General Updates and News

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by GTG_78

There will never be anything close to that. Ever.

I would love to know when supporters of this sinkhole believe the costs are too much. When it triples again to $300 million? Is that worth getting a few hundred more people cycling?

In the 2021 census there were already census tracts in the inner city where cycling accounted for between 5% and 10% of commuting. (And that was a weird year because the data was collected during the pandemic, meaning way less commuting in general). There has been a lot more bike infrastructure built since then, and the population of the urban core has increased significantly, both of which have led to measurable and substantial increases in cycling. Finally, measuring commuting trips isn't the best way to determine transportation mode share. Lots of people don't commute by bike, but still use it to replace lots of other trips that would otherwise be done by car.

So actually I think that it's totally reasonable to think that for a majority of the year, we could definitely see those kinds of numbers or better on much of the peninsula. If even a modest portion of those cycling trips replace car trips, that can only improve congestion.

No one is going to force you out of your car. But good infrastructure will tempt other people out of their cars, reducing overall car traffic (not enormously but a little) and probably more importantly, keeping cyclists in their very own lane, out of your way. Win-win.

[GTG_78]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

Finally, measuring commuting trips isn't the best way to determine transportation mode share. Lots of people don't commute by bike, but still use it to replace lots of other trips that would otherwise be done by car.

So actually I think that it's totally reasonable to think that for a majority of the year, we could definitely see those kinds of numbers or better on much of the peninsula. If even a modest portion of those cycling trips replace car trips, that can only improve congestion.

No one is going to force you out of your car. But good infrastructure will tempt other people out of their cars, reducing overall car traffic (not enormously but a little) and probably more importantly, keeping cyclists in their very own lane, out of your way. Win-win.

1) I worked in traffic measurement and data analysis for 22 years. The majority of which was in this Province. I base my conclusions on my experience. And I would readily stake my entire investment portfolio on a bet of not achieving 15% for bikes.

2) Disincentivizing people from travelling in cars *is* one of the intentions. Of course, no one is going to 'force' people to stop driving yet. But one of HRM's objectives is to make driving as difficult as possible so that people feel compelled to consider substandard alternatives.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by kzt79

Not specifically the trucks, but in terms of safety there's some element of an unfortunate "arms race" on the highway. In short, you're more likely to survive a crash if driving a larger heavier vehicle. My daily driver is an SUV with capacity for 7 (or 8?) occupants. I am usually solo, sometimes 1-2 passengers. Do I "need" it? No. But it's spacious, comfortable, and handy if I need to move larger items.

Funny because I find my wife's Mini Cooper to be spacious and comfortable too.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by JET

Immigrant bashing equates with racism.
Do you deny immigrant bashing?
https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2018/07/immigrant-bashing-is-all-about-racism/

Quoting anything from that site is not going to help your argument.

What if I told you the driver I saw was from Scandinavia?

Enough, already.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by GTG_78

1) I worked in traffic measurement and data analysis for 22 years. The majority of which was in this Province. I base my conclusions on my experience. And I would readily stake my entire investment portfolio on a bet of not achieving 15% for bikes.

2) Disincentivizing people from travelling in cars *is* one of the intentions. Of course, no one is going to 'force' people to stop driving yet. But one of HRM's objectives is to make driving as difficult as possible so that people feel compelled to consider substandard alternatives.

I agree with your points. I believe in a moment of weakness a couple of the more extreme councillors have stated that publicly, though they were probably told to cool it shortly thereafter.

The really odd thing is to see the online divide depending upon where you look. Places like reddit which skews very young and left are all about promoting cycling and trying to convince others it is viable. Places like FB which skews older and more conservative are very vocal about calling it a folly and a waste of money. I think the odds of ever reaching a common ground are very poor.

[JET]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

With all the hullabaloo around hospital parking and the focus on improving healthcare it would be nice if the Province would step in to partner on expanding transit service hours to the hospital. Because yeah, right now transit isn't viable for a nurse or cleaner who is going to get off shift at 2am. I can't imagine it would cost THAT much to map where hospital workers live and keep two or three key hospital routes running 24 hours.

In London UK they have night buses,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_buses_in_London

They would also help people without cars access after hours hospital care.

[JET]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Quoting anything from that site is not going to help your argument.

What if I told you the driver I saw was from Scandinavia?

Enough, already.

