Letters to the Editor: Bike Lanes on Herring Cove Road

 

As you may know, the Herring Cove Road is going to be repaved.  The question is, will it be repaved again as a throughway, or will it include bicycle lanes?  The Herring Cove Streetscape plan (2005), developed with considerable input from citizens, saw 'downtown Spryfield'  re-emerging as a place with trees and streetfacing businesses, as available, and safe, for citizens of all ages, whether pedestrian or cyclist, as to vehicle traffic. That meant including bike lanes.

HRM Council will be deciding THIS TUESDAY NIGHT, JULY 6, whether to proceed with this plan, or to maintain the current high volume traffic on the wide street (four lanes, plus).  Some business owners have expressed concern that any change will affect their business, although studies show consistently that slower traffic, and a safer walking climate actually enhance local commerce and neighborhood safety.

This is Spryfield's opportunity to solidify its growing reputation as a sustainable community, and a good, healthy place to live, (and by extension, the other communities of the Sambro loop). Abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, a reputation for neighborliness, strong schools and diverse community groups,  increasing access to health services and local employment, an enduring tradition of local food production, walking trails, expanding bus services and now, potentially, a model for active transportation, are all the markers of a strong community.  And it's a place that peninsula Halifax needs.

I deeply regret that I can't be at Tuesday's meeting of HRM council, but COULD YOU PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO YOUR CONTACTS, WHETHER IN DISTRICT 18 OR NOT? ALL COUNCILLORS WILL BE VOTING ON THIS.  This issue doesn't affect just the Herring Cove Road; a sound, integrated active transportation system in Spryfield can help solve some of the crushing traffic problems on the peninsula, and provide a working model for other areas of the city.

IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND COUNCIL, YOU CAN ALWAYS WRITE TO COUNCILLORS BEFORE TUESDAY NIGHT'S MEETING, ASKING YOUR LETTER TO BE CIRCULATED by clerks@halifax.ca (This is the office of the Municipal Clerk 490-4210, which you should also contact for information on how to speak to Regional Council). The Council Agenda for Tuesday June 6 will be posted on the HRM website this weekend. http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/cagenda.html

I hope everyone will express their opinions, and that the result will be a better community for all of us. Thank you for helping.

In the areas to be affected there is only one cement island that is strategically located at the beginning of the proposed Arthur Street (which it has been so long I forgot the name and had to google earth it) (*AND I HAVE BEEN IN SPRYFIELD ALL MY LIFE)

1. Put all the bike lanes in the "suicide lane" the big yellow one make everyone watch where the hell they are going and USE hand signals if they (bikers) have to cross two lanes of traffic maybe they would respect 4200 kg with 200 horsepower coming at them.

2. When repainting the lanes get rid of the suicide lane and you very easily have two bike lanes on either side of the road and two lanes of inbound outbound.

Sheeez, it's not the end of the world, people. Where were the protests when they took my property for sidewalks on Williams Lake Road? Oh wait, and when they bought out the homes for the new walk ways from Herring Cove Road to the pool so no one has to walk around the runs!

Thanks for listening.