General Cycling Discussion - Local newspaper asking for opinions

The local wekend paper ran a small article on the front page asking for peoples opinion on traffic in our city - where we think the worse tie ups are and what we would do about it.

JEEZ! I don't know where to start! I see no point in discussing where the tie-ups are it is bad everywhere and will only get worse. We should not focus on freeing up the congested areas but concentrate on reducing our reliance on the automobile.

But how to get the message across in 250 words or less!! I have so much to say on what can help free up our roads and make them safer:
- bicycle commutters
- car pools
- better and MANDATORY driver education (not just a test)
- cyclists education starting from elementary school
- stiffer penalties for speeders (take away license for period of time)
- bicycle awareness in our driver ed. programs
- better bus service
- lower car insurance rates for people who car pool (more incentive)
- better cycling infrastructure (lanes, paths, lockers, etc)
- make cell phone use illegal!!
- reduce harrassment of cycllists and pedestrians by motorists
- reduce posted speed limit


I own 2 cars and do not want to loose them nor do i want to pay more insurance, gas, or taxes. I feel the car is a very important transportation tool for long distances and heavy loads, but I try to reduce my use as much as possible. Incentives and education would go a long way.

I don't know how or where to begin my letter to the newspaper! HELP!!

Digger

Originally posted by digger
JEEZ! I don't know where to start! I see no point in discussing where the tie-ups are it is bad everywhere and will only get worse. We should not focus on freeing up the congested areas but concentrate on reducing our reliance on the automobile.

But how to get the message across in 250 words or less!! I have so much to say on what can help free up our roads and make them safer:
- bicycle commutters
- car pools
- better and MANDATORY driver education (not just a test)
- cyclists education starting from elementary school
- stiffer penalties for speeders (take away license for period of time)
- bicycle awareness in our driver ed. programs
- better bus service
- lower car insurance rates for people who car pool (more incentive)
- better cycling infrastructure (lanes, paths, lockers, etc)
- make cell phone use illegal!!
- reduce harrassment of cycllists and pedestrians by motorists
- reduce posted speed limit

Digger


Digger,

I suppose you are speaking of Halifax (which I have visited quite a few times in Summer and not at rush hour).

What's lacking in Montréal -- and most likely in Halifax -- is intermodal transportation. It should be easy to commute partly on bike and partly by bus. Some cities have bike racks on busses, but what about special "large object" routes, maybe at twice the fare, but where bikes and other cargo would be inside, away from the elements. And because it would cater to travellers on bike, it would have stops only every 5 or 10 km.

Access to bridges -- to all briges -- is also important.

Enticing schools and businesses to use staggered hours would also improve drastically the situation.

Regarding car drivers, I don't have problems with speed limits (many are too low to be taken seriously), and even with cell phones per se. However, inattentive drivers should be punished. I dream of the day when the police will use a video to film zigzagging drivers (which means they go too fast for their skill levels) and too-close drivers (which means they are impatient). Likewise, they could hide in the bush and pop-up a fake childon the roadside; if a person doesn't stop suddently, it means he is sleepy or inapt for driving: two serious offences.

BTW, banning cell phones while driving doesn't make sense unless we ban eating and drinking while driving.

Regards,

I agree with Digger. I walk, cycle, or ride public transit whenever it is reasonable for me to do so, but I would not want to be without a car. (We currently have two cars and three drivers in our family, and have no immediate need for a third car.)