Re: Comprehensive Bicycle Plan, October 23 2007
Dear Worship the Mayor and Members of the City Council of Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Since I just missed the deadline to become part of the citizens advisory board on the bicycle issue, I want to make sure you all will give thought to the following points.
Upon reading that it will take 10 years to complete a bicycle path network in the city, I would strongly urge a fast track approach. There must be a way if we can get million dollar bridges and roads built in a snap.
One of my suggestions is to immediately incorporate adequate paths and signage (including electric stoplights for bicycles to the NEW roads and bridges in all areas of the City.) All the suburbs, shopping malls are built for cars and trucks. A great opportunity to take a progressive and participation approach (and cut back on costs.)
The City has to take the bull by the horns and built that cycle network first. Which then would work harmoniously with the education component of the overall plan.
If the city does not follow that logic, the emphasis of education will be on signage and helmet laws, which is what we will be teaching in the schools no doubt.
In regards to the education part, I want to contribute my personal experience (as a I have on a previous occasion in the form of a power point presentation, earlier this year) as a 1st grader in the Netherlands, where the police worked with only the elementary school, in setting up miniature roads, sidewalks, stop signs and lights, to assess the knowledge we, as kids had acquired in the classroom about traffic rules. Under the police supervision we had tests, as serious as we, in Canada as adults have for our driver's license, and similarly, we were became knowledgeable and agile cyclists in the form of awards, the ultimate one ofcourse was to participate in the real world of cycling and going to school on your own.. This system only worked and still is, because there is a totally incorporated and safe cycling network in the whole country.
In summary, again, please focuss on building the network starting NOW, full force, so no bandage solutions have to pester and endanger cyclists in particular in the 10 years to come.
Thank you,
Antoinette Martens
And please go to my blog on cycling:
hamlegworks.blogspot.com
Dear Worship the Mayor and Members of the City Council of Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Since I just missed the deadline to become part of the citizens advisory board on the bicycle issue, I want to make sure you all will give thought to the following points.
Upon reading that it will take 10 years to complete a bicycle path network in the city, I would strongly urge a fast track approach. There must be a way if we can get million dollar bridges and roads built in a snap.
One of my suggestions is to immediately incorporate adequate paths and signage (including electric stoplights for bicycles to the NEW roads and bridges in all areas of the City.) All the suburbs, shopping malls are built for cars and trucks. A great opportunity to take a progressive and participation approach (and cut back on costs.)
Incorporating cyclists in the inner city plan will be more complicated due to the existing streets and pedestrian walkways. However creativity and will to change the lay-out to effectively incorporate change are of utmost importance. Signage such as: "Walk your bike" is nice but underlines the real problem. Why are there cyclists on the sidewalks in the first place? Why would you want to walk your bike to reach your destination?
The City has to take the bull by the horns and built that cycle network first. Which then would work harmoniously with the education component of the overall plan.
If the city does not follow that logic, the emphasis of education will be on signage and helmet laws, which is what we will be teaching in the schools no doubt.
In regards to the education part, I want to contribute my personal experience (as a I have on a previous occasion in the form of a power point presentation, earlier this year) as a 1st grader in the Netherlands, where the police worked with only the elementary school, in setting up miniature roads, sidewalks, stop signs and lights, to assess the knowledge we, as kids had acquired in the classroom about traffic rules. Under the police supervision we had tests, as serious as we, in Canada as adults have for our driver's license, and similarly, we were became knowledgeable and agile cyclists in the form of awards, the ultimate one ofcourse was to participate in the real world of cycling and going to school on your own.. This system only worked and still is, because there is a totally incorporated and safe cycling network in the whole country.
In summary, again, please focuss on building the network starting NOW, full force, so no bandage solutions have to pester and endanger cyclists in particular in the 10 years to come.
Thank you,
Antoinette Martens
And please go to my blog on cycling:
hamlegworks.blogspot.com
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