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Building infrastructure that helps people bike, walk or use other active ways for getting around safely is NOT about people who currently do. It is about getting more people more frequently to chose active transportation.
Many people driving may be respectful of people on bikes. But the other people driving aggressively are enough to scare people away from riding a bike on the road even with painted bike lanes
The safe infrastructure for riding bikes we do have is disconnected. That makes it difficult to get anywhere. That makes cars the default for people who can afford them.
While the @IronHorseKW and @SpurLineKW are popular trails, they do not replace the need for protected bike lanes on roads like Westmount because they do not go everywhere people want be able to ride bikes to.
Sidewalks are not an alternative to proper protected bike lanes. We want to encourage more people to walk to get around. Sharing sidewalks makes people on foot feel unsafe and so that keeps people from choosing to walk even in walkable areas and for walkable distances.
Riding bikes on sidewalks is also not safe for the people on a bike. People coming out of driveways are not expecting them and may not see them because they are moving quicker than expected and can appear suddenly. Similarly a person making a turn driving can be surprised.
Collisions between a person walking and a person on a bike may be less severe. But does that make it ok to suggest that people ride bikes on the sidewalk? We need safe roads for all and that encourage all forms of transportation especially active forms that have positive benefits
Sidewalk collisions can also be severe. Not everyone can get up and walk away or quickly recover.
We want to encourage elderly people to walk and people with mobility issues need safe sidewalks.
We need safe places for both getting around by foot and riding bikes.
We want to encourage elderly people to walk and people with mobility issues need safe sidewalks.
We need safe places for both getting around by foot and riding bikes.
Multi use trails are a good choice when providing both sidewalks and bike lanes are difficult or numbers of expected users do not justify both. They are built differently than sidewalks. Their width makes it possible for people walking or riding bikes to share the space.
More people riding bikes or walking means fewer cars on the road. Spending money on active transportation means spending less money building, expanding and repairing roads.
Temporary bike lanes are no boondoggle. They are a nimble, cost effective way to test out protected bike lanes at a time when traffic volume is low. They help determine whether more money should be spent on more permanent options. That's smart spending.
The status quo or incremental changes are insufficient.
As a progressive, innovative Region, let's embrace a future that features a thriving cycling and pedestrian culture. To get there we need a proactive commitment to fulfilling that goal as soon as possible.
As a progressive, innovative Region, let's embrace a future that features a thriving cycling and pedestrian culture. To get there we need a proactive commitment to fulfilling that goal as soon as possible.
