Of all the streets in the commercial area of Hamilton, lower Reid Street (the portion between Burnaby and Queen Streets) has the highest level of pedestrian traffic.

In fact, it is one of the most irritating thoroughfares to navigate, either on foot or in a vehicle, because the sidewalks are crowded; the crossings are nearly always busy; people hold up traffic darting between vehicles; and to add to the misery, there is the ever-present impediment of double-parked vehicles, which are the bane of everyone's existence.

In fact, most people think of lower Reid Street as a corridor of jostled bodies, honking horns, exhaust fumes, and frayed tempers, which is certainly not conducive to shopping, enjoying the surroundings, or conveying a good impression to overseas visitors.

The problem is not new, however, and has been discussed over the years by shopkeepers, the Corporation of Hamilton, Parliamentarians and others.

Many years ago, the Corporation briefly tried blocking off both ends of the street for certain hours of the day, but because it was an ad hoc experiment and not thoroughly thought-out, it fell flat.

Meanwhile, congestion has steadily gotten worse, and everyone agrees that positive steps must now be taken to improve the quality of pedestrian life.

As part of the Corporation's new City of Hamilton Plan public consultation questionnaire, travellers into town were surveyed on what they thought the problems in the City were. An overwhelming 75 percent of respondents said they were solidly in favour of pedestrianising lower Reid Street.

As a result, writers of the Transport Strategy Discussion Paper produced a series of options for the Corporation's consideration, ranging from complete to limited pedestrianisation, to distinctive paving, areas for al fresco dining, landscaping, ornamental sculptures, decorative lighting and more.

Since any decision will affect all stakeholders in the area, a special committee of them has been formed, and they are working together with the Corporation and the Planning Department to arrive at an equitable solution.

Meanwhile, a team from the Corporation, led by deputy mayor and senior alderman David White, who is chairman of the Street Committee, recently visited several towns in northern Florida to view pedestrianised streets, and get a first-hand look at other streetscapes and street improvements.

"We weren't concentrating on pedestrian streets only, but on how streets could be improved with less accent on through traffic,'' Corporation Secretary Roger Sherratt explains.

On the Florida tour, the group met in St. Augustine with town planners, a representative of the business community, and the Mayor, and toured St. George Street, a section of which was pedestrianised in 1984. They learned that, despite the initial skepticism of business owners over the loss of parking outside their stores, the scheme has proved very successful, and is said to attract some 2.5 million visitors a year. City officials told the Bermuda delegates that no businesses had closed on St. George Street as a result, and in fact the area now boasted the highest property values in St. Augustine.

In Orlando, the group visited several streets which contained attractive variations of full and part pedestrianisation. Visits were also paid to Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach to view several street improvement areas, none of which were fully pedestrianised.

Not unnaturally, the Bermudians were impressed with Celebration (featured in this issue of RG Magazine), which is a "made to order'' town by the Disney Corporation. It encompasses the most modern conveniences, and includes beautiful landscaping, well laid out streets with attractive sidewalks, and a magnificent fountain in the town centre which, interestingly, is similar to the millennium fountain being planned for Par-La-Ville Park.

Finally, before returning to Bermuda, the group visited Winter Park, which they considered to be one of the most attractive landscapes of their trip.

Viewing the fact-finding mission overall, Mr. White says: "We saw some excellent examples of what can be done to make improvements on busy city streets to place less emphasis on motorised traffic, and more on the people who are shopping.

"None of the towns we visited are exactly like Hamilton, so we have to carefully look at what would work for us, and what problems to avoid. We are very aware of the concerns of some of our Reid Street merchants about providing parking for their customers, and the need for them to be able to make deliveries.'' The deputy mayor assures that, while the Corporation has not yet arrived at a definite solution to ease the problems of what he describes as "the most congested street in Hamilton'', it acknowledges there is a definite need to make improvements.

"We will soon be meeting with a group of business owners from lower Reid Street who are working with the Corporation to decide on the best way forward for the area,'' he says.

Meanwhile, the Corporation has been steadily increasing short-term parking in certain areas, including Front Street and City Hall car park, as part of its overall plan.

Certainly, progress towards the lower Reid Street solution can't come quickly enough for some. A casual survey of area merchants and employees confirms that everyone is fully behind some form of pedestrianisation, and most agree that this should include making the street welcoming and attractive.

"Closing off the street is one thing. It works at Christmas, but they should make it into a really pleasant place for the public and our visitors to come to, with seats and trees and things,'' says one saleswoman.

Like some others, however, she worries that the provision of street furniture and other amenities will make the area a mecca for the vagrants now lounging in the parks and elsewhere.

"Lower Reid Street is a shambles the way it is,'' says one long-time, senior retail clerk. "You have to fight your way up and down the street, especially during the tourist season. Everybody double parks indiscriminately, and if traffic wardens exist they certainly don't on lower Reid Street, particularly right outside the Annex. More than once I've seen a car double parked there with the engine running and no-one in it.

"Lower Reid Street's biggest problem is its merchants. They can't make up their minds, so how can they expect the public to make up its mind? They need to come to a decision: what is it going to be and then do it.'' Mr. George Grundmuller, President and CEO of The Phoenix Stores, is typical of those who fully supports pedestrianisation in principle.

"I think it would be great for people to be able to walk freely and shop, and it would do a lot for the City, which is, after all, a living thing,'' he says. "We support a good and complete solution for lower Reid Street, but it needs to be done properly, and not just by closing off both ends and putting some planters around. Walking zones work well when they are done well.'' Part of the businessman's vision includes enhancing the area with outdoor cafe ms; places where people can sit and relax, enjoy a little music from time to time, and also be able to buy fresh produce and fish from an open street market once a week.

Acknowledging that the City has parking problems to resolve in this equation, Mr. Grundmuller suggests that all deliveries and services to lower Reid Street be completed by 10 a.m., after which the area is closed off. Provision for emergency vehicles, and the issuance of special permits for certain vehicles to enter the closed street, would also have to be made.

"I would like to see something done sooner rather than later,'' he urges.

"As it is, Reid Street is terrible for traffic.'' For the Hon. Wayne L. Furbert, owner of Paradiso Cafe, debate about pedestrianising lower Reid Street is nothing new. During his time as UBP Minister of Transport he fully supported the concept, and still does.

"I know some merchants have some grave concerns (about losing business), which I feel are unfounded, but I think we have a golden opportunity to create (in effect) a large mall where locals and visitors alike can wander the street, shop, and enjoy some festive things, like music. I believe if you create the right atmosphere, people will congregate -- and shop,'' he says.