I’m from Edmonton, Alberta…

I’m from Edmonton, Alberta. Hopefully there will be no need to comment on Ontario government policy ever again, so I’m submitting this comment without registering.

Last fall we spent two months crossing Canada by train and folding bicycle. We arrived in downtown Toronto on the VIA Canadian on August 23rd, unpacked our bicycles and headed out into the streets. It took a few minutes to get oriented to the cycle network, but soon we were zipping everywhere we wanted to go without delay or hassle. We did this for almost a week until we caught our next train to Kingston, where we rode to Ottawa and further east, stopping at every major city.

1) Regardless of the city or town, getting around wherever there were mobility lanes was easy, fast and fabulous.
2) Wherever they didn’t exist was slow, congested, dangerous, unwelcoming and unpleasant.
3) We did not visit or stay in municipalities where it was hostile for pedestrians or cyclists.
4) We speak highly to our friends and networks of the welcoming cities (including Toronto, Ottawa and others) where getting around was quick and painless.

Like your province, our provincial government was also recently toying with the idea of forcing municipalities to choose less efficient, more dangerous and more expensive means of transportation. Here is a suggestion that seemed to bring them to pause this initiative.

Ask ANY A.I. platform the following questions.

1) “Which is more efficient and cost effective in constrained urban environments, cycling or private motor vehicles?”

2) “Which are subsidized the most, motorists, transit users or cyclists?”

3) “Why don’t drivers understand that they are so heavily subsidized?”

4) “Is auto culture sustainable?”

I hope this helps bring some common sense and fiscal responsibility to the conversation. The last place we need more cars is in our cities.

Go Jays!

KW