Don't worry, say the councillors and mayor who voted no against the proposal. Burlington is a cycling friendly city and we'll champion this by spending millions on precarious, dated cycling infrastructure projects! Specifically, Burlington will be pouring millions into multipurpose paths. They will be put on the following streets:
Lakeshore Road (Torrance to Burloak)
Fairview St. (Walkers to Appleby)
Mainway (Northside to Walkers)
It doesn't matter that multipurpose paths, bisected by numerous driveways, next to roadways are hazardous.
It doesn't matter that MTO, AASHTO and transportation experts no longer promote multipurpose paths, bisected by driveways next to roadways.
Don't worry, cried those who voted no. We know better! We know more than experts and researchers. We have our fingers on the pulse of the people .... and an election is coming in 2014! And we'll spend taxpayer dollars on an Active Transportation Plan & experts because we need to get people out of their cars & its the right thing to do..... but if there's opposition, we may not implement it!
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| Dangerous Safer |
The Regions of Waterloo and Peel are in the process of completing their AT plans. We can learn from them. They've already done much of the leg work. The chart above from the UBC research study on Bicyclists’ Injuries and the Cycling Environment, compares cycling infrastructure types and the degree of danger associated with cycling them.
Multipurpose paths can be used to encourage cycling but they must meet specific criteria to be safe. There must be few driveways and side street intersections, <1 per 300m. None of the above routes meet this rule.
Sometimes the pulse of the people is wrong. Years ago, people didn't want to be restricted by seat belts. They would cause more accidents, they cried. Before that, restaurants and bars, needed smoking otherwise they would go bankrupt!
It was a difficult decision. Emotions ran high. Misinformation was rampant. A few councillors listened to the constructive positive arguments brought forward. Thank you and my appreciation to Councillors Craven, Dennison and Lancaster who voted to make a safer, better Burlington.
Year's earlier, our city's legal department sought opinions regarding the use of edge lines and bike lanes differentiating between them to avoid potential lawsuits. Let's hope these dangerous multipurpose paths, bisected by driveways, next to roadways don't end up costing the city far more than the millions to install them.
NCDOT – Bicycle Facilities Guide: Types of Bicycle Accommodations
Bicyclists’ Injuries and the Cycling Environment - highly recommended reading
MTO (1996) Ontario bikeways planning and design guidelines.pdf 2.6 - currently under revision as MTO Bk 18
Bicyclists’ Injuries and the Cycling Environment - highly recommended reading
MTO (1996) Ontario bikeways planning and design guidelines.pdf 2.6 - currently under revision as MTO Bk 18
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