JoeyMoggie

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The New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg, plans on having all yellow taxis replaced with hybrid cars by 2012.? He released his plans today, and I must say I’m well impressed and hope other large cities take note.

The plan is to replace 1000 yellow cabs by 2008, with the rest (13 000 in total) being phased out by 2012.? NYC already has over 300 on the streets now, more than any other metropolitian city in the USA.?New York City law states that all commerical taxi cabs must be replaced every 5 years at max.

There are numerous and obvious benifits to this plan, but the negatives include cabs that are still not accessible to wheelchair and other handicaped riders and this scheme will also not govern call-for-hire cars (which moreso work in Brooklyn and Queens, opposed to the yellow cabs of Manhatten).

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We got rear ended this morning.

I was at a stop sign and the lady behind me just kept driving, up my arse.

There is no physical (to the eye) damage to the car, but I’m taking it in to be sure.  If there is damage the lady has been told to expect the bill.

My neck is stiff from being tense, and all I’ve been able smell all morning is “airbag”.

And anyone who has been in an accident of any size or magnitude that the airbag goes off knows you become very senstive to that scent.  I think it triggers fear and cold for me

I’m fine.  No bumps or bruises.  I’m shaken, as is expected.  

Montreal got hit with another blast of winter.

I had started an entry earlier that I was going to post tonight when I got home about my purple crocuses starting to bloom.  I wanted to get a picture to post, and do a side by side from the earlier lightly snow covered buds I blogged about earlier here.

The drive home was dreadful, its like as soon as it melts (and subsequently comes back) everyone forgets how to drive in the snow.  Tons of accidents, very slow roads.

I’m grumpy tonight.

Here are the pictures of flowers. . . . .flowers make me happier, even if they are covered in snow.
April 6, 2007

April 12 2007 (this picture shows the same flowers as above)

Minou watching the snow

With the spring thaw, its that time of year in Montreal where the roads are a little more trecherous than usual.? Putting aside the CRAPPY driving (as mentioned here, only last week), the thaw sees large amounts of water on the roads (that occassionaly still re-freezes with colder night time temperatures).? Also this time of year is when all the potholes created over the winter are ‘unearthed’

The quick and often temperature changes causes alot of road shifting, and the potholes here in Montreal are HUGE!

Please be careful when driving, watch out for potholes, and respect the workers in each of the degel areas . . . . .

Transports Quebec

Thaw zones and periods?

The minist?re des Transports du Qu?bec reminds heavy vehicle users and shippers that, as each year, authorized load limits are reduced during the spring thaw period in order to take into account the weaker load bearing capacity of the road network during that period.

For the 2007 spring thaw period, the revised dates the load restrictions start and end in each of the thaw zones are as follows

With the spring thaw, its that time of year in Montreal where the roads are a little more trecherous than usual.? Putting aside the CRAPPY driving (as mentioned here, only last week), the thaw sees large amounts of water on the roads (that occassionaly still re-freezes with colder night time temperatures).? Also this time of year is when all the potholes created over the winter are ‘unearthed’

The quick and often temperature changes causes alot of road shifting, and the potholes here in Montreal are HUGE!

Please be careful when driving, watch out for potholes, and respect the workers in each of the degel areas . . . . .

Transports Quebec

Thaw zones and periods?

The minist?re des Transports du Qu?bec reminds heavy vehicle users and shippers that, as each year, authorized load limits are reduced during the spring thaw period in order to take into account the weaker load bearing capacity of the road network during that period.

For the 2007 spring thaw period, the revised dates the load restrictions start and end in each of the thaw zones are as follows

With the spring thaw, its that time of year in Montreal where the roads are a little more trecherous than usual.  Putting aside the CRAPPY driving (as mentioned here, only last week), the thaw sees large amounts of water on the roads (that occassionaly still re-freezes with colder night time temperatures).  Also this time of year is when all the potholes created over the winter are ‘unearthed’

The quick and often temperature changes causes alot of road shifting, and the potholes here in Montreal are HUGE!

Please be careful when driving, watch out for potholes, and respect the workers in each of the degel areas . . . . .

Transports Quebec

Thaw zones and periods 

The ministère des Transports du Québec reminds heavy vehicle users and shippers that, as each year, authorized load limits are reduced during the spring thaw period in order to take into account the weaker load bearing capacity of the road network during that period.

