Comments on: Down with “Avid Cyclists” http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/22/down-with-%e2%80%9cavid-cyclists%e2%80%9d/ The national blog network for sustainable transport, smart growth and livable streets. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:30:00 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael D http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/22/down-with-%e2%80%9cavid-cyclists%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-2867 Michael D Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:51:39 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2551#comment-2867 You can talk all you like about how to get around "there", but I know that "here" in the downtown Kitchener area, in uptown Waterloo, and around the universities plenty of people walk and cycle. Bike lanes are being put in on roads as a matter of policy, and sidewalks are being added to regional roads. New official plans and cycling master plans are reflective of a reasonable attitude toward alternative modes of travel. I've seen little hostility to cyclists. Instead of pronouncing places as hopeless, it's worth figuring out what does work, and making an effort to change what doesn't. There's much here that does work, and it's not a bad start. I certainly find the part where I live to be usefully walkable and bike-able. You can talk all you like about how to get around “there”, but I know that “here” in the downtown Kitchener area, in uptown Waterloo, and around the universities plenty of people walk and cycle.

Bike lanes are being put in on roads as a matter of policy, and sidewalks are being added to regional roads. New official plans and cycling master plans are reflective of a reasonable attitude toward alternative modes of travel. I’ve seen little hostility to cyclists.

Instead of pronouncing places as hopeless, it’s worth figuring out what does work, and making an effort to change what doesn’t. There’s much here that does work, and it’s not a bad start. I certainly find the part where I live to be usefully walkable and bike-able.

]]> By: geoffrey http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/22/down-with-%e2%80%9cavid-cyclists%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-2862 geoffrey Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:26:42 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2551#comment-2862 Kitchener-Waterloo? Tire city? Kowtower to Toyota? You need to be a committed motorholic to get around there. Sidewalks and cycle lanes are only considered as afterthoughts and only with the permission of the motormaniacal lobby. This is one of those places manslaughter is considered justified as long as the weapon has 4 wheels and the victim dared to get in your way. The colour of the light is of no consequence. The investigating officer will coach you in providing an alibi. What more can one say about a community whose big tourist draw involves imbibing mass quantities of fermented beverages? Octobeerfest anyone? And the biggest contest of Octobeerfest? See who is the first to park their motorweapon in/on/under their neighbours porch? This is the motor kingdom at its wartiest best. Kitchener-Waterloo? Tire city? Kowtower to Toyota? You need to be a committed motorholic to get around there. Sidewalks and cycle lanes are only considered as afterthoughts and only with the permission of the motormaniacal lobby. This is one of those places manslaughter is considered justified as long as the weapon has 4 wheels and the victim dared to get in your way. The colour of the light is of no consequence. The investigating officer will coach you in providing an alibi.

What more can one say about a community whose big tourist draw involves imbibing mass quantities of fermented beverages? Octobeerfest anyone? And the biggest contest of Octobeerfest? See who is the first to park their motorweapon in/on/under their neighbours porch?

This is the motor kingdom at its wartiest best.

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