Dear Editor:
I have a serious concern with the amount of advocacy that bike supporters are getting in the local media lately. In the interest of brevity, let's just say that there are many cycling advocates who constantly appear in news articles and television segments, espousing the need for separate bike lanes, or the lack of need for government to have a helmet law, and how road rules should be different for cyclists.
Advocates frequently mix up the need to have safe passages for commuting cyclists with pushing cycling for social reasons, like exercise. Sure, building safe passages might get more people biking, but will they do it for commuting purposes?
Our economy and our livelihoods rely heavily on the efficient transfer of goods and services. I know there are many cycling advocates who like to refer to studies that show how car drivers have been subsidized for their road use. But none of those studies ever takes into account how badly our economy (and therefore our livelihoods) would be damaged if those roads didn't exist for drivers. In reality, we're not being subsidized - we actually depend on roads significantly.
Many cycling advocates are concerned about the environment. But I can adamantly say that concerns about the environment take a back seat to peoples' livelihoods. If they want to keep proposing activities that damage our economy, prevent jobs from being made, etc., then eventually there will be some serious struggle. If that happens, I can guarantee the environment will be a secondary concern.
Right now, for our society to remain productive, we need roads to allow for the free flow of goods and services by vehicles - much more than bikes.
I'm aware that a majority of municipalities are hoping to reduce car traffic significantly over the next 25 years, but that's not a reason to put bikes first (which is definitely what's been happening). Transit also needs roads, people.
Recently, Statistics Canada showed that two per cent of all commuters in North Vancouver were cycling. Sure, cycling might increase a little if you put in safer bike passages, but to what? Four per cent, like in Metro Vancouver?
Let's be realistic. On the North Shore especially, bikes won't be used for commuting much. There are too many hills and we live in sprawling neighbourhoods
So let's cut down the cycling advocacy a little bit.
And please, stop using Europe as an example, cycling advocates. Have you seen what's been happening in Europe over the last two years?
Clayton Mitchell North Vancouver
