The Task Force Has a Plan for Back to School Too

I applaud the efforts of the Downtown Nightlife Task Force, the Guelph Police, City Hall, the Central Student Association and the University of Guelph, but having been downtown in the way early hours of Sunday morning, I can say that wrangling all those people is like trying to herd cats through an open field. But once again, there seems to be a plan.

I used to be pretty defensive of the U of G students that take part in the downtown festivities, and to an extent I still am. For the last year, I've worked at a job that, shall we say, leaves me a bit more exposed to the weekend revelers that I might have been otherwise on a regular basis, and from this new perspective, I reognize that some of the biggest troublemakers aren't always U of G students, but ones who come from out of town, both feeding and feeding off the Downtown Guelph reputation. Indeed, it seems like it's all a self-fulfilling prophecy now, we prepare for trouble as opposed to insisting that people exercise even a fraction of either temprance or decency. But that's a whole other conversation, so I'll digress for now.

Here's the press release from the city:

Guelph, On, August 28, 2013 – Guelph’s Downtown Nightlife Task Force will launch the Safe Semester project this Saturday, August 31, 2013.

The project is designed to create a safe and enjoyable environment for downtown patrons including the expected influx of students starting school in Guelph next week.

“Our community looks forward to students returning each year in the fall,” says Guelph’s Chief of Police, Bryan Larkin. “Safe Semester is one part of making that return as smooth as it can be for both students and other residents.”

The task force — which includes representatives from the Downtown Guelph Business Association, the Guelph Police Service, the University of Guelph, the City’s by-law compliance and enforcement, public works, downtown renewal, and transit departments, the Downtown Residents’ Neighbourhood Association and several downtown businesses — is working to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and drivers getting in and out of downtown on weekends, and to prevent littering, public urination and other nuisances.

What to expect on weekends downtown

On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.:

• Macdonell Street will be closed to traffic between the Macdonell parking lot and the West Parkade.
• Wyndham Street will be closed to traffic between Carden Street and Cork Street.
• One accessible portable washroom will be placed at Guelph Central Station.
• One accessible portable washroom will be placed in the Macdonell Street parking lot.
• One taxi stand will be located on Carden Street at Macdonell.
• All parking lots remain open and accessible.

Downtown Guelph Nightlife Map

“We’re hoping the changes in traffic flow will prevent collisions and increase safety for people walking and driving downtown,” says Allister McILveen, Guelph’s traffic and parking manager. “We want everyone to get home quickly and safely at the end of the night.”

Safe Semester will run until Saturday, September 28, 2013.

“We’re hoping the changes in traffic flow will prevent collisions and increase safety for people walking and driving downtown,” says Allister McILveen, Guelph’s traffic and parking manager. “We want everyone to get home quickly and safely at the end of the night.”

Safe Semester will run until Saturday, September 28, 2013.