Some great news!
A
petition that I started succeeded in Hamilton to name the upcoming Claremont multi-use trail has passed, to name it "
Keddy Access Trail (KAT)"
Over 1600 signatures in the petition I created less than one week ago!
"Jay Keddy is my big brother and it would keep his legacy alive and help other cyclist to be safer and get home alive !"
— Lori-Ann Keddy
"Jay Keddy was such an example of loving people of every race and ethnicity. He wasn't a giant in the eyes of the famous as we know it but he was a giant in his gracious and gentle spirit. He influenced so many people, young and old. It would be such a tribute to honour Jay in this way"
— Bonnie
"Mr Keddy was my son's kindergarten teacher. The accident happened the second year of being in his class. We enjoyed our time with him and miss him dearly. My son always thinks of him when we go up the Clairemont. Points to where the ghost bike use to be and then talks about him. He was a very involved teacher and very nice. Would be truly amazing to have the trail named after him."
— Holly
"Jay dedicated himself to making life better for all who came in contact with him; he was loved, respected, and admired by people from all walks of life. Naming the trail after him would be a great way to honour his memory."
— Daniela
"I remember going up and down that access in Grade 13, and it was pretty scary"
— Jun
"Jay meant a lot to a lot of people and having his name live on with this trail would be beautiful ❤"
— Brianna
Global News
has confirmed that city councillor Terry Whitehead will be introducing a motion to name the new multi-use trail after departed teacher Jay Keddy.
The trail will begin construction in 2019. Fully safe (concrete-barried away from cars) multi-use trail all the way from Downtown and Mohawk College.
The bottom of the trail will connect directly to the existing Hunter Street cycle track to the Hamilton Downtown GO station, which is also (eventually) receiving a cycle track extension to reach all the way there (filling the gapped section).
Jay Keddy, a teacher, cycled the escarpment, and died in at location where the Multi-Use Trail will now be built. His legacy will save the lives of future pedestrians & cyclists that need to go between Mountain and Lower City.
Many neighborhood connections are going to be connected in this Multi-Use Trail plan, and will be accessible to mobility aids (electric wheelchairs, wheelchairs), skateboarders, rollerbladers, pedestrians, and more.
It's not "Just a Bike Trail" but a multi-use trail that accomodates additional options for people who cannot otherwise easily or safely cross the escarpment, especially to get to St. Joe's Hospital or Mohawk College -- whether recreationally, out of necessity, transportation affordability, difficulty of transportation, exercise, fun, work, Mohawk College, etc.
Dedicating to Keddy's name also raises awareness of this important piece of multi-use infrastructure in Hamilton.
...."Let's skateboard the KAT!"
..."I can't walk the escarpment stairs because of my knee problems. But I can handle the Keddy!"
..."Let's take the Keddy Access Trail!"
..."I'll be able to skip booking a long wait for DARTS on the downhill direction and wheelchair the KAT instead"
..."I'm looking forward to biking the Keddy"
