Waterloo Area has been persistently constructing bike lanes for the final couple of years, however that will come to a cease if the province pushes ahead with a plan to restrict bike lanes constructed that change automobile lanes.
Some sources advised 570’s sister station, 680 NewsRadio in Toronto, that laws is being delivered to Queen’s Park subsequent month that might change the principles round constructing bike lanes. Ontario’s Transportation Minister determined to not launch any particulars in regards to the laws throughout a press convention final week.
A neighborhood Affiliate Professor out of the College of Waterloo’s Faculty of Planning was on the Mike Farwell Present Sept. 23 to speak in regards to the province’s proposed plans.
“It’s a terrible idea,“ Dr. Brian Doucet said. “The biggest reason why this is such a bad idea is it’s not going to work; it’s not going to solve congestion and may actually just make things worse or will distract from the actual solutions that would be effective.”
“We know for example that separated bike lanes are much safer for not only people riding bikes but for everyone involved,” he famous. “There’s a whole host of other factors about ensuring everyone can get around the city safely and effectively.”
Doucet talked about among the greatest site visitors within the area is close to Costco because of the reality there is no such thing as a different method to get there however to drive. Doucet additionally thought the brand new laws is aimed toward Toronto, a metropolis that sees fixed site visitors congestion.
If the Ford authorities goes forward with that laws, municipalities like Waterloo Area should abide by it, which might change the place future bike lanes are constructed.
“This kind of threatening to limit city’s ability to make streets better for everybody is certainly not helpful,” mentioned Doucet.
Including extra lanes of site visitors received’t remedy the issue, Doucet thinks it might make congestion worse as a result of it creates an infrastructure system the place individuals haven’t any alternative however to drive.
“We look at a lot of the suburbs that have been built say over the last 50 or 60 years there aren’t a whole lot of options in terms of how you get around, so people have to drive,” he mentioned.
Doucet talked about the bike lanes constructed downtown Kitchener and those that take college students to or from the college allow extra individuals to take up biking, lowering time inside automobiles.
“It’s the same with trains, you add more trains, and you get more people riding them.”
Doucet added there are numerous roads the place it is sensible to cut back lanes and use highway area extra successfully.
“The research is actually very, very clear: bike lanes don’t cause traffic. In fact, well-designed bike lanes and redesigning roads for all users can be actually more efficient for everybody,” mentioned Doucet.
