1. In Oakville, council has endorsed a proposal by Share the Road Cycling Coalition asking the government to allocate 1% of the Ontario Transportation budget to be spent on municipal cycling projects. Through twitter Minister of Transportation, Glen Murray has supported this! Maybe Burlington Council will consider a similar endorsement.
2. Still at Queen's Park, Norm Miller, MP for Muskoka-Parry Sound tabled a Private Member's Bill that requires "a minimum one-metre paved shoulder on designated provincial highways that are to be rebuilt or resurfaced." The bill passed second reading on Dec. 12th and next stop is committee. It has ALL party support as well as endorsement from the CAA, yes that's the Cdn Automobile Association. The CAA is a big supporter of safer cycling in Ontario and Share the Road Cycling Coalition!
3. Back at home, the New Street public information meeting was decidedly in favour of segregated bike lanes!The street is going to be repaved. It's an ideal opportunity to add segregated bike lanes making it safer for cyclists going into and leaving the downtown as well as accessing Central Park, the library, arena, community centre and gardens.
Economically, there is a case for spending additional funds to segregate the bike lanes. The Burlington Economic Development Corporation released data indicating 44% of the Burlington labour force work in Burlington. Another 14% in Hamilton and 12% in Oakville.
Studies show the quickest way to get anywhere under 5km is by cycling. Add the commuters who drive to Hamilton, Oakville and the GO Trains the short distance commute figure easily exceeds 50%. Get some of these short distance commuters off the roads and onto safer bikes lanes and the resultant benefit is less congestion on existing roads.
Merry Christmas to all and a healthy, Happy New Year. 2014 is shaping up to be a great year for cycling in Burlington & area.
