One thing I missed in Toronto is open streets which hasn’t been held since 2022. However, nearby Hamilton started hosting them along King Street East from John Street to Gage Avenue since 2023 including two Sunday events this year. While Jun covered the first event in June amidst a heat wave, I covered today’s event.
Unfortunately, Helen and Mozzie couldn’t come today because GO Transit wasn’t running trains between Union and Oakville due to track construction and the cargo bike needed for Mozzie was too heavy to put on the bus racks. The good news is the replacement buses were express to Clarkson and then to Oakville, while the return trip was direct to Union.
The yellow accordion barriers were used at both John Street and Gage Avenue.
Hamilton’s Sustainable Mobility tents gave out stickers at each of the five activity hubs, as well as bike maps and bells. Metrolinx was talking about the Hamilton LRT project which early utility works are under way and contracts are to be awarded by January 2026.
There were lots of families with kids out today. Near the John Street activity hub, there were large checker, Jenga, and Connect 4 games.
Ferguson Station had some Halloween decorations and some craft vendors inside for the Village Pride Halloween Kick-Off.
A few food tents were put up at the Wellington Hub including sampling some chocolate, pickles, and sauerkraut. I also got a pretzel for only $1.50 which is quite reasonable.
Looking west from Wellington Street with the Downtown Hamilton arches. At the road crossings, barriers and crossing guards were used, as well as police cars and officers.
The Wellington Hub had a tent for GLOHW which rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes greyhounds. There were three regular sized greyhounds and one small Italian greyhound.
A few music performers could be found. This was Aline’s Étoile Magique which was part of the Zula Presents Something Else Festival.
There was a significant gap between the Wellington and Wentworth Hubs of about 750 metres. The Wentworth Hub was where I came across a bike polo match and got to try it a bit. I was told certain bikes were built specifically for bike polo; usually involving shorter flat bars. If you want to give it a try, you can look up Hamilton Bike Polo while Bike Polo Toronto hosts their games at Dufferin Grove Park.
The Wentworth Hub has a 40 foot (12 metre) high rock-climbing wall which was my favourite activity!
The Kitchen Collective – which provides a shared kitchen for aspiring local food entrepreneurs – has their own food court. Something I have never seen with past Toronto open streets events.
I grabbed a pork and beef dumpling from Alvarez’s Bakery for $3.50 which was very good.
Hamilton Public Library brought over their book bus though I didn’t check inside.
Hamilton Bike Share had an adaptive seated trike which I gave a try. It was a bit of a learning curve at first, but it gives their “Everyone Rides” initiative a new meaning to also include accessible options.
A look back at the Hamilton Bike Share tent.
Near the east end of open streets by Gage Avenue I saw some kids shoot some hoops.
Some more activity tents were set up by the Bernie Morelli Rec Centre parking lot.
Engage Hamilton encouraged people to provide input on what they saw were signs of success for Hamilton; something the city has been doing since 2015. Some small prize giveaways were also done to help draw people in.
The Leander Boat Club had some rowing machines which was a nice short workout.
On the way back to John Street, I saw this neat contraption with a bird on top and two large wheels.
For a final stop, I checked out the Steel City Swing dance tent and got a quick lesson.
After some shawarma poutine at Shawarma Royale, I then headed to Aldershot GO to see how getting to the train station changed since I last did so in 2016. Things have improved considerably with proper cycle tracks for most of the way.
The McQuestin High Level Bridge was still only painted bike lanes, but it offers great views of Hamilton Harbour.
The Toronto style barriers can be found on York Boulevard past that bridge.
Only edge lines were present on Plains Road for 1.4 km from York Boulevard to Spring Gardens Road where these cycle tracks resume.
Even Burlington is getting in on the protected intersection action now!
The cycle tracks end at Waterdown Road which only has painted bike lanes to Aldershot GO.
Thanks City of Hamilton for organizing a successful open streets event and to the organizations featured at the various activity hubs! For those of you Toronto folks who want open streets brought back by next year, please sign and share the petition which has about 700 signatures or e-mail me if you wish to sign on behalf of an organization which 22 have done so far.
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