Approving/removing bike…

Approving/removing bike lanes seems like a no brainer to help traffic flow, which is obviously a huge issue right now. However, taking away reasons for people to give up their cars is not the answer because:

1)Having a separate lane for cyclists (or anyone on wheels that move faster than pedestrians but slower than cars) helps the flow of traffic rather than impedes it for the following reasons:

a) slower moving wheeled transport requires traffic to slow down until a reasonable place to pass the slower road user becomes available. Many times drivers get impatient and try to pass when it is not a good time, increasing the chance of accidents and therefore road closures. If there is a fatality the road could be closed for the whole day while police investigate.

b) a lot of the time the bike lane replaces a part of the road that was used for parking. In this case, not only is a driving lane not fore fitted but there is no slow down in traffic while people (in many cases, try to) parallel park.

c) helps people using alternative transportation feel safer on the road and therefore more likely to use it, removing vehicles from the road.

2) earth has an atmosphere and without it, all major life forms on this planet will perish including our species. Forget climate change and consider this, the removal of trees that remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere will result in carbon dioxide levels suffocating us eventually. The less carbon dioxide we add to the atmosphere the longer it will take to reach this point we need to get away from using cars. We have a duty to future humans to do what we can to allow them to experience what we have.

3) most of the world is taking steps forward to reduce emissions not increase them. World governing bodies are asking us to reduce emissions, we need to do our part. I personally am embarrassed to live here, this province is doing everything possible to go in the other direction!