Sidewalks again...

[tulip]

Sue, I think it's time you ran for City Council. Seriously. If I lived there, I'd work for your election!

There's NO cycling anyone in Richmond on the Council. And Richmond could be such a cool bike city if anyone in power gave a hoot.

[Geonz]

Sue, I think it's time you ran for City Council. Seriously. If I lived there, I'd work for your election!

There's NO cycling anyone in Richmond on the Council. And Richmond could be such a cool bike city if anyone in power gave a hoot.

I used to live in Richmond and I know what you mean.

Champaign & Urbana are two side-by-side cities. I'm in the affectionately designated "people's republic of Urbana" -- where I am on the Bicycling & Pedestrian Advisory Commission that reports to the city council and is often attended by planners, some of whom are amazing advocates for cycling (one of whom is moving away soon, AAARRGGH!!!) The Champaign council is not interested in such an entity and prefers to have loose "plans" that don't inconvenience the business entities with things like providing bicycle parking.

However, I think it's worse when the "cyclist" on the council is broadcasting misinformation that endangers our lives. Makes us all look like we don't know what we're talking about.

[smilingcat]

Ooooo have to chime in after going to the city council meeting last night and raising my cane

got the old arguments "bicyclist never heed the law and run the stop signs ALL THE time" needless to say this old geezer was no friend of cyclists.

I reminded every one that putting a sharrow sign where they want will not result in all cyclists to turn into lemmings and follow the sharrows mindlessly. The cyclists are going to use the road they find convenient for them just like every one else...

I also reminded the council member that most drivers in our areas do not come to a complete stop. EVERYONE does the California roll/stop through the stop sign and I also don't know of any driver who would be so happy to receive a moving violation for running a stop sign. (rebuttal to the comment that cyclists are hostile to the law enforcement when they get a ticket) And did he expect that cyclists who receive a moving violation are going to be happy about it?

I wish I wasn't so tired last night at the council meeting. Otherwise, I would have really blasted the bike UN-FRIENDLY council members. The proposed bike master plan was approved. It still needs fixin' cause they have designated a MUT as a class 1 bike path. Technicallity.

smilingcat

[shootingstar]

Champaign & Urbana are two side-by-side cities. I'm in the affectionately designated "people's republic of Urbana" -- where I am on the Bicycling & Pedestrian Advisory Commission that reports to the city council and is often attended by planners, some of whom are amazing advocates for cycling (one of whom is moving away soon, AAARRGGH!!!) The Champaign council is not interested in such an entity and prefers to have loose "plans" that don't inconvenience the business entities with things like providing bicycle parking.

However, I think it's worse when the "cyclist" on the council is broadcasting misinformation that endangers our lives. Makes us all look like we don't know what we're talking about.

Hopefully over time, the Commission will continue to exist. Does the organization have its own internet blog to keep locals updated? Otherwise people are not aware of the good work that you do or maybe that's already well-covered via a different mechanism for marketing/public relations?

Politics is such annoyance when cycling politicians shoot themselves in the foot, so to speak or hit on each other for political reasons.

The Vancouver city council is politicized, which does not help solving municipal problems and issues more quickly at times. There are several politicians that bike to work regularily, including the mayor himself.

One of the politicians for several years had been openly supportive of various major bike planning initiatives, recently did a nearly 330 degree turn..against a cycling initiative that she supported. Only because she belonged to another political party. There's no other compelling reason since she herself is a regular cyclist and cycling tourer.

The Bicycle Advisory Committee is made up of 10 members (i think) which does include a range of different folks with different backgrounds. Recently it did become abit of a competition to apply in writing, be reviewed and to be selected to become a member. Not all applicants are successful. This is the level of cycling advocacy interest in Vancouver, compared to several years ago.

I hear bits and pieces of developments because my partner is a member. But I must admit, I like more fun stuff. Well, at least, maybe getting some background history behind the 'fun stuff'.

I wish I wasn't so tired last night at the council meeting. Otherwise, I would have really blasted the bike UN-FRIENDLY council members. The proposed bike master plan was approved. It still needs fixin' cause they have designated a MUT as a class 1 bike path. Technicallity.

smilingcat

Congrats. smilingcat on approval of bike master plan. What is the best part of the plan that you like?

[smilingcat]

Congrats. smilingcat on approval of bike master plan. What is the best part of the plan that you like?

My city now has a bike master plan. And it didn't get shredded at th council meeting. and a unanimous vote of "aye" to the plan .

[crazycanuck]

I have an interesting question...

Could you please tell me if your city/town has footpaths on both sides of the road?

It came up in my tranpsortation class today about why we (perth) don't(doesn't) have footpaths on both sides & wondered if it's the same in other countries?

Just wondering

[OakLeaf]

I have an interesting question...

Could you please tell me if your city/town has footpaths on both sides of the road?

It came up in my tranpsortation class today about why we (perth) don't(doesn't) have footpaths on both sides & wondered if it's the same in other countries?

Just wondering

By "footpaths," is that the same thing we call "sidewalks" in the USA? Or is it more like a wider, multi-use path?

There's no national standard here. But outside of major cities and the downtown areas of small towns, most places I know of in the USA have no sidewalks at all. When there are sidewalks, I think it's more common that they're on both sides of the street, but it's not that uncommon to have a sidewalk on just one side.

[crazycanuck]

Yes, sidewalks...(or as ian likes to say " sidewarks" to make fun of my canucklehead accent)