Column The News: Which do you prefer, car or bike culture?

My latest column in the Maple Ridge News: is it possible to create a cycling culture in a car dominated city?

posted Dec 18

Pitt Meadows is already a nice place to live if you like biking, but the city continues to look for ways to make it safer, more convenient and better. Pitt Meadows is still looking for more applicants for several volunteer positions on its new active transportation advisory committee.

Sometimes people tell me investment in cycling infrastructure is a waste of money; it’s no use trying to convince more people to use their bikes to get around. They feel that most Canadians will never adopt a cycling culture; they love their cars, and that’s just the way things are.

I beg to differ. 

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My brother Emiel at the handlebar of the family bakfiets, with my sister-in-law Nuria and nephews Fabian and Marten cozy inside.

 

'Sea change' in car culture means fewer parking stalls

New 112-unit condo development on Cordova Street 

furnished with just 13 parking spaces

By Randy Shore, Vancouver Sun June 6, 2012

The freshly completed condominium building at 60 West Cordova has 112 living units, but only 13 parking stalls - the lowest amount of parking required for a residential building in the city's recent history.
"A lot of the people buying here weren't interested in any form of vehicle ownership or use," said Michael Braun, sales and marketing manager for Westbank, which developed the building.
The parking situation at the new building reflects what Vancouver city Coun. Geoff Meggs calls a "sea change" in the car culture that has led the city to cut requirements for parking stalls for new buildings.
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