Role Models - which one do we want?

Choose Wisely

Everyone can benefit from a good role model.  We all have them & the good ones, whether they are friends,  teachers, sports heroes or successful individuals, can change lives for the better.  They inspire us to reach beyond our capabilities, raising our bar.

In the 60s and early 70s, the automobile was well on its way to becoming entrenched as the role model of travel.  More roads, better roads and falling car prices meant more cars.  This is the period in which the automobile began to edge out cycling, worldwide.
The number of cars rose dramatically, cycling fell to the lowest levels in decades, yet the number of cycling injuries and fatalities increased to the highest ever reached.  The decline in the number of cyclists and growth in injuries for Amsterdam in the 60s is clearly seen in the chart and was indicative of  the worldwide trend.

After hitting a low in the mid 70s, the Dutch reversed the cycling trend.  They decided it was time for change.  The Netherlands is the world's most successful cycling nation.  Everyone cycles, the young and the old.  People are healthier and more active.  Health costs are lower.  The popularity of cycling in the Netherlands was restored and "made part of everyday life because it was designed to be made part of everyday life."  The bike network is continuous, safe, accessible and integrated with transit and cars.  In North America, cycling is often incorporated into design as an afterthought, something to be done after the roadway has been planned.  Cycling is not seamlessly integrated into our transportation models.

I hope you will view the short video below.  Its well worth the time.  At the two minute mark you will see the precipitous decline in cycling and rise of cars followed by the significant change a determined populace can effect.  We too can make that change but we need the fortitude to do so.  Burlington, aligned with its Dutch twin city Apeldoorn, is well positioned to take advantage of its Dutch role model.  It needs to decide to make it happen.

.... and 1 step back

Bike lane ends, where does a cyclist go?  Does he turn into the
IKEA plaza or chose no bike lane Plains Rd.

Most agree a bike lane, even an edge line, is better than nothing.  No where is this more apparent than on Plains Road, west of the QEW underpass.  The bike lane disappears and the cyclist is left to fend for himself in heavy traffic.

Once off the underpass bike lane, the cyclist - and motorist are confronted with a dilemma.  Will the cyclist hug the curb lane which is a turn only lane into the IKEA complex or will the cyclist veer left into the 2nd lane of straight through traffic?  The cyclist, even an enthused and confident cyclist, feels angst in this conflict zone.

The majority of people do not cycle regularly because they fear sharing the roadway with cars.  Cyclists can be grouped into 4 categories (2009 Cycling Master Plan page 16).

While the QEW Fairview underpass improvements are fantastic, they will be under utilized because west of the underpass there are no bike lanes in either the westbound or eastbound lanes.  There is no safe and comfortable way for the cyclist to bike from the QEW to Francis Road.  City engineers must take into consideration the bike lanes they are adding, should be designed for the 60% of Interested but Concerned Burlingtonians who will cycle when its safe and comfortable.

In 2012, the city plans to resurface and widen Plains Road from King to Francis adding bike lanes but there is nothing slated for Plains between the underpass and Francis.

Road width measurements indicate there is room for bike lanes between the QEW and Francis Road.  Grinding and painting is all that's needed.  This is not expensive work.  It's not difficult to do.  It does take foresight and attention.  This could have and should have been done in conjunction with the underpass road work!