For the 2007 spring thaw period, the revised dates the load restrictions start and end in each of the thaw zones are as follows

I’m getting so sick and tired of the crappy driving here in Quebec.  Its just dreadful and applauling.

I’ve blogged about the driving here quite a bit.  here, here and here as examples.  That doesn’t include the two driving accidents I blogged about either (those were in Ontario).

 I just don’t understand how hard it is to follow some simple rules.  I am no saint when driving but just a few COMMON SENSE things I aways do, like signally and not weaving when driving.

When do people insist on changing lanes and passing in such an unsafe manner.  I bet these are the same people without seat belts on, smoking away as their baby cries in the back.  They turn around, and tell the kid to shut the heck up because they are on the phone.

Geeeesh!

I wish I could have a limo and driver every day. . . .

I just got out of the bathtub, I needed some time to think and soak. I soaked until my fingers were painful clenched pruns. Before my cool down bath I was speaking to my Mom on MSN messenger, she sad she had some bad news to tell me.

One of the girls across the street, “A”, someone I had danced with since she was 4 was in a serious car accident on Saturday night. She is still currently in the ICU coming in and out of consciousness. Thankfully, if i can be thankful, this conversation was about an injury and not a death.

One of the errie things is logging onto her page on Facebook, seeing pictures from her recent 21st birthday and then to see all the warm and concerning well wishes along side pictures from St Patrick’s day festivities that she had been ‘tagged’ in, at the time those pictures were posted no one really knew about the accident. . . .

The details are limited and sketchy at this time, apparently a car broadsided them going, what police believe, was over 150KM. A was thrown from the car and when rescue workers came, they said she was found more than 200 feet from the car.

I don’t know the conditions of the driver or the other boy in the car. A was the most seriously injured - a broken neck, shattered knee, crushed ribs.
The car that broadsided them was not the mangled wreak it had created in the car that A was driving it, it was still in drivable condition. Which is what it did - drive away. The lowlife cock-sucking pukes left those kids in dire need of medical attention lying in their own pools of blood. What sort of creature does that? My heart aches for A right now and at the same time I have a burning rage towards the fckers who didnt look back. Do they have no conscious? Did they think about what they were doing?

Colin and I saw the tail end of a single car accident on Friday, and we stopped. . .  . .how could we not stop?  I can’t imagine just driving past.   Shouldn’t it be human nature to want to help each other out?

Sadly, A’s family are no strangers to tragedy, just a few short years ago they suffered the kind of loss you only read about. A’s father was murdered. Something so needless and tragic rarely happens in our sleepy little town, and it was quite a shake up. If the rumours surrounding his cause of death hold any truth, the story would certainly make for a great television crime drama.

So with all that being said, I wish A and A’s family all the love, support, compassion and understanding that they need at this time. My thoughts love and prayers will be with them.

My sister plans on going over tomorrow to see her, and my mom is going to go across the street to see if her mom needs anything done.

I will update as details become available.

***Update March 21st****

Article from The Milton Canadian Champion

OPP officers are looking for a vehicle that took off from the scene of a serious collision early Sunday morning on Hwy. 401.

Officers from the Port Credit detachment are looking for a black Acura or similar vehicle that struck the back of an SUV traveling westbound on the 401, just east of Guelph Line, around 3 a.m.

The SUV lost control and struck the left centre concrete barrier, throwing a female backseat passenger from the vehicle.

The woman remains in stable condition in hospital.

The male driver and front male passenger weren’t injured.

The car involved will have damage to the front driver’s side, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call (905) 278-6131.

****Update March 21st****

From Facebook

• GET WELL “A” GROUP As we all know, our good friend A has been in a horrific car accident recently. This group is for those who wish to pay there respects and wishes to our beloved friend A, to comment on how much we love her and that we all want her to get well soon. Milton has been through a lot recently, and someone was deffinalty looking after her. Just write down whatever it is that you’d like and she will see this as soon as she is well enough.

• NOW I BELIEVE by AA    When i first hear about what happened i was so upset, how could this happen to such an amazing girl. When me and S first got to the Hospital were very nervious to see her thinking the worst. I am not lying when i tell you this she does not have even a scrach on her beautiful face no neck or back trama, she def had her Dad and Adam holding her head when she flew out the car, when i think about it, it brings tears to my eyes i can’t belive it. I now belive in angels!Love you so much A i hold you so close to my heart you are like my sister, i thank Brian and Adam for keeping you here with us it wasen’t you time!!

