pour cette activité sont obligatoires.
Pour des raisons de sécurité, les participants devront porter des chaussures fermées et des casques de sécurité seront distribués sur place. Les frais de participation sont de10$ pour les membres d’Héritage Montréal, de 12 $ pour les étudiants et les ainés, et de 14 $ pour les non-membres.
La Société immobilière du Canada et l’Administration portuaire de Montréal s’associent à cet ArchitecTour hors série afin de souligner l’excellent travail de sensibilisation au patrimoine urbain réalisé par Héritage Montréal, qui célèbre cette année son 35e anniversaire. Pour en savoir plus sur la SIC, consultez le http://www.clc.ca, et sur l’APM, consultez le http://www.port-montreal.com
Pour plus les réservations et pour plus de renseignements, contactez Héritage Montréal au
514-286-2662, poste 26 ou architectours@heritagemontreal.org
As part of their 35th Anniversary celebrations, Heritage Montreal, in association with Canada Lands Company (CLC) and the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), presents a unique off-season version of their well respected ArchitecTours and invites the public at large to discover one of Montreal’s historic landmarks: the Pointe-du-Moulin and Silo #5.
Participants on the tour will explore one of the most imposing elements of Montreal’s industrial heritage, and will be guided by experienced volunteers who are passionate and knowledgeable about our city and its secrets. The tours will be held mainly outdoors but will also include access to the main floor of Grain Elevator B, where grains were at one time unloaded off trains.
Inaccessible and usually closed to the public, this site will be open for this special edition of Heritage Montreal’s guided walking tours on October 9, 10, 16 and 17.
Lasting two hours, these unique urban explorations will be presented 3 times a day, at 10 am, 2 pm and 2:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, rain or shine. The 10 am and 2 pm visits will be in French and the 2:30 pm visit will be in English. Exceptionally, reservations are required for this special off-season ArchitecTours.
For safety reasons, participants must wear closed footwear; safety helmets will be distributed to participants on site. Admission is $10 for Heritage Montreal Members, $12 for students and seniors, and $14 for non members.
To highlight Heritage Montreal’s exceptional work towards enhancing awareness of urban heritage CLC and the MPA are collaborating with Heritage Montreal for this special ArchitecTours during the foundation’s 35th Anniversary year. For more information on CLC, consult http://www.clc.ca, and on the MPA, consult http://www.port-montreal.com.
For more information and for reservations, contact Heritage Montreal at
514-286-2662, ext. 26 or architectours@heritagemontreal.org
Posted in Photography, Railroad, Urban, Walking, tagged Doney Spur, Photography, Railroad on August 4, 2008 | 4 Comments »
The last leg with Avrom Shtern and Andrew Dawson. Glenn Garner of The Green Coalition joined us for half this walk.
We started out at Sources and went as far as Stillview where the Doney Spur right of way finally ends. The tracks actually stop before the Home Depot on the east side of Saint Jean.
Andrew and Glenn starting out.
We no sooner started when this unit came up behind us. Stopped and went back. We are not sure why it wanted to cross Sources. May have been checking the crossing….
Moving on.
It’s Everywhere.
The buildings at Saint Jean just gradually get bigger.
Cool hangout.
Old equipment.
Lone car in this siding.
Looking back we see a loading dock. Probably fairly busy here at one time.
Came across this which seemed odd. A field where the grass is cut and there are three fire hydrants but no access to them.
I was taking a few shots in this spot…
When I noticed this fox staring at me.
Wished I had a zoom lens at the moment. He just stood there for about 30 seconds and when I was turning to try to signal Andrew and Avrom, he turned and ran into the bush.
The Home Depot coming up only opened last December but it does create some issues for reviving the Doney.
Avrom and Andrew coming to the end of the rail.
On the other side of Saint Jean, straight ahead, is the Doney right of way, which still exists even if Pointe Claire’s Mayor does not seem to think so. I will post the photos from here to Stillview later this week.
