Hamilton’s escarpment stairs now open for essential trips only

After a brief period in which all of Hamilton’s escarpment stairs were closed off amid COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, the city has removed the barricades and reopened the stairs for use.

However, there’s a catch: the escarpment stairs are only to be used for essential travel reasons, such as going to work, getting groceries, or attending a medical appointment.

City of #HamOnt bylaw officers will be 'proactively' enforcing the escarpment stairs' closure and issuing fines to those who use the stairs for non-essential travel. https://t.co/Iw8FAmZEDT

— 900 CHML (@AM900CHML) April 19, 2021

This means that Hamiltonians who like to use the escarpment stairs for recreational and exercise purposes are out of luck for the foreseeable future, with the restrictions intended to help mitigate further spread of COVID-19 amid the pandemic’s aggressive third wave.

Bylaw officers are expected to regularly monitor Hamilton’s escarpment stairs, ensuring that all locals attempting to travel the stairs are doing so for essential reasons only and are wearing a mask.

Anyone deemed not to be using the stairs for essential reasons could be subject for a $500 fine under Hamilton’s physical distancing bylaw.

What’s not clear, however, is how many activities would constitute “essential” travel on the escarpment stairs, and how bylaw officers would ultimately make a call regarding the nature of the travel.

To read a full list of the COVID-19 restrictions in Hamilton, visit the city website.

Lead image courtesy of Google Maps

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