I usually save stuff like this for posts where I collect articles about car-free initiatives, etc., but this one is so good, and so applicable to Toronto (since it IS about Toronto), that I wanted to post right away.

Kenneth Kid article on A 10-point transit blueprint not only lays out what's wrong with public transit in Toronto (not reliable, not efficient, no faster than auto traffic) but why it's been like this for so long.

Even better, he lays out a 10 Point Plan laying out super-easy techniques that cities all around the world (and even right here in Canada) are using to get people out of their cars.

He mentions cycling (how could he not), in point #8, saying (he's obviously a non-cyclist) that cyclists are excellent traffic jam creators, "fudging" traffic up so bad that drivers will get more frustrated and more likely to get out of their cars.

Why do I mention that he's a non-cyclist? I think a cyclist would know that cyclists actually improve traffic - it slows it down, sure, but by slowing it down it decreases the chance of accidents.

All those cyclists are also people who would be in a car, further bogging down traffic, or getting frustrated waiting for a bus or streetcar stuck in traffic.

Finally, when you get people on bikes, they tend to think about pollution a lot more, and tend to support initiatives like increased funding for transit.

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4 Comment(s) so far:

For a quite different take on Mr. Kidd's article, click the link.

By  John Spragge, at 1:10 AM  

Whenever someone makes that comment about cyclists it just tells me that they haven't done their research enough for me to respect their opinions further on in an article.

By  StevieP, at 9:39 AM  

I agree Stevie... apparently Mr. Kidd is a transit-lover but not so cyclist-friendly... which always confuses me... transit-boosters and cycling-boosters have similar goals at heart - the creation of a more sustainable and people-friendly city.

By  Joe (BikingToronto), at 11:53 AM  

You're right Stevie - no research was done. I checked with him directly and still haven't calmed down enough to reply to him. It is his WHOLLY UNFOUNDED opinion re his stupid cycling comment.
It reeks of him being P/O'd - like all the other moronic drivers out there - who are just angry bcs bikes go FASTER than cars bcs they are inherently a better way to commute in a city's downtown core. it's the other bloody cars that are slowing you down, Kidd!

By  tt, at 3:49 PM