1 mile of urban freeway or ........

   ...... ~300 miles of bike network, boulevards, trails!

Portland Mayor Sam Adams

In 2009, the Spec reported the HOV lane on the QEW would cost taxpayers $60 million - 2.5% of the $2.4 Billion Ontario earmarked for road spending.  Another article included bridge widening, bumping up the cost to $380 million.

The QEW is fully built out - its now 8 lanes wide.  We can't add any more vehicle lanes!  We're done! 

So what are the benefits?  What will taxpayers save as a result of the HOV lanes?  Will the commute be faster?  Worth $380+ million???  What do we do when its congested again?


Portland, Oregon took another approach.  Portland invested in their bike infrastructure.  
“The cost of the entire bike network we have today, if you picture all the bikelanes you can see, the trails, the bike boulevards – that whole thing, cost about $60 million to build. So if it all went up in smoke and we had to rebuild it – $60 million. That is the same cost as one mile of urban freeway.”

"For the cost of about one mile of freeway, $50 million, we've built a network of 275 miles of bikeways, that's one heck of a bang-for-your-buck investment."  -- Mia Birk, Alta Planning and Design


You can either spend money or invest it!
The photo on the right, from the Ont. Bike Summit, shows the ANNUAL dollar benefit Portland derives from its INVESTMENT in bike infrastructure.

The annual benefit is $2.6B, just about what Ontario spent on its roads.   Impressive!  Yet, Portland's cost benefit analysis doesn't include health benefits, environmental benefits, quality of life benefits, economic growth (Portland is now a bike industry hub) and that special feeling you get from living in a healthy, vibrant city.

We need more investment in cycling infrastructure & "bang-for-our-buck investing."  For the same investment in bike networks for 6 communities, we could save over $15B annually!

When Ontario Bikes, Ontario Benefits

Eleanor McMahon's Share the Road Cycling Coalition released its Green Paper at the Toronto Bike Show.  Its worthwhile reading that layouts out a framework for an Ontario Bike Policy.
Highlights include: Greater investment in cycling infrastructure, Education program for cyclists and motorists, Public Awareness & Promotion (cycling is beneficial for you) and Cycling Policy & Legislation. Once the new HST comes into effect, Ontario will reap $20 million in tax revenue from the sale of bikes & accessories.  The Green Paper asks that these funds be earmarked as an investment in cycling initiatives resulting in a better quality of life for Ontarians.