My father told me sex, politics and religion were three hot topics to avoid. These days you can add bike lanes to the list.
Nothing gets emotions higher than discussing bike lanes with a car lover after they lose a parking spot and their two lane road becomes one.
Bike lovers on the other hand can rejoice as B.C. municipalities commit to a future with bike lanes. They want us out of our cars to reduce excess traffic and pollution, and to get healthy.
While there’s a desire for safe cycling in our community Delta’s Cycling Master Plan is in the slow lane.
At the cities current rate of financing even high priority projects won’t be completed for 59 years. That means a Grade 5 student today won’t be able to enjoy a completed cycling network in Delta until they are 69.
I hear those in opposition claim that bike lanes are expensive and that they never see cyclists using them. Those are credible complaints for now, but the city has to put their money where their mouth is if they was want more people to ride.
Have you heard about the “15-minute city” plan? It’s the newest trend in urban planning. Cities are redesigned so that residents can walk or bike to work, buy groceries, visit doctors’ offices and attend schools in just 15 minutes of where they live.
That sounds like a delightful fantasy to me. We already have that capability in our neighbourhoods, yet parking lots are full and we face major traffic jams on our local roads.
Admit it, we are car eccentric, and getting people onto bikes to do even daily errands seems like a pipe dream. Electric bikes may inspire some, but it’s a hard sell.
For now bike the Boundary Bay trail this spring, it’s safe and incredibly scenic, and great for all ages. The next generation is far less interested in cars and we can learn from them.
I love the advice Kevin Costner was given in the movie Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come,” and what a heavenly field that was.
Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer who wishes someone could design a comfortable bike seat.
