Mayor of #Ottawa:
"The debate over closing a specific stretch of Queen Elizabeth Driveway is not about whether or not the city supports active transportation. It’s about where and when are the best opportunities for it."
As many like to point out, we have harsh winters that mean a lot fewer people are out on bikes. Or, read another way: A lot MORE people are out on bikes the other 8 months of the year.
There's also generally less car traffic in the summer months as folks take summer vacations. Even accounting for influx of tourists with cars, they're not all driving at peak commuting hours.
There is increased construction in summer which impacts traffic. Offering more options to move around road closures means less traffic being diverted to the limited options available for car detours.
Same for special events.
Yes, a seasonal conversion of roadways for active use results in some inconveniences, temporary inefficiencies, and pressure points that have impacts on other users and areas.
It also creates opportunities that we haven't fully realized, noticed, or planned for.
Mayor: "By the way, this is not just the random personal view of a politician; it’s the highly informed, evidence-based opinion of the professional staff at the City of Ottawa, the experts who manage Ottawa’s transportation network."
Me: By the way, this is not just the random personal view of a resident; it's the highly informed opinion of a PhD in urban planning with expertise in the ongoing history of cities using "rational cost benefit analyses" to justify harmful, regressive plans.
@sbg_arch Gussy up what you have hear and you're pretty close to the word count anyways. I'm not sure who is in charge of opeds now, it used to be Kate Heartfield but she's moved on to fiction. @CHeartsTrees
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