Led By The Snows: How The City Plans To Use ‘Friendly Towing’ To Finally Clear Your Street

In the war on winter, the City of Toronto is bringing out the heavy artillery. After a month of unprecedented snowfall that has left side streets paralyzed by mountains of frozen mounds, City Hall is throwing $20 million at a program designed to increase the effort to get rid of it all and get the narrow avenues cleared.

The snow surge began with 20 crews trying to get rid of the mess. That will be quadrupled to 83, involving nearly 2,000 workers and 600 dump trucks working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

And how will all those added bodies reach the clogged areas where the space and people’s patience are already being squeezed?

Here’s the scenario: Drivers who live on streets that have parking on one side will be asked to move their cars to the opposite side so the equipment can get through. You can put them back when the work is done. But it’s not mandatory and you won’t be towed if you don’t.

Those who reside on roads that allow parking on both sides will get 48 hours notice to move their cars in advance of the plows. In a bizarre scenario that can only be termed ‘friendly towing’, the city will dig you out if your car is buried, send in the hooks to take your vehicle away if you haven’t moved it, relocate it and then move it back. “That is a tow to a new location without a ticket or a tow charge applied,” advises Transportation GM Gary Welsh.   

There’s no word on how much that program is adding to the cost. But the city obviously believes asking for compliance is better than forcing it.

If your vehicle is damaged in the process, you may be out of luck. The city says it will deal with that on a case by case basis.

And here’s something you don’t often hear: a promise that Green Hornets will use their ‘discretion’ if they find your car parked in the wrong place when snow removal is going on in your area.

Green P parking lots will also be available for you to store your vehicle without cost from 8pm to 7am so crews can get through.

How will you know when to use them? You’ll get a flyer if you live on one of the affected streets outlining the where and the when. A map is already available showing the areas affected. Find it here.

The city may be giving you a break on towing but the TTC won’t. The Red Rocket is warning drivers who park on routes where the streetcars run that if you wind up too close to their tracks and prevent their vehicles from getting by, you’ll be towed. And in that case, there won’t be anything ‘friendly’ about it.

“Our streetcar’s coming along and they realize in fact they can’t make it through, so what we get is basically a delay to our streetcar operation,” explains the TTC’s Danny Nicholson. The Commission notes that during the storm earlier this week, there were endless delays caused by the problem, with one lasting 53 minutes. 

Meanwhile back at the place where tows are still good spiritied, the mayor is specifically hoping residents will do three things. “First of all, clearing your walk if you haven’t yet. It’s not only your duty, it’s helpful to everyone, particularly clearing around fire hydrants,” lists Davd Miller. “Secondly, moving your cars … We will ask people to move their cars on streets in which snow removal is occurring. Thirdly, help your neighbours. That’s the way we can ensure our entire community remains safe and accessible.”

Miller is concerned that many seniors or disabled people have been left virtually stranded by the snow and the situation for them is becoming impossible.

So how long will all this switching of cars take? They hope to have everything finished in 10-14 days. But a lot depends on Mother Nature. With more snow on the way, it could take longer than planned if additional flakes clog up the already overburdened streets. In that case, those crews will be used to clear roads and sidewalks, delaying the entire plan.

And given the forecast for the rest of the month, those best laid plans may just have to wait.

Residents doubtful about ‘free towing’

Next storm more likely to be just rain

City of Toronto Snow Page