Some food for thought - perhaps relevant to our city and optics.
http://business.financialpost.com/opini ... ng-cycling
More thoughts on bike lanes and how we are perceived
Moderator: mfarnham
Re: More thoughts on bike lanes and how we are perceived
Yes, but as perceived by grumpy dinosaurs who write for the National Post! Reading through some of the rest of this practiced contrarian's oeuvre, my skepticism-radar starts pinging away.
One need not look further to find resentment these days than drivers' faces on Pandora as they have to wait for bikes before they can turn right on a green. Some may not realize that souring the experience of incredibly inefficient, solo commutes in a 4,000 lb, fossil fuel-powered vehicle may be a valid policy goal in itself.
Mr. Solomon—"one of Canada's leading environmentalists"—should never have hung up his bike.
One need not look further to find resentment these days than drivers' faces on Pandora as they have to wait for bikes before they can turn right on a green. Some may not realize that souring the experience of incredibly inefficient, solo commutes in a 4,000 lb, fossil fuel-powered vehicle may be a valid policy goal in itself.
Mr. Solomon—"one of Canada's leading environmentalists"—should never have hung up his bike.
Last edited by Rolf on Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: More thoughts on bike lanes and how we are perceived
Thanks for the post Louise.
An interesting article, I agree, but I’d like to how much of what Solomon writes is true. In my area of research, this is a fellow who promotes as truth the view that the earth’s climate is controlled by the planets, and that global warming is due to more sunlight. Both demonstrably and unequivocally false. Hyperbole and misrepresentation seem to be his calling cards.
John F.
An interesting article, I agree, but I’d like to how much of what Solomon writes is true. In my area of research, this is a fellow who promotes as truth the view that the earth’s climate is controlled by the planets, and that global warming is due to more sunlight. Both demonstrably and unequivocally false. Hyperbole and misrepresentation seem to be his calling cards.
John F.
Re: More thoughts on bike lanes and how we are perceived
Oh wow John! Thanks for sharing that important piece of context from your professional knowledge and experience!
I guess I felt compelled to share b/c I watch the pendulum swing back and forth in education and social science (my field) and often the perspective of multiple stakeholders gets lost. While I agree with you Rolf that we should all get out of our cars, the reality is that is not going to happen. So we need to find solutions that everyone can feel good about and see reason in (well, maybe not everyone b/c there are always the haters). I do fear cyclists being viewed as privileged and gentrified people with a lot of first world problems..... although that describes many groups and perhaps we are just more obvious being out there on the road on fancy bikes and fancy lycra, plainly obvious to others, who are hiding anonymously in their cars (hence the importance of our new kit looking good....j/k).
I for one, do not want to see a bike lane on Shelbourne but fear there will be one there one day. I know some of you are tsk tsking at me right now for not being a faithful cyclist but there is a perfectly good bike lane on the nearly parallel Cedar Hill (albeit with some hills). Anyway, not opening a can of worms but made me wonder if there was more to the bike lane thing than I was aware. Thanks for your comments!
I guess I felt compelled to share b/c I watch the pendulum swing back and forth in education and social science (my field) and often the perspective of multiple stakeholders gets lost. While I agree with you Rolf that we should all get out of our cars, the reality is that is not going to happen. So we need to find solutions that everyone can feel good about and see reason in (well, maybe not everyone b/c there are always the haters). I do fear cyclists being viewed as privileged and gentrified people with a lot of first world problems..... although that describes many groups and perhaps we are just more obvious being out there on the road on fancy bikes and fancy lycra, plainly obvious to others, who are hiding anonymously in their cars (hence the importance of our new kit looking good....j/k).
I for one, do not want to see a bike lane on Shelbourne but fear there will be one there one day. I know some of you are tsk tsking at me right now for not being a faithful cyclist but there is a perfectly good bike lane on the nearly parallel Cedar Hill (albeit with some hills). Anyway, not opening a can of worms but made me wonder if there was more to the bike lane thing than I was aware. Thanks for your comments!
Re: More thoughts on bike lanes and how we are perceived
Hi Louise.
I think I agree with everything you've just said. My little rant on Solomon wasn't meant to add anything to the debate. I was just compelled, in a lapse of decorum, to shine a light on the little turd that he is. Ms. Wente in the G&M invokes a similar response in me.
Again, thanks for your post. It has got me thinking, which is never a bad thing -- except maybe for the time that I carefully reasoned, as nerdy scientist, that Jill would love a door mat from me as an anniversary gift.
John
I think I agree with everything you've just said. My little rant on Solomon wasn't meant to add anything to the debate. I was just compelled, in a lapse of decorum, to shine a light on the little turd that he is
. Ms. Wente in the G&M invokes a similar response in me.Again, thanks for your post. It has got me thinking, which is never a bad thing -- except maybe for the time that I carefully reasoned, as nerdy scientist, that Jill would love a door mat from me as an anniversary gift.
John
Re: More thoughts on bike lanes and how we are perceived
Let me just say, at the risk of getting sued, that Lawrence Solomon is a wanker. 
I know some bike lanes seem irrational to some people (and maybe Shelbourne comes to mind) but I would not broach any suggestion that taking away pavement from cars to give to cyclists is a bad thing.
I suspect he gets this as wrong as he gets climate science wrong but in my corner of the world, if more people rode bikes for transportation, we'd see a lot fewer problems caused by diabetes, depression, heart disease and a whole range of other 'diseases of sedentariness'. There is no drug like vigorous exercise and we need to build incentives in our cities where people willingly take more of that drug, so they can take less of the crap (anti-diabetic drugs, antidepressants or antihypertensives) they are currently swallowing under the illusion those drugs are contributing to their overall health.
I know some bike lanes seem irrational to some people (and maybe Shelbourne comes to mind) but I would not broach any suggestion that taking away pavement from cars to give to cyclists is a bad thing.
I suspect he gets this as wrong as he gets climate science wrong but in my corner of the world, if more people rode bikes for transportation, we'd see a lot fewer problems caused by diabetes, depression, heart disease and a whole range of other 'diseases of sedentariness'. There is no drug like vigorous exercise and we need to build incentives in our cities where people willingly take more of that drug, so they can take less of the crap (anti-diabetic drugs, antidepressants or antihypertensives) they are currently swallowing under the illusion those drugs are contributing to their overall health.
Re: More thoughts on bike lanes and how we are perceived
Well, at least there are a wack of lawyers in this club to consult if you DO get sued!Alan wrote:Let me just say, at the risk of getting sued, that Lawrence Solomon is a wanker.