LETTER

Double bike paths, a third auto lane?

 

Regarding the October 19 letter from Bob Rousselle, to the non-cycling readers, it's sensible to think that Lucerne bike lanes would be redundant. However, as a cyclist commuting from Aylmer to Ottawa, I know firsthand that the Voyageurs pathway is not usable several months every year. In winter the snow isn't plowed. Shoreline segments get flooded from April up to May and after heavy rain. And let me tell you about wet leaves carpeting the path these days!

Recreational use of the trail also runs counter to the needs of commuters. It's not about shaving five minutes off our commute. No, it's about having a non-hazardous way to and from work. Cyclists like myself own cars and pay taxes, too.

Today, we should think about facilitating alternative modes of transportation. Less cars on the road is good for the environment and lessens traffic. Would a third lane on Lucerne really speed up rush hour traffic? It's my understanding that the bridge is the bottleneck here. Regardless, shouldn't the work on Lucerne have been completed last year when the Deschenes-Champlain bridge stretch of Lucerne Boulevard was resurfaced? On this we both agree public money has been wasted.

Fred Langlois
Wychwood