Race road closures garner criticism

When cities host major races and marathons, it's inevitable there is going to be both support for the events along with a healthy dose of criticism.

When cities host major races and marathons, it’s inevitable there is going to be both support for the events along with a healthy dose of criticism. For races happening in the next few weeks, this is proving to once again be true.

Organizers of the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon recently announced a number of road closures in the area on race day, Sunday, Oct. 9. The closures start from as early as 7:15 a.m., and continue on until 2:30 p.m.

But not everyone is thrilled with the closures. In a letter to the Victoria Times-Colonist, Victoria resident S.R. Sinclair says he’s “miffed” by road closures for the races.

“Yes, I am miffed by marathons – always for some worthy cause, but virtually all on Sunday morning,” he writes. “The next one is on the Thanksgiving weekend, surely a time for families, not for these running rituals. Many people always have access to their church impeded. Why should people be denied use of so many streets so many Sundays each year? And why could the events not be confined to the university campus, even if it means going round and round?”

Race organizers in Toronto have also taken their fair share of criticism over the years, particularly since the city’s two major marathons – the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and the GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon – traditionally took place within three weeks of each other in the fall.

After an excessive amount of criticism, including highly-publicized comments from then-mayoral candidate Rob Ford, GoodLife organizers agreed to move that race to a weekend in early May. Unfortunately, the race then coincided with another GTA marathon, the Mississauga Marathon.

Back in September, 2010, Ford told CTV News the marathons could be held in Toronto parks such as High Park or Downsview Park, and on bike paths. “Every year, we have the same problem over and over again,” he said at the time. “People just say: ‘Oh well, it’s a marathon. We’re just shutting down the city.'”

But with the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon coming up on Oct. 16, Mayor Ford seems to have back-pedaled on his earlier criticism.

In a recent ‘proclamation,’ Ford has declared Oct. 10-16 as “Marathon Week” in Toronto.

“NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor Rob Ford, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim October 10 – 16, 2011 as ‘Marathon Week in Toronto’ and congratulate all of the organizers and volunteers involved in this week’s many celebrations,” he wrote in the proclamation.”

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