Located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Main St West and Osler Drive, CNIB Loop (called Main West Loop on internal HSR documents) was named for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind's Hamilton centre. The loop was actually part of the CNIB's parking lot, and allowed for service directly to the front door of the CNIB. Because of the presence of the CNIB, the bus stop that would normally be located on the intersection's corner was instead part of CNIB Loop, and so nearly every route that passed by the CNIB pulled into the loop to unload and load passengers
In addition to providing service to the CNIB, CNIB Loop was created so that HSR buses could turn around when they reached the city limits of the old city of Hamilton (the boundary between Hamilton & Dundas is a few hundred metres to the west). The loop was constructed sometime in the 1950s, and since then was used primarily by the many branches of the 5 MAIN WEST bus.
With the relocation of the CNIB in 2005, the site was sold for redevelopment. The HSR decided to extend the 5B MAIN WEST route westwards to University Plaza, and as of March 26, 2006 CNIB loop was no longer in regular use. Shortly thereafter, redevelopment of the site began, and CNIB loop became just a memory.
(All photos © Tom Luton, except where noted)
This overhead photo of CNIB loop (complete with bus) shows its location in relation to the intersection of Main St West and Osler Drive. Buses turning around and heading eastwards along Main St West would pick up passengers at the eastbound stop, located to the east of the intersection. (In the photo, the bus shelter is the small building located below the 'W' in 'Main Street West') (Photo courtesy of Google Earth)
HSR #8512 at CNIB Loop, October 3 1985. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
HSR #978 at CNIB loop, spring 1999. (Photo by Roger DuPuis, used with permission. From Latter Day New Looks website, now offline)
HSR #8206 waiting between runs at CNIB loop, Jan 18, 2002
HSR #8601 exiting CNIB loop, June 4, 2004
HSR #9910 entering CNIB loop, April 18, 2004