****Update March 26****

A is still not home.

Colin and I went on a date night tonight.  We went to Montana’s for some steak for dinner, and off to the movies to see the new Frank Miller movie ‘300′.  Totally not my cup of tea, and I’ve made it very clear to Colin he totally owes me a chick flick after sitting through all 2 hours of that movie.

In short the movie is about a war between the Spartans and the Persians. . .  .and thats pretty much it, battle scene after battle scene after battle scene.  I don’t mind the occassional battle scene, but when thats it, well - not my cup of tea.

Before we left the house we just couldn’t find the car keys.  We searched in all the usual places.  Marty and Minou watched in amusement from the front windows, Manny watched us from the front hallway stairs.  We were convinced we just wouldn’t find them, and that date night was a bust.

Then my mischievious little tuxedo thought he should be cute and roll over the stairs with his head cocked upside down, there underneath his 8lb frame were the car keys.

I swear I could see a little grin of satifaction on this face.

little bugger.

Date night was saved.

Source : The Milton Canadian Champion Newspaper

Man faces numerous charges in fatal Steeles Ave. crash

Feb 27, 2007
A local man faces numerous charges including drunk driving after being involved in a fatal crash Friday morning that claimed the life of one of his passengers and seriously injuring the other.Halton Regional Police say preliminary information from the crash site, which happened shortly before 3 a.m., suggests that a car carrying three Miltonians was travelling east on Steeles Avenue when it struck the rear of a stopped transport float trailer commonly used to move heavy equipment.

A Milton man in the backseat of the car died at the scene, while the Milton woman in the front was seriously injured and rushed by air ambulance to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She remains in serious but stable condition, according to police.

At press time, the names of the two victims and their relationship to the driver aren’t being released, but police indicated they’re both in their early 30s.

The driver of the car, 31-year-old Dylan Palmer, has been charged with impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and driving with more than the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.

He appeared in Milton Court late yesterday for a bail hearing.

Police are continuing to investigate the collision. Steeles Avenue from James Snow Parkway to Sixth Line and Fifth Line, from Steeles Avenue to Main Street, were closed Friday for almost 12 hours.

Source: The Milton Canadian Champion

Man killed in crash was 33-year-old Hornby man
Mar 02, 2007

Police have released the name of a man killed last Friday in a Steeles Avenue collision.

Jason Wood, a 33-year-old Hornby-area resident, died at the scene of the accident after the car he was traveling in struck a stopped transport trailer at Fifth Line.

A funeral for Wood, a father of one, was held Wednesday.

The collision occurred just before 3 a.m. Wood was traveling in the back of the eastbound vehicle when it struck the rear of the truck.

A Milton woman who was in the front passenger seat remains in stable condition in hospital.

The driver of the car, 31-year-old Dylan Palmer from Milton, faces numerous drunk driving charges including impaired driving causing death. He was released on bail under strict conditions after a hearing Monday at the Milton courthouse. He’ll make his next court appearance Monday.

——————————————————-

I was talking to a friend from my home town yesterday and she was telling me about a car accident on Friday. I was all to aware of this particular car accident, because it blocked the access roads leading to the Graham’s house. With frantic trips to the spas, salons and of course WalMart for last minute wedding things it was quite a pain to have to drive all the way over to Highway 25 and back around to the WalMart.

The first time I got to the blockade and asked the police what happened I was simply told to “move along” - this was at 8:30 in the morning, so only hours after the accident itself. The second time Colin was with me, and the police this time at least gave us an answer. “Fatal”.

We couldn’t see anything up on Steeles to indicate what type of accident it was. Be honest, if you were as close as we were you’d look. There were a row a school buses, and the usual construction trucks and gadgets. We assumed for the length of time the road was closed that it was either a child getting on a school bus, or a construction accident - both which would be heavily investigated.

Needless to say when I found out the circumstances, and the driver, it makes me sad to know him. His sister was hero of mine when I was younger. You hear about impaired driving accidents everyday, and its not until one touches you do you sit back and think about your own life and choices.

I thankfully have never driven my car drunk, or gotten into a car with someone under the influence. Neither has Colin.

Has drunk driving affected you. . . . .