Montreal joins International Car-Free Day

[maplesyrup]

Downtown Montreal streets closes to cars

This is a great idea which is long overdue. now if only we could get decent safe bicycle lanes thoughout all of Canada's muncipalities, eh!

But what the problem with Western Canada - Calgary and Vancouver? Why aren't they participating - they should be ashamed.

[Big Blue Machine]

Maybe they haven't thought about using it, they are busy too. They aren't sitting on their bums, eating bananas all day.

[maplesyrup]

Maybe they haven't thought about using it, they are busy too. They aren't sitting on their bums, eating bananas all day.

How would you know, have you ever been West of Thunder Bay?

It's dangerous out here, the mosquitos are as big as 747s.

[maplesyrup]

Maybe they haven't thought about using it, they are busy too. They aren't sitting on their bums, eating bananas all day.

Sorry, you are so wrong. Actually they are all sitting in the Starbucks sipping their lattes.

[Big Blue Machine]

And connecting the dots in kids books.

[Cartman]

I have never understood why local gov't have not invested in more cycle lanes. When I lived in Van., I could not believe the number of cyclists hit by cars (and buses). On the other hand, true bravery is shown by cycling in Calgary.

[Big Blue Machine]

Maybe the local gov't doesn't the money or interest.

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear Cartman,

Van (and BC in general) is much farther to the left of Alberta. Calgary, especially, is built up on oil and gas monies, so it would look a bit hypocritical for them not to encourage (or by other means discourage) it's use.

[maplesyrup]

It is often said local government is closest to the people. I hate to rain on this parade but quite frankly local governments are constantly elected by the lowest percentage of the electorate than in any other elections.

In other words it is nonsense that local governments are closest to the people.

The federal government should intervene here with some national environmental standards. No money for road building or repairing unless there are proper bicycle/rollarblading/scateboarding lanes included.

[maplesyrup]

Ottawa is the one city in Canada where I feel it is safe to ride a bicycle.

In the Lower Mainland there are a couple of great recreational bicycle riding areas:

1 Along the dykes in Richmond

2 The Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve in North Vancouver (to get there take the road that goes past Cap College). On the weekends there is an 11 km paved road that is closed to vehicle traffic which goes right up to the fish hatchery next to the dam. The last 2 km is a beautiful ride through an old growth forest.

I am not sure if there is a more wonderful place on the planet to live, yet that is still an urban area, as North and West Vancouver, and the mountains next to them.