Good news, follow-up to yesterday’s blog post.
Commonsense citizens prevail!
Toronto City Council voted 21-3 in favor of removing its tobogganing ban, reversing a Jan. 14 directive that banned the activity on a select number of hills because of the possible risk of injury due to the obstruction of trees, ditches, trails, and fences.
The motion will see the city remove signs prohibiting tobogganing and install new warning signs about the potential risks, along with information about the designated tobogganing hills in the city. The motion also calls for local councilors to be consulted and approval obtained from Community Council before tobogganing is prohibited on any hill.
Despite the lack of snow this winter, Torontonians can now go tobogganing on any of the 45 hills the city previously deemed “unsafe.”
Toronto City Council voted 21-3 in favor of removing its tobogganing ban, reversing a Jan. 14 directive that banned the activity on a select number of hills because of the possible risk of injury due to the obstruction of trees, ditches, trails, and fences.
Councillors Mike Colle (Eglinton-Lawrence), Stephen Holyday (Etobicoke Centre) and Gord Perks (Parkdale-High Park) were the three who voted against the motion.
“I want to make the change to permit tobogganing today,” said councillor Brad Bradford.
Wednesday’s motion will see the city remove signs prohibiting tobogganing and install new warning signs about the potential risks, along with information about the designated tobogganing hills in the city.
“We have a lot of park staff across the city so there is no shortage of resources to get out there to take [the old signs] down. Then, frankly, put the safety measures in place that we used to [have].”
In addition to replacing the signage, city crews will reintroduce hay bales that were previously in place at hills where tobogganing was previously prohibited.
Councillors were also informed that any changes to the tobogganing program would increase the City’s exposure to liability for any injuries sustained.
The motion also calls for local councillors to be consulted and approval obtained from Community Council before tobogganing is prohibited on any hill.