Police to launch road safety blitz in Toronto's Chinatown
Two-week campaign called Operation Blue Dragon
Last Updated: Friday, March 30, 2007 | 8:11 AM ET
CBC News
Toronto police will soon launch a two-week campaign to crack down on bad drivers, wayward walkers and reckless cyclists in the city's downtown Chinatown.
They're hoping the blitz, called Operation Blue Dragon, will make the community safer.
It was organized after numerous complaints from residents and merchants about the "aggressive and distracted attitude of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians," police said in a news release.
Police said they have the support of community leaders to conduct the campaign from April 2 to April 13.
Police said they're targeting Chinatown not because there are more collisions in the area, but because it's one of the busiest parts of the city.
Winnie Wong, chair of the Chinatown Community Police Liaison Committee, said the problem is too many cars and too many people in the bustling commercial district.
"People are so eager to walk past the street, to cross the street, so they cause a lot of problems."
Ralph Hui, president of the Toronto Chinese Business Association, said he likes the idea of an increased police presence in the area.
He doesn't think traffic is that heavy, but he would like to see a drop in the number of vehicle break-ins and robberies.
