Lack of bike lanes an embarrassment

It would appear that the traffic calming issue may be getting some serious attention — both Southview and Attlee, with articles and comments in both papers and on TV and radio.

I note that Tony Cecutti, general manager of infrastructure services says “they” (I guess that means the city), are willing to “make changes to make everyone happy.”

Perhaps Tony might be willing, but I somehow doubt the traffic people would be, as it appears that this department has gone “rogue” in their misguided “calming” efforts that are not only very expensive but potentially dangerous.

What can be done to get the city to be rational about bike lanes as an economical and useful traffic calming measure on streets such as Southview and Attlee as recommended in the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) report?

Perhaps Cecutti may be of some help, as it is obvious that the traffic people are in practice opposed to such solutions.

The general public is almost unanimous in their condemnation of the present measures and the stated objective of the city to be more “bike friendly” is as far distant as ever.

The BAC report and recommendations were received by the city with some fanfare in 2011, but according to Dave Shelstead, it was never “accepted,” which now seems obvious.

According to the BAC report, which is very extensive, thanks largely to the work and research by John-Wesley McGraw, who spent many months in its creation, it would cost about $10,000 to put bike lanes in place.

That’s a very small sum in comparison with the reported $300,000 for the traffic calming efforts on Attlee, if this figure is correct. I do not know the cost of the Southview effort, but it too likely was not insignificant.

Throughout the city (old and Greater), there is a concern with respect to speeding. Perhaps it is time to consider photo radar, if not to give out fines, but to issue “notice or warnings” to drivers who have exceeded the posted limits, and perhaps to have their names and or licence numbers posted.

If fines are allowed, they’d be a great way to raise revenues to offset the cost of such devices, plus there would be no need to have expensive officers giving out tickets.

I would be happy to be a part of any group willing to meet with the city to discuss how we can indeed move forward to achieving a truly safer environment for all — motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

It’s a little late, but better late than never if we are to ever even try to catch up to other cities in their efforts to become “bike friendly.” We cannot give up trying, as what is happening here now is an embarrassment.

John Lindsay
founding member of the Bicycle Advisory Committee