We all know that the drivers you spot are not from Scandinavia.
Keep digging.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

With all the hullabaloo around hospital parking and the focus on improving healthcare it would be nice if the Province would step in to partner on expanding transit service hours to the hospital. Because yeah, right now transit isn't viable for a nurse or cleaner who is going to get off shift at 2am. I can't imagine it would cost THAT much to map where hospital workers live and keep two or three key hospital routes running 24 hours.

Another issue that nobody seems to think about is personal safety, especially for a young woman walking the streets alone and waiting for transit after getting off work at 2am. It has never been a safe proposition, and I feel that it is now probably worse than it’s ever been. If the person working shifts can afford a car, I suspect that will still be their preferred method of travelling.

As an example, I know a young nurse who does travel by car to the VG, but the staff parking has been so bad, she doesn’t bother with it, saying that she prefers to park on the street and risk a ticket.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by GTG_78

2) Disincentivizing people from travelling in cars *is* one of the intentions. Of course, no one is going to 'force' people to stop driving yet. But one of HRM's objectives is to make driving as difficult as possible so that people feel compelled to consider substandard alternatives.

Yet? So you think it's plausible that at some point HRM is going to force people not to drive?

The alternatives are only substandard because traveling by car is the only method of transportation we prioritized for about three quarters of a century, at the expense of public transit, walking, and cycling.

I think you underestimate how many people have a desire to replace at least some trips by car with alternative methods, but for various reasons that isn't currently feasible.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by GTG_78

1)

But one of HRM's objectives is to make driving as difficult as possible so that people feel compelled to consider substandard alternatives.

Please show me exactly where I can find this stated in any kind of city planning document or public statement.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Quoting anything from that site is not going to help your argument.

What if I told you the driver I saw was from Scandinavia?

Enough, already.

So what was the giveaway that the driver was an immigrant then?

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by JET

Since the silence from from other forum members is so deafening, I guess I’m the only one who has a problem with immigrant bashing.

You should be extremely careful about making assumptions about and drawing conclusions from what others do not comment on. Unless you happen to actually know commenters personally, you know virtually nothing about them.

[JET]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

You should be extremely careful about making assumptions about and drawing conclusions from what others do not comment on. Unless you happen to actually know commenters personally, you know virtually nothing about them.

What I know, and did not assume, is that until I mentioned the deafening silence about Keith’s comments about immigrants, is that no one besides me had called him on his immigrant bashing. Since then, some did and I appreciate them doing so. I understand that for various reasons not everyone will feel comfortable speaking out when marginalized people are maligned, I was just hoping that a few people would, and as I said, I am grateful that some people did. On forums we do get to know others to some extent, not closely, but perhaps close enough to hope that some will speak up. I gratefully appreciate the comments from the moderator and others who weighed in.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Maybe some of us have had enough of squabbling over stupid comments on the internet to last a lifetime. I can’t speak for others, but I’m not going anywhere near a comment that involves the “r” word. That’s not a sign of support, and frankly I kinda resent the assumption, TBH.

In my opinion, sometimes it’s better to just let some things slide rather than turning them into an issue and bringing even more attention to it. You notified the mods, a mod did something about it. It would now be gone, except for all the extraneous conversation remaining from it.

[new2halifax]

Gotta say that If I would drive here like I would normally do back in my home country, I would be 100% without a driver's license right now

[HfxGuy]

Originally Posted by new2halifax

Gotta say that If I would drive here like I would normally do back in my home country, I would be 100% without a driver's license right now

haha. Between your username and this comment you're kind of proving Keiths point lol.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by JET

What I know, and did not assume, is that until I mentioned the deafening silence about Keith’s comments about immigrants, is that no one besides me had called him on his immigrant bashing.

What you didn’t know and did assume is that I, and others who didn’t immediately jump on your bandwagon, don't care about what you characterize variously as immigrant-bashing and racism: “I’m the only one who has a problem with immigrant bashing”.

That's a wholly unjustified assumption. An asinine assumption, really.

That’s the last I’ll say on the topic.

[JET]

Well at I now know where some people stand on the issue.

[OldDartmouthMark]

This conversation is weirding me out a little. Could we move on?

[Dmajackson]

^Sure thing!

A development-only permit was just submitted for 358-364 PORTLAND STREET. The owner is looking to build a 9 FLOOR / 135 UNIT residential building. This is on the southside of Portland between Rodney and Lakefront near Maynard Lake Park. It's currently a vacant lot.

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