Cycling CAN be a transportation strategy.

A trip to the Netherlands is all that’s required to convince you that bicycles can be a viable part of the transportation system. If implemented correctly, of course.

Now I know what the skeptics will say: Canada’s is a large country, we are spread out, we have a cold climate, it costs too much, yadda, yadda. But before you do, let’s compare the Netherlands with just the GTA.

The Netherlands have a total population of 16,491,461 people concentrated onto a landmass of 33,833 square kilometres. That’s 484 people per square kilometre. By contrast, the Greater Toronto Area holds a population of 5,555,912 within it’s 7,215 square kilometres, for a density of 780 people per square kilometre. Perhaps we’re not so spread out as we think.

For climate, the Netherlands range from an average daily minimum in January of 0 C to and average daily maximum of 22 C in August, with an average annual rainfall of 826 mm. The GTA has an average daily minimum in January of -7.3 and and average daily maximum in August of 26.3 C, and an annual rainfall of 834 mm. While it’s true that it gets colder here, it’s really not pleasant to ride in the winter their either. Also, while there are similar amount of precipitation, Holland has a maritime climate, so there are more days on which the rain falls. So if we are just talking spring, summer and fall, and longer seasons but more rain days there, we perhaps have similar numbers of ride-able days. (I’d need a bit more research on this point.)

So, since we have a higher population density and similar numbers of riding days, it’s my position that bicycles could become part of our transportation system here in the Greater Toronto Area. What we need are 5.6 million bicycles, 5.6 million people willing to ride them, and the infrastructure in place to accommodate bicycle commuters.

What would that infrastructure look like? And how do we get there? Here’s my point form list, and a few pics to illustrate the point.

• First the cost. Bike paths need to be integrated into official plans. The implementation would be too costly to rebuild all the streets at once, but should be designed and included any time a street is being rebuilt, widened, or given a major facelift. This will minimize the cost and spread the cost out over time.




• The movement of pedestrians, bikes, transit, and cars work in Holland because they are given just that order of priority in terms of right of way. We need to stop thinking of the roadway as the exclusive domain of cars. It should belong primarily to bikes and transit and the cars get what’s left.




• To increase safety for all, we need to eliminate the right-turn-on-a-red-light rule in Ontario.  All the intersections I saw there allowed traffic in one direction at a time.  No more cars waiting in an intersection waiting for oncoming traffic to be able to turn left.




• More yield signs, fewer stop signs, will keep traffic humming along.




• At major intersections, bicycles need their own traffic signals.




• Traffic circles wherever possible.




• Site Plan Approval processes for our cities and towns must require all development to include bicycle facilities, just as they now require parking spots.




• We should consider adding rail cars to the GO trains and subways with half the seats taken out, to accommodate cyclists.




• All GO train stations must incorporate secure bicycle storage. This can be in place of some car parking if necessary. I’d wager you can park 10 or more bikes per car.




• Cancel GST and PST on bicycles. Consider additional rebates for Canadian made bicycles.




• Offer tax deductions for citizens to cycle to work.




• And finally, a massive education program will be required for both cyclists and motorists.

Making bike paths and cycling makes sense. It can be done in the GTA and any other southern Ontario city where the population density is over 500 people per square kilometer. The benefits are vast, including greenhouse gas reductions, smog reductions, and the health of our citizens.

All we need is a government at all three levels who can see the vision and will implement it.

Vote for change. Vote Green.