open letter to HRM councillors: transportation (fwd)

Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 10:53:14 -0300 (ADT)
From: Paul A Falvo <pfalvo@chebucto.ns.ca>
To: Sustainable Maritimes <sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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Thank you to Councillors Sloane, Uteck, Adams and Fougere, for responding
to my letter regarding transportation in HRM. Councillor Sloane is a
member of sust-mar: she sent her response directly to the list. Councillor
Uteck advises that a bike lane will be installed soon on Vernon St. Here
is Councillor Fougere's response.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 17:30:18 -0300
From: Sheila Fougere <FOUGERs@region.halifax.ns.ca>

Hi Paul:

Thanks for your e-mail and all of your input on bicycle matters. 

Where do I collect my dandelion wine?  I don't know how many other
Councillors have ridden up the ramp, although I know that on different
occasions both Councillor McInroy and former Councillor Kelly (now the
Mayor) joined me in a bike ride from the Dartmouth end to the Halifax side
of the bridge.  The difficulties with the bridge bike lane access are a
source of constant discussion at Bikeways Taskforce meetings.  Recently,
the Traffic and Transportation department at HRM spent some $$ to have a
firm draw up some alternatives to the current situation.  These were
presented to Council in July.  We won't see any improvements soon though. 
The suggested improvements have unfeasible price tags for the improvements
they would make.  There are a lot of other bicycle initiatives that could
be implemented for the same cash and would be of wider benefit to HRM as a
whole. 

One of the simplest improvements would be to allow bicycle traffic on both
sides of the bridge but the current Board of the Bridge Commission is
strongly opposed to this. 

Metro Transit has been great in investigating bicycle friendly
improvements.  At the request of the Bikeways Taskforce they researched
bicycle racks for buses.  They are not unwilling.  The currently available
racks do not meet URB standards and would have to be modified.  Metro
Transit also alternates vehicles amongst its routes, so would have to look
at equipping all buses to make the service reliable.  Large price tag, but
until Council makes transportation a greater priority in the budget, it's
not likely to happen. 

The bicycle lane on Brunswick street is part of a plan.  It really only
came into being last year because the opportunity to re-line the street
occurred after some resurfacing was done.  The Bikeways Taskforce has a
series of potential routes identified.  Hopefully this fall both a
Transportation Demand Management Technician (focusing on pedestrian and
cycling issues) and a Consultant (who will pull together all the various
elements being worked on regarding cycling into a master plan), will be
hired.  I am optimistic that this will yield progress. 

I hope these initiatives give you some cause for optimism.  We also need
help pressuring the Provincial Government into looking more seriously at
the issues surrounding bicycle transportation and improving Driver
Education as it relates to sharing the road with cyclists. 

Again, thanks for your interest.

Sheila Fougere
Councillor, District 14
Chair, HRM Bikeways Taskforce
fougers@region.halifax.ns.ca

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