In response to the online bike lane survey, I like how you give all ‘loaded questions’ like the only option is for the bikes to be on the road with the cars.
Let me ask you one question: How many accidents have ever happened with bikes and pedestrians on the sidewalks? Absolutely none! (Or I guess I could be wrong if you count the four times possibly they have scratched an elbow when passing each other.)
But now that you have encouraged them to ride with the actual traffic, we will hear of many more accidents and even death! I know you’ll be quick to just blame the car drivers for these accidents but really it’s your fault for encouraging them to get on the road with the cars! They can share the sidewalks with the pedestrians like usual as that is just common sense.
There has never been a problem as the sidewalks in Red Deer aren’t as overcrowded as the roads are.
Have you not thought of that common sense thing or is all common sense gone from the council chambers?
And to make matters even worse, you are encouraging this foolishness during our Alberta winter months when roads are ridiculous with uncleaned snow and ice! Wow, seriously, what have you guys been drinking to not think of these basic fundamentals of our geographic location!
I must say, that it’s extremely disheartening to see ‘the powers that be’ come up with this foolishness — and did I mention — at taxpayers’ expense of $750,000!
One word comes to mind — idiotic.
Oh brilliant leaders, let me ask you this: Why didn’t you ask us before you wasted the near million what we would think before you went and did it?
Something stupid like this should have been better polled and advertised before proceeding. Frustrating!
Do I have time to address the serious traffic congestion that has been added to our streets as you knuckleheads have reduced the already busy streets to one lane now? All the while I look over at the empty sidewalks and the odd cyclist on the bike lanes!
Arrggh! Who do I not vote for ever again? And please don’t compare this to “the people didn’t like the trail system initially either.” Does apples to oranges ring a bell here? There never was a safety or traffic congestion issue there, other than the odd squirrel being run over!
I had the joy of watching this stupidity in action as one of the city buses tried manoeuvring a right hand turn while a cyclist was pinned at the corner in his fancy new bike lane! Traffic was immediately backing up, causing even more danger at the location, all this while the brilliant think tanks at City Hall were high fiving each other over their recently installed new bike lanes! Get them off the road away from the big, fast moving trucks and cars and back on sidewalks where they are safer!
I’ve never heard of anyone dying on the sidewalk, be it pedestrian or cyclist, but I have heard of it whenever they are near the auto traffic!
PS: Can we have our hundreds of thousands of tax dollars back that you’ve wasted? Just a thought!
PSS: I could rant on but need to get some rest as I’ve got a busy day tomorrow avoiding cyclists, sneaky phony city radar work trucks, and log-jammed roads on my way to work to earn enough tax money to help pay the $750,000 bike lane project. At least the forecast shows sunny and warm.
Totally disappointed taxpaying longtime citizen of Red Deer,
D.W. Harder
Red Deer