Transportation - Cycling
Cyclists’ Rights and Responsible Governance
March 2007
Cycling advocates have focused their attention to lobbying the government for individual on-road lanes or staff improvement issues to promote cycling facilities in their City. They have been under the impression that only gradual progress will be possible to achieve in a predominantly motorized society.
This practice has been proven futile in the city of Toronto, where political
timidity and propensity to accommodate automobile transportation at any
cost to society, has been prevalent for decades.
Restrictive strategies to promote cycling lead to lack of progress and ineffective solutions, as the case has been in Toronto. The budget for cycling facilities is 1.2% of the Capital Budget for Transportation (Copenhagen allocates 25% of the Capital Budget of Transportation). Cycling covers only 1.3% of the total km of roads compared to the other modes of transport which range from 130% to 250% of road space occupancy.
A socio-economic approach to cycling based on civil rights and the possibility of litigation, was presented to the Toronto Budget Advisory Committee for their consideration on funding.
AIR POLLUTION COALITION
Queen street West, #101
Toronto, ON M6J 1G1
Ms. Shelley Carroll, Chair
BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
29 March 2007
Dear Ms. Carroll and Members:
Notwithstanding a considerable talk on the Green and beautiful city, the budgeting priorities do not reflect this message. In fact, they contradict it. Allocating funds for the expansion of roads while restraining funds for cycling infrastructure, a most sustainable mode of transportation, is inconsistent.
Budget priorities and Governance should consider that:
- Cyclists, as taxpayers, have equal rights to public streets and public funds in proportion to city commuters.
1a. The $3 M allocation to cycling represents a 1.21% of the $246M
Capital Budget for Transportation
(Cities with sustainable mobility as Copenhagen has, allocate 25%
of the capital budget of Transportation to cycling facilities.)
1b. According to Statistics Canada, 2001 Census of Total commuters of all
modes of transportation, is 2,248.055; bicycled or walked 88,150.
Presently cycling or walking to work account for almost 10% of total
travel in the morning peak period.
- Funding for the cycling infrastructure reflect a balanced
transportation system by allocating land use space in
proportion to other modes of transportation.
2a. There is no balanced transportation in Toronto, as land use space
apportionment is incommensurate with transportation demands.
69 km of bike lanes is only 1.33% of the 5,300 km of roads
(In comparison, Copenhagen covers 300 km of on-road lanes)
13,290 km of traffic lanes equals 250.7% of road space
7,100km of sidewalks (walking mode of transportation) covers 133.9% of
road space
6,895km of TTC (surface transportation, bus & street car) covers 130%
of road space
- Cyclists’ civil rights in choice of mobility, safety and health
be acknowledged and acted upon accordingly by the Council.
3a. The Municipal government is responsible for the due care and
protection of residents’ right to security and a right to life (Canadian
Charter and International Law). Yet, the city is being negligent in the
lack of implementation of well-developed cycling transportation plans,
where over 7,590 collisions have involved bicycles since 1998.
3b. The government must assume responsibility for lack of proper
cycling facilities that jeopardize cyclists’ health due to undue
proximity to automobile emissions that exacerbate respiratory
problems and migraines.
3c. As the Municipal government is responsible for providing the essential
service of Public Transit, so is the responsibility for the provision of
cycling infrastructure a social and economic right of cyclists.
Its deficiency conveys a discriminatory conduct toward couriers,
commuters, and low income groups.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- THAT the Budget Advisory Committee incorporate cycling within the
Transportation Capital budget by allocating 3.25% of funding in 2007
($7,999M), with incremental increases to 20% by 2010.
Considering that the cost of the car on society is subsidized, and that
the ratio of road damage of 1 car is greater than 2000 bicycles, the
percentage of funding recommended for cycling facilities is very modest.
- THAT consistency of funding be provided to increase cycling share of
Toronto’s transportation to generate a cycling mode split of 20% by
2010, in par with progressive cities of US and Europe.
- THAT the Council address the social and economic inequities imposed on
the bicycle commuting population and to refrain from avoiding its
obligations to protect and promote fundamental human rights by
engaging in outdated planning and diversionary bureaucratic processes..
The social and economic benefit of a properly designed and integrated
bicycle lanes network, is a prerequisite to sustainable mobility in a
green urban environment.
Sincerely,
Lela Gary |
