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This is an open letter to HRM councillors. I am sending it to the Sustainable Maritimes (sust-mar) mailing list (circulation: 321) and copying it directly to Mayor Kelly and Councillors. Although my views may be shared by others, I write only on my own behalf, and not on behalf of any organization. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Dear Mayor Kelly & Councillors: This letter is not a reaction to the recent bicycle fatality. I have long been intending to write regarding transportation issues. But, last month's tragedy was a reminder to me, and hopefully also to you that HRM Council needs to show some leadership on transportation issues. But first ... praise where praise is due. We should commend and thank HRM for taking positive steps in several areas. 1. I understand that money has been allocated for new bike racks. It's a tiny fraction of the amount being spent on the new (car) parking garage. But it will provide much needed bicycle parking downtown. I believe we have Councillor Sheila Fougere, and the Bicycle Committee, to thank for this initiative. 2. The MacDonald bridge now has a bike lane. More on that later, but it is a great start. It has increased greatly bike traffic across the harbour. 3. Halifax has a bike lane, on Brunswick Street. At two-blocks long, it obviously cannot be viewed as anything more than a good beginning, a prototype for a future network of bike lanes, one that will actually take bicycles from place to place around HRM. A good start nonetheless. 4. Metro Transit lets bicycles ride on the ferries! This is a great step in encouraging fitness, clean air, and efficient intermodal transportation. WHY should HRM invest scarce funds in alternatives to cars? Bicycles make sense ... and save dollars. a. HRM's ENVIRONMENT: A July Decima poll shows that an overwhelming majority of Canadians believe that humans are responsible for the climate change that is causing bizarre weather. An overwhelming majority want our elected leaders to do something. [N.B. A declining minority still thinks climate change is *not* caused by humans (and our cars). Even if they are right, the "worst-case" scenario of taking 'unnecessary' action on climate change is that our children will have cleaner air to breathe.] b. HEALTH: In addition to the obvious health benefits to the collective population (i.e. cleaner air), bicycles help individual citizens achieve better personal health. [No one gets in shape sitting in a car!] c. ECONOMIC: Cars are but a means to an end. Moving *people* ought to be the goal of transportation policy. Bicycles get people moving. They move slow enough that they can see things, like local stores. And stop at Councillor Fougere's new bike racks. And go in and spend money. Locally. Thereby supporting local merchants instead of big box stores "from away", or mail-order, or e-commerce ... none of which help HRM much. WHAT TO DO? BIKE LANES 1. Finnish that bike lane, please! It's a great start. But two things need to happen: a. Police and HRM need to start taking it seriously. That means ticketing the tour busses that park on it, regularly. That means clearing the adjacent snow in winter, so cars don't park on it. And ticketing cars that do. [Thanks, Councillor Sloane, for your work on this, last winter]. I have seen cyclists ticketed for not wearing a helmet. I have never seen a car ticketed for parking on the bike lane. b. there needs to be more than 2 blocks. Extending it to surround the Citadel would give cyclists somewhere to go for recreation. Extending it through the city would let us get to work and school and shopping. Bike lanes save lives! BIKES ON BUSSES 2. In other cities, cyclists can put their bikes onto BIKE RACKS on (outside) PUBLIC TRANSIT BUSSES! What a great way to encourage public transit and bicycling. Has Metro Transit considered this? Will HRM Council push for bicycles on transit busses? BRIDGE ACCESS 3. Let's do something about that BRIDGE access! It's terrible. Has any HRM Councillor actually tried that ramp? Requiring cyclists to bike down to Barrington Street and then bike up the access ramp is ridiculous. Especially hard on elderly and beginner cyclists. Whomever designed the bridge access should have his engineering ticket revoked. He -- or she -- obviously has never ridden a bicycle, or doesn't know about elevations. I will personally give a bottle of dandelion wine to any HRM Councillor who has actually ridden up that ramp. [Bet you'll be tempted to lift your bike over the fence!]. Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Here's hoping HRM will correct this ... and encourage the use of the bridge bike ramp ... an otherwise excellent resource. Thank you for reading this far! And thank you for the positive steps that HRM Council has taken and is taking to make HRM a bicycle-friendly and environmentally-responsible city. ~paul :) _________________________________________________________________________ Paul A. Falvo, LL.B. 902-454-9573 [If time-sensitive, pls put "URGENT" in subject line ... or PHONE. Thx!]
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