in terms of use, olmsted’s report recommended that every detail be suitable for the weak and the poor so that everyone — not only healthy and the rich — would be able to enjoy the mountain.
pathways should be smooth and gentle, with slopes not exceeding two per cent; the park should be designed for the largest segment of the population; and no part of the mountain should be reserved for any select group of citizens.
his report was visionary at the time and remains relevant today.
in recent weeks, municipal voices and their allies have claimed that turning camillien-houde way into a steep pedestrian pathway and cycling road would be the way to highlight olmsted’s heritage.
really?
there are numerous long stretches along camillien-houde that exceed a 10-per-cent slope, which is beyond the maximum recommended for universal access. that means only a small portion of the population could successfully ride a bicycle to the summit — and fewer yet with an unassisted bixi.
riding downhill could also be extremely hazardous given the steep inclines that entice cyclists to travel at high speeds, for some as a reward after a tough climb.
in 2017, a cyclist was killed after colliding with the back of a vehicle whose driver was attempting an illegal u-turn. imagine a peloton of cyclists descending at high speed and suddenly coming face to face with an exhausted cyclist zigzagging up the same pathway — a typical method of reducing the steepness of the climb — or a group of children crossing the road to reach the other side.