Dear Editor:
Last week the Record featured a number of letters on urban transportation, and I was particularly empathetic toward concerns about pedestrian safety and access to Queensborough.
First, I would agree that sidewalks should be exclusively for pedestrians. However, because there are no separated bicycle lanes (not of any significant length) in New Westminster, sidewalks are often the only place I feel safe cycling with my four-year-old son. And since moving here this summer, I haven’t once visited Queensborough. That’s because there isn’t a safe way to get there on foot or by bicycle. I wish it wasn’t so.
A long time ago, my family made a decision to take responsibility for our health and for the environment by getting around as much as possible by public transit, on foot and by cycling.
We’d like to see more people join us – especially on their bikes – but I understand why many don’t: cycling often doesn’t feel safe in this city. We badly need a safe, continuous network of separated bike lanes, and I’d like to see more progress made in this regard.
A separated bike lane on Sixth Street, for example, is an obvious no-brainer and a good place to start.
In other parts of the world – Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands come to mind – cycling, walking and public transit are viewed as “common sense,” and the results are apparent in far lower per capita carbon emissions (and better physical health, too).
Here in Canada, cyclists and pedestrians have to fight tooth and nail for even the most pathetic improvements, while governments continue the outmoded policy of subsidizing car transit.
Cars are the most absurdly inefficient and wasteful way to get around in an urban environment and are largely responsible for degrading the environment on which we have until now depended.
I can only imagine how much worse the situation would be if the rest of the world were as backward as Canada.
We need to take responsibility for ending car dependence, and that starts at the personal and local level.
I encourage all New Westies to get behind civic politicians who support rapid improvements to cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
Patrick Parkes, New Westminster
