Halifax Active Transportation

[mleblanc]

Originally Posted by The Crow Whisperer

My opinion isn't garbage it's truth, anybody who doesn't toe the NDP party line isn't a troll.

That's the beauty of free speech you seem so keen about. You're allowed to spout nonsense conspiracy theories on a development forum, and we're allowed to laugh at you.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by mleblanc

That's the beauty of free speech you seem so keen about. You're allowed to spout nonsense conspiracy theories on a development forum, and we're allowed to laugh at you.

Well, it's really not a conspiracy *theory*, is it, since it is actually being done in front of our eyes, using our tax money.

Authoritarian regimes on both the left and right extremes of the political spectrum have long seen the private vehicle as a threat to their ability to control the populations and keep them in check. Hopefully it will never come to this, but a grassroots "revolution" of sorts of people on bicycles would be far easier controlled than one where they used motorized vehicles.

[The Crow Whisperer]

Ove 150 parking spaces are at stake on Almon Street bike lane

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by The Crow Whisperer

Yes Ed the Sock there is a car shortage because everyone wants a car, dealerships have less than a months supply of unsold cars. Nobody wants to use active transpo everyone wants cars trucks and things that go. The activate transpo money is a makework project and a boondoggle waste of money, people want to drive cars not ride rinky dinky bikes. My opinion isn't garbage it's truth, anybody who doesn't toe the NDP party line isn't a troll.

Let's be clear here – there is currently a car shortage because of supply chain issues brought on by COVID.

[The Crow Whisperer]

Hopefully, one day we will have a mayor/council who will return all bike lanes to parking for cars.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Well, it's really not a conspiracy *theory*, is it, since it is actually being done in front of our eyes, using our tax money.

Authoritarian regimes on both the left and right extremes of the political spectrum have long seen the private vehicle as a threat to their ability to control the populations and keep them in check. Hopefully it will never come to this, but a grassroots "revolution" of sorts of people on bicycles would be far easier controlled than one where they used motorized vehicles.

You've really gone off the deep end now.

[The Crow Whisperer]

OliverD, The residents/business owners DO NOT want these bike lanes to replace their on street parking. The govt is imposing them anyway. The paid shill activists who push these bike lanes down everybody's throat are elitist, authoritarian, entitled and tyrannical. They do not tolerate anyone with a different opinion. The amount of delusion narcissism from the bike lane activists is beyond belief. HCC's own stats say only 1.1% of Halifax uses bikes. But the cyclists demand that 1/3 to half the entire street be dedicated to them in the form of bike lanes, plus taking away all the curbside parking. Cars are not allowed to use the bike lanes, but bikes can still use the car lanes. There is no end to the double standards. We all pay taxes for to use the streets but now huge portions of our streets are for bikes only. Mayor and Council are lefty progressives who cater to a tiny minority of very, very vocal and well-heeled yuppies who ride bikes, and redirect city funds that are supposed to be for providing services to all taxpayers, to the cyclists exclusively. Cyclists already have bike lanes, called "the street," they can already ride their bikes in the street. I see the bike activists say "share the road" which is rich because they do not want to share the road with cars, they they want their own lanes dedicated to them where cars get ticketed if you enter the bike lane, and everybody should just have to deal with it.

[The Crow Whisperer]

I also find it deliciously ironic that bike lanes do seem to go hand in hand with dreaded "gentrification." When I was growing up in North End in the 80s and 90s,
North End was a gritty working class neighborhood. No bike lanes. Now it's gone upscale, and voila, suddenly bike lanes are everywhere and it's the government's top priority. Almost as if bike activism is a hobby for middle class, university educated yuppies. The One Percent. Coincidentally 1% is the number of people the HCC says ride bicyles in Halifax. hmmm....

[Nouvellecosse]

I often hear the whole bogus talking point about how cyclists already have use of the road, meanwhile, it's often same people who rage when they get caught behind a cyclist and tell them to get off the road. But regardless, it makes no sense for people to ignore the safety issues often present in our current roads and say that people who ride bikes are fully capable of riding in mixed traffic, all while having a melt down over having to change lanes because of bump out or something. If people can still cycle on a road despite safety concerns, motorists can certainly still drive on a road despite minor lane change concerns. Cars can still use roads that have bike lanes on them. And motorist can also use bike lanes. All they need is a bike (and yes, many of us do both, just like many people also use sidewalks).

Advocating for one's position despite the fact that opposing positions exist is not "failing to tolerate other opinions". It's called politics. In a democracy, there will never be a total consensus on any major issue. There will always be people who will never agree with you. Fighting for the position you support and against those who hold a conflicting position is simply part of participating in the system. Sure it's great to try to compromise and find middle ground, but when the other side has drawn a line and will not offer any concession you just need to fight them. Like in this case some of the people opposing active transportation policies have made it clear that they've made up their minds and no amount of facts will change them, so there's no point in trying to persuade such people. It's a waste of time. The only option is to try to persuade more open-minded citizens and members of government. To recognise that fact isn't a form of abuse. It isn't "authoritarianism" and you're not being oppressed so there's no need for melodrama. It's just politics.