Posted in Activism, Bridge, History, Infrastructure, Overpasses, Photography, Railroad, Structures, transportation, Urban, Walking, tagged Doney Spur, Photography, Railroad on July 22, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Continuing the journey with Avrom Shtern and Andrew Dawson.
Here is a map of this leg. We started at Sources and went east.
As far as I know the La Belle Province on the left is the only open 24 hours place on the entire West Island.
Trains used to go right up to that door. (right in?).
Avrom and Andrew checking out one of the countless sidings, wyes, and backtracks that have been pulled up but attest to how busy the Doney was in it’s day.
They used to load up here but the doors are bricked up.
Avenue Andre.
Had to follow this one.
There was all kinds of these on the tracks. Maybe they like the warmth? This was a very hot day. It’s usually about 3-5 degrees warmer on the tracks as the steel gets hot, but the ballast also holds it in like a good old brick oven!
It s astonishing how much rust the rails can take and still be usable ( at very slow speeds I would guess).
Start of the Saint Francois Spur.
Here it splits. That is Golf Dorval (what’s left of it) due south.
I don’t think you will see a diamond crossing with a switch going into a building like that too often.
Back on the Doney, still active over in there.
Approaching the bridge that crosses the 40 otherwise known as the Trans Canada Highway.
Looking west.
Looking east. This was a Sunday afternoon. Traffic, what traffic?
And we called it a day up ahead at rue Douglas -B- Floreani.
We had taken the 215 bus from Cote Vertu Metro to get out to Sources and took the 215 back to Cote Vertu. While I am often critical of our (lack of) public transportation, I am quite willing to offer praise when it works so damn well as that! Cars, on the other hand, are not very good for this kind of trekking as you have to walk all the way back to where the car is parked. Was a good one.
More to come.
Posted in Activism, Photography, Railroad, Walking, tagged Doney, Hiking, Trains on June 26, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Been doing some hikes along the Doney Spur recently with Avrom Shtern and Andrew Dawson, who are rail fans and transportation activists. We started at the east end at Bois Franc train station and explored the yard and various things along the way to Toupin boulevard. More to come in the next few weeks.
Old Equipment.
Not sure why this is needed right there.
Apparently there is still one small freight train that travels the Doney daily. We were fortunate enough to have it go by the Sunday we did this hike.
Posted in Urban, Walking on November 5, 2007 | 2 Comments »
Interesting article about this British author who in 2006 walked from Kennedy Airport to his Manhattan hotel.
“By Mr. Self’s usual standards, the walk from Kennedy to Manhattan, about 20 miles, is a mere stroll. What recommended it was that it would take him through parts of the city that most people never notice while driving in a car: an experience that Mr. Self, a student of psycho-geography, believes has imposed a “windscreen-based virtuality” on travel, cutting us off from experiencing our own topography.”
Not sure if I am ready to call myself a psychogeographist but there is definitely some kind of identification going on. The aesthetic experience of it all is interesting and the people you are likely to meet go from completely anonymous and forgotten locals to form an incredible cast of characters for each “epic narrative ” that the walk sets in motion. Stories, we are all writing stories, but very few of us will ever participate in the epic narrative of our own lives unless we break loose from the so called comfort of things such as “windscreen-based virtuality”.
Go for a walk on a street you have never been on today.
Posted in Blogging, Other Walkers, Other Walkers, Photoblogs, Walking on August 31, 2007 | 2 Comments »
Big Congratulations to Suzanne of Catron County, New Mexico, for setting an unusual goal and getting it done!
Catron County? “Catron County is the largest county, by area, in New Mexico. At almost 7,000 square miles, Catron County is larger than a few Eastern states. With a population of only 3,543 people, the county is as sparsely populated as many an old West frontier area.”
She walked every mile of every paved road in the county! To say hello and look at her story go here.
And if you are interested in walking and blogging here are three great places to check out!
