Support The British Columbia Cycling Coalition in their call for a billion for bikes!
The British Columbia Cycling Coalition is calling for Bold Action Now! The following is extracted from their web site. Take a mere three minutes of your life to go there now and sign the petition. The process also gives you an easy way to quickly email several key people, with just a couple of clicks of your mouse. This will probably be the most important thing you do today!
The British Columbia Cycling Coalition Says:
It is time for bold action now to enable every person, including older adults and children, in BC to cycle or walk for their everyday trips.
Investing $1 billion over ten years in cycling and walking will send a strong message to the world that BC is serious about addressing Climate Change.
Cycling and walking will become attractive choices for everyone, leading to significantly improved fitness and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, congestion, and traffic injuries and fatalities. The paths and protected bike lanes could also be used by people in wheelchairs and other mobile devices.
Investing in cycling and walking will benefit the economy by increasing tourism, reducing healthcare costs, increasing workplace productivity, attracting talented workers, and reducing the societal costs of traffic fatalities and injuries.
Cycling is Popular
There is broad public support for cycling improvements. In the B.C. on the Move Engagement Survey, 72% of respondents supported enhancing cycling infrastructure.
Almost 70% of adults in BC ride a bicycle at least once a year, 42% at least once a month and 25% at least once a week. Many want to cycle more, with around 65% indicating they would ride more if there were separated bike lanes that protected them from traffic.
Cycling is a Transportation Bargain
On a per dollar basis, we all benefit more from cycling more than other modes. While bike paths and protected bike lanes are a bargain that will benefit far more people per dollar invested than other transportation projects, it does take a significant amount of cash to build networks of them in communities around the Province. For example:
- Metro Vancouver: $850 million
- Capital Regional District: $275 million
- City of Kelowna: $267 million (cycling and walking)
- City of Chilliwack: $27 Million
- City of Kamloops: $13 Million
At current rates of investment, these plans will take 30, 40 or even 50 years to complete, leaving people to brave busy roads on their bikes or more likely, not bothering to bike at all. Today’s children will be grandparents by then.
The Provincial investment combined with local and federal funds will enable the completion of ambitious local and regional plans across BC. For example, the Metro Vancouver Regional Cycling Strategy predicts that upon network build out, cycling will increase to 10% of trips. The CRD Regional Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan predicts cycling network build out cycling mode share will increase to 15%.
Funding Sources for Cycling
The funding for the $1 billion investment could come from a variety of sources including an increase in the Carbon Tax, predicted budget surpluses, a reallocation of transportation budget, cutting the tax break on those earning over $150,000 or a tax on sugary drinks.
By providing people with practical and safe transportation choices, this investment would decrease the rate of the Carbon Tax required to meet Provincial goals also saving money for those who don’t cycle or walk.
Take Action Now!
Please sign and share the petition with your contacts.
More Information
- BC Cycling Coalition Climate Leadership Plan Submission
- Regional Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan, Capital Regional District
- Metro Vancouver Regional Cycling Strategy Implementation Plan
- Recommendations by the Canadian Diabetes Association for B.C. Budget 2016
Take Action Now!
As of 20 December, this petition has 5,295 supporters. 705 more signatures are needed to reach 6,000. Your signature counts! Go there and sign! And then, share it with every smart person you know.
