The footage from a surveillance camera near the Vélos Roy-O store speaks for itself.
Within minutes we see several vans and cars passing pedestrians and bicycles. When some circulate at low speed, others rotate at high speed. Some even go so far as to roll on the sidewalk to avoid obstacles. The driver of a van drove so far that he easily collided with a dealer who was blocking his path.
Surveillance cameras captured several vehicles on Saint-Jean Street over the weekend.
Photo: Courtesy – Faubourg Saint-Jean
We don’t get the impression that they feel there is a danger to the population, but nevertheless it is so, says Julien Roy, interim president of the SDC du Faubourg Saint-Jean and owner of Vélos Roy-O.Il has many complaints received from residents and traders. We’ve been hit several times by different cars and trucks, he adds. Complaints were also reportedly filed with the Quebec City Police Department.
The profile of the perpetrators varies: residents of the neighborhood, lost tourists, suppliers, but it is precisely this last group that often causes many problems, according to Julien Roy.
Cars are generally better. They understand, they’re going to back off, they’re going to take it easy. But for the delivery people: They believe they have the right to go there, he said.
“There is clearly a lack of communication about what Saint-Jean’s pedestrian zone is. »
— A quote from Julien Roy
Rue Saint-Jean is closed to car traffic between Avenue Honoré-Mercier and Rue Claire-Fontaine every weekend until September 11th.
Photo: Radio Canada / Colin Côté-Paulette
From May 20th to September 11th, rue Saint-Jean between avenue Honoré-Mercier and rue Claire-Fontaine will be closed to traffic. Mobile security barriers and traffic signs are set up every Friday from 4 p.m. They will then be removed around 8pm on Sunday.
The SDC wants the city of Quebec to increase security at the entrance and on the street. Suggested solutions include: replace mobile barriers with fixed barriers, improve signage in the area, or even install bollards, those retractable protective bollards.
“Proactive”
According to Mélissa Coulombe-Leduc, councilor for the Cap-Aux-Diamants district, the problem is not limited to rue Saint-Jean.
I understand that people, traders and groups are impatient, she said. Discussions with the SDC have started. The city does not rule out the possibility of eventually installing bollards similar to those on rue Saint-Paul in Petit-Champlain.
The temporary pedestrianization of Rue Saint-Jean allows the Fête de la Musique to hold shows in the middle of the street.
Photo: Radio Canada / Raphaël Beaumont-Drouin
The presence of vehicles on pedestrian-congested streets poses an important safety issue.
It’s the music festival, there are a lot of people in the Rue Saint-Jean: We don’t want any accidents, she says.
With information from Colin Coté-Paulette