Tale of Two Cities

It was the best of times, the age of wisdom, the spring of hope.  It's 2012 and Burlington ranks as Canada's second best city to live.  


Burlington's impressive standing was despite ranking 163 out of 190 in the Walk/Bike to Work Category.

Can Burlington continue its ascent up the rankings or even maintain its lofty position?





At the 2012 Ontario Bike Summit we learned that Richmond, B.C. fell from number 62 on the list to number 100 in 2012.  As the article to the right points out, some feel the lack of cycling options in Richmond, helped to lower its ranking.

It is said the Chinese character for Crisis consists of two characters representing Danger and Opportunity.

The danger in Richmond's lack of focus may have contributed to its fall from 62 down to 100 in the bottom half of the 50 percentile.

Burlington's 2009 Cycling Master Plan targeted an average 6.2km of new bike lanes each year from 2012 to 2015.

In 2012 Burlington's Roadways Capital Projects report is forecasting only 1.5km of new bike lanes in 2012 followed by 1.8km of new bike lanes in 2013.

We should learn from Richmond, B.C.  Some will see the danger in Burlington's rank in the Walk/Bike to Work category.  The more prescient ones will take it as an opportunity to move up the rank and take action to get more cycling infrastructure done to solidify our position as Canada's 2nd best place to live.

(With apologies to C. Dickens.)