Jerry Blumenthal had a FAMILY EMERGENCY. What do you not understand about that? How come The Coast doesn't fairly represent situations?

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Bravo to the councillors who cast a"yes" vote. I fail to see how making traffic along Herring Cove Road heavier and faster will help anybody's business. Those "no" voters were probably just listening to the constituents who bothered to voice an organized opinion about the issue. Too bad their opinion had to be so knee-jerk and short-sighted.

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After being hit by a car while cycling last fall, my wish for more bike lanes is stronger than ever. I am shocked that with cycling on the rise for both recreation and communting that there is not more consideration being given to the creation of these safe zones. Bike lanes should be a given with all new constrution and upgrades. If for no other reason "SAFETY"!

I have just moved to England, from Nova Scotia, and I have been pleasantly suprised at how cycle friendly it is here. Nova Scotia is a beautiful province to cycle in. You talk about cycling as eco-tourism and Nova Scotia is about the most cycle unfriendly places there are. A lot of the reason is the narrow minded politicials that vote no for such improvements. Obviously not cyclists and happy let the ravages of old age catch up to them sooner that us (provided we survive their (?) road. They're our roads ladies and gentlemen.

Keith Oakes
Ratby, England, formerly from Nova Scotia

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I have contacted all of the councilors this morning via individual emails - to thank those who voted to continue with adding bike lanes when road upgrades are planned, and to question those who voted against this plan.

I would encourage others to use the email addresses in Comment #2 to do the same.


An excerpt from my email:

"Please explain to me why adding bike lanes is not a good idea. There are people who will cycle regardless of bike lanes, but there is a vast group of people who would like to cycle, for commuting and for pleasure, who are scared of cycling among our Nova Scotia drivers. I can't say I blame their apprehension - distracted and aggressive drivers on city and country roads kill cyclists on a daily basis. The cyclist ALWAYS loses in any form of altercation with a motor vehicle.

Adding bike routes and dedicated bike lanes supports every initiative that we as a population hold important: reducing dependence on foreign oil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing vehicular traffic to ease pressure on our road network - both from a capacity point of view and also a maintenance perspective, increasing activity in the population to reduce health costs, having residents more involved with their neighbourhoods rather than merely driving through to shop/work/eat somewhere else.

We know that without a major technological shift (that is not yet evidenced), the way of life that we have enjoyed the last 50 years will change dramatically in the next decades. We need representatives that can both recognize this reality and make the current decisions that give us the best possible chance of being prepared for the changes to come.

I didn't talk with you before this vote. It never occurred to me that these lanes would not be added. Had I known that you would be voting against this proposal, we would have talked sooner. To my regret, I can not change that now, but I can now begin our dialogue.

I am talking to you now, and am willing to hear your side in this question. Please explain why you voted to kill this initiative."

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Also, if you want to fire off a mass email, you can just cut and paste the whole section below for an email to all of the councilors who voted against bike lanes. Cheerful discourse!

adamss@halifax.ca, barry.dalrymple@halifax.ca, humd@halifax.ca, brad.johns@halifax.ca, karsteb@halifax.ca, kellyp@halifax.ca, lundp@halifax.ca, mcclusg@halifax.ca, rankinr@halifax.ca, walkerr@halifax.ca, smithj@halifax.ca, streats@halifax.ca, wilema@halifax.ca

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Does anyone want all the councilors emails? Just to make your response a little easier:
"A "yes"' vote was against the bike lanes: "
Yes:
Adams - adamss@halifax.ca
Dalrymple - barry.dalrymple@halifax.ca
Hum - humd@halifax.ca
Johns - brad.johns@halifax.ca
Karsten - karsteb@halifax.ca
Kelly - kellyp@halifax.ca
Lund - lundp@halifax.ca
McCluskey - mcclusg@halifax.ca
Rankin - rankinr@halifax.ca
Walker - walkerr@halifax.ca
Smith - smithj@halifax.ca
Streatch - streats@halifax.ca
Wile - wilema@halifax.ca

No:
Barkhouse - barkhoj@halifax.ca
Fisher - darren.fisher@halifax.ca
Harvey - harveyb@halifax.ca
Hendsbee - david.hendsbee@halifax.ca
Nicoll - Lorelei.Nicoll@halifax.ca
Outhit - outhitt@halifax.ca
Sloane - sloaned@halifax.ca
Uteck - utecks@halifax.ca
Watts - jennifer.watts@halifax.ca

Did not cast vote:
Blumenthal - blumenj@halifax.ca

Absent:
Mosher - linda.mosher@halifax.ca

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The votes on this issue demonstrate that there is a lot of "dead wood" on council that needs to be removed at the next election. Outmoded ways of looking at our community's transportation infrastructure are holding us back.

And congratulations to the following councilors for having some vision of where we should be going:

Barkhouse
Fisher
Harvey
Hendsbee
Nicoll
Outhit
Sloane
Uteck
Watts

Thank you!

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Wow...there is always an answer for everything.

That seems to be the answer to a lot of important positive changes that will make this city thrive.
A few people complain because they don't look forward with the positive aspects in mind - they see a change and immediately shrink away from it because they "like what they know". There will always be a reason not to do something if you don't want to.

How is Halifax ever going to improve and evolve with this kind of narrow minded mentality. What a poor excuse to kaibosh a brilliant and necessary idea.

There is a small but growing community of cyclists who bike into work every day because they don't want to be spewing diesel into our environment or they don't want to be part of the traffic problem. Some want