[Summerville]

Just happened to check this site and see that the goofiness parade is still passing by

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Advocating for one's position despite the fact that opposing positions exist is not "failing to tolerate other opinions". It's called politics. In a democracy, there will never be a total consensus on any major issue. There will always be people who will never agree with you. Fighting for the position you support and against those who hold a conflicting position is simply part of participating in the system. Sure it's great to try to compromise and find middle ground, but when the other side has drawn a line and will not offer any concession you just need to fight them.

Exactly what is going on here with the intransigent bicycle activists and their political supporters. You are quite correct in stating it is all about politics, and the only way HRM can rid itself of this plague of wrong-headedness to to purge Council of the supporters of this idiocy. Unfortunately that is extremely difficult, given the indifference of the majority of voters to anything other than name recognition when casting their ballots.

Perhaps this is the end goal.

[JHikka]

I'll have to remember to sing the People's Anthem the next time I hop on a bicycle. How could I ever forget. Good grief.

[Summerville]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I'll have to remember to sing the People's Anthem the next time I hop on a bicycle. How could I ever forget. Good grief.

Some great things have come out of China’s love of the bicycle,...Giant bicycles. My ride of choice. Who knew?!

[ScovaNotian]

FWIW, my wife tried to buy an (electric) bike yesterday. The store was out of stock and doesn't expect to receive any more until the 2022 models are available.

[someone123]

This thread is about active transportation and in particular project-oriented discussion. Please stick to active transportation related comments or information and try to avoid wider political commentary.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by The Crow Whisperer

OliverD, The residents/business owners DO NOT want these bike lanes to replace their on street parking.

Some light reading, a 2019 report from Jenny Liu of Portland State University on Economic and Business impacts of streets with active transportation improvements:

https://nitc.trec.pdx.edu/research/project/1161

https://ppms.trec.pdx.edu/media/proj...ary-report.pdf

This study provides policymakers and planners with a robust analytical framework and evidence to support nonmotorized transportation infrastructure investment. Overall, the study found very little evidence of active transportation street improvements having a negative impact on business or economic outcomes. In many cases, improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure was shown to have positive impacts on sales and employment in the retail and food service sectors.

The food service industry seems to benefit the most from the addition of active transportation infrastructure. Even in cases where a motor vehicle travel lane or parking was removed to make room for a bike lane, food sales and employment tended to go up.

Emphasis added mine.

As the saying goes: 'cars don't buy things, people do'.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Some light reading, a 2019 report from Jenny Liu of Portland State University on Economic and Business impacts of streets with active transportation improvements:

https://nitc.trec.pdx.edu/research/project/1161

https://ppms.trec.pdx.edu/media/proj...ary-report.pdf



Emphasis added mine.

As the saying goes: 'cars don't buy things, people do'.

I would expect nothing less from an organization devoted to promoting cycling. All of those listed on their masthead are devoted to the cause.

It is similar to CCPA "studies" extolling the virtues of socialist programs. Both are lobby groups, nothing more.

[Good Baklava]

These added lanes on the dark side, at such a busy intersection, should help bring safe cycling to many currently participating in unsafe cycling. It would nice to have bike lanes not only going through both downtowns, but also to areas like North Dartmouth where there’s a big pool of potential users who are currently underserved.

I full heartedly support new AT infrastructure, yet I increasingly think the controversy surrounding lanes is understandable and normal. I’ve noticed bike lane opponents are the same who claim downtown is declining, despite the clear growth in the number of residents and businesses. The composition of businesses has changed over the last half-century, with a greater focus on places selling novel experiences rather than everyday necessities. I can can understand how a family restaurant changing into a vegan one can give off a “not for me” signal. For those who’ve enjoyed the city with the car for several decades, and witnessed the proliferation of bike lanes in the last few years, I see how cyclists and bike lanes could be associated by some with this wider transformation of urban space.

Anyway... whether it’s some scheme for a socialist planned economy or an exclusive amenity catering to the 1%, we can agree it’s a shift from the status quo.

Here are some radical “socialists” riding bikes:

Source: The Conversation

[Good Baklava]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I would expect nothing less from an organization devoted to promoting cycling. All of those listed on their masthead are devoted to the cause.

It is similar to CCPA "studies" extolling the virtues of socialist programs. Both are lobby groups, nothing more.

Something more local: Toronto Study Infographic

Passing a store more slowly and closely = more likely to stop in and spend money.
Fewer dollars put into your car = more money put into a shop

[atbw]

Originally Posted by Good Baklava

Something more local: Toronto Study Infographic

Passing a store more slowly and closely = more likely to stop in and spend money.
Fewer dollars put into your car = more money put into a shop

Never mind that you can also lock your bike to any solid object, or stop and walk along the sidewalk at will.