Waterloo Region Connected

I guess the question arises as to why the cyclist lobby has, it would seem, failed to develop influence with those responsible for the infrastructure they use?

Meanwhile if you ask anyone on the CTV or Record Facebook pages, the "cycling lobby" is some kind of all-powerful cabal that controls all aspects of society, forcing municipal governments to spend most of their budgets on bike lanes while the roads crumble 

(05-19-2020, 02:10 PM)Bob_McBob Wrote: [ -> ]Meanwhile if you ask anyone on the CTV or Record Facebook pages, the "cycling lobby" is some kind of all-powerful cabal that controls all aspects of society, forcing municipal governments to spend most of their budgets on bike lanes while the roads crumble 

Ugh, this is one of those, completely true and incredibly frustrating things...

I cannot understand how some people are so out of touch with the things going on around them. Of course, it's not the most extreme example DT still has supporters so this is nothing.

(05-19-2020, 02:30 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-19-2020, 02:10 PM)Bob_McBob Wrote: [ -> ]Meanwhile if you ask anyone on the CTV or Record Facebook pages, the "cycling lobby" is some kind of all-powerful cabal that controls all aspects of society, forcing municipal governments to spend most of their budgets on bike lanes while the roads crumble 

Ugh, this is one of those, completely true and incredibly frustrating things...

I cannot understand how some people are so out of touch with the things going on around them. Of course, it's not the most extreme example DT still has supporters so this is nothing.

So it’s correct that they are a weak lobby?  If so, why?

(05-19-2020, 02:36 PM)panamaniac Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-19-2020, 02:30 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: [ -> ]Ugh, this is one of those, completely true and incredibly frustrating things...

I cannot understand how some people are so out of touch with the things going on around them. Of course, it's not the most extreme example DT still has supporters so this is nothing.

So it’s correct that they are a weak lobby?  If so, why?

I mean, "weak" is kind of a vague and inflamatory term, but generally we have been unsuccessful in achieving meaningful change in government transportation policy.

As to why, if I had an answer, I'd probably not be bemoaning it, but I'm inclined to blame fear of change, and preference for a broken status quo, lack of vision for the future, however you want to say it (I won't call it conservatism, but the shoe kind of fits), as opposed to any lack of effort on the effort of the cycling community, although no doubt vehicular cyclists did enormous harm in many places that is (mostly) in the past.

But hey, anyone who knows what the magic bullet is to make change, please PM me the details .

(05-19-2020, 09:57 AM)jamincan Wrote: [ -> ]Has anyone else watched 'Yes, Minister'? I don't know for sure that's the sort of situation we have here, but it definitely seems like the career management at the region carries on doing things the same way and does just enough to say that they've done what council asks of them. New blood would probably do a lot of good (just as it does in any other organization), but I think it would be really hard to replace Thomas Schmidt without any clear cause.

Best documentary and training series ever made on organizational politics. Pretty entertaining, too!

(05-19-2020, 03:27 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-19-2020, 02:36 PM)panamaniac Wrote: [ -> ]So it’s correct that they are a weak lobby?  If so, why?

I mean, "weak" is kind of a vague and inflamatory term, but generally we have been unsuccessful in achieving meaningful change in government transportation policy.

As to why, if I had an answer, I'd probably not be bemoaning it, but I'm inclined to blame fear of change, and preference for a broken status quo, lack of vision for the future, however you want to say it (I won't call it conservatism, but the shoe kind of fits), as opposed to any lack of effort on the effort of the cycling community, although no doubt vehicular cyclists did enormous harm in many places that is (mostly) in the past.

But hey, anyone who knows what the magic bullet is to make change, please PM me the details .

 Magic bullet is money, as in all things, no?  Money to buy media sympathy, money to build public support and participation, money to pressure politicians and bureaucrats.

(05-19-2020, 05:17 PM)panamaniac Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-19-2020, 03:27 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: [ -> ]I mean, "weak" is kind of a vague and inflamatory term, but generally we have been unsuccessful in achieving meaningful change in government transportation policy.

As to why, if I had an answer, I'd probably not be bemoaning it, but I'm inclined to blame fear of change, and preference for a broken status quo, lack of vision for the future, however you want to say it (I won't call it conservatism, but the shoe kind of fits), as opposed to any lack of effort on the effort of the cycling community, although no doubt vehicular cyclists did enormous harm in many places that is (mostly) in the past.

But hey, anyone who knows what the magic bullet is to make change, please PM me the details .

 Magic bullet is money, as in all things, no?  Money to buy media sympathy, money to build public support and participation, money to pressure politicians and bureaucrats.

Well that is one big part of it, possibly the biggest part of it. There is vastly more money, especially in Canada invested in inefficient forms of transportation. It's scarily close to something written in a book about 1984, but I suppose a discussion about philosophy to priortize having more stuff as opposed to more time in our society is beyond the scope of this forum.

(05-19-2020, 08:17 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: [ -> ]It's scarily close to something written in a book about 1984, but I suppose a discussion about philosophy to priortize having more stuff as opposed to more time in our society is beyond the scope of this forum.

I think it's quite fine for this forum. Probably not in this thread, though!

New bike lanes on the Stirling Avenue overpass.[attachment=7000]

Good start, now they need to do Courtland to Charles.

(05-21-2020, 09:10 PM)clasher Wrote: [ -> ]Good start, now they need to do Courtland to Charles.

OMG, thank you... I am so happy to have someone comment without criticizing the heck out of an attempt to make the roadway more user friendly for bikes.....

(05-22-2020, 08:47 AM)Rainrider22 Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-21-2020, 09:10 PM)clasher Wrote: [ -> ]Good start, now they need to do Courtland to Charles.

OMG, thank you... I am so happy to have someone comment without criticizing the heck out of an attempt to make the roadway more user friendly for bikes.....

Yes, I am perfectly happy to commend the city when they do something well. The City of Kitchener does this frequently.  But I'm also not shy about calling out when they do poorly, as the region does, also frequently.  I am completely evidence based in my evaluation.  This is a really underhanded unnecessary attack on people here.

Well that didn’t last very long!

(05-22-2020, 09:04 AM)danbrotherston Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-22-2020, 08:47 AM)Rainrider22 Wrote: [ -> ]OMG, thank you... I am so happy to have someone comment without criticizing the heck out of an attempt to make the roadway more user friendly for bikes.....

Yes, I am perfectly happy to commend the city when they do something well. The City of Kitchener does this frequently.  But I'm also not shy about calling out when they do poorly, as the region does, also frequently.  I am completely evidence based in my evaluation.  This is a really underhanded unnecessary attack on people here.

Big thumbs up from me. There are too many people who view all criticism of the status quo as whining. This affects every struggle for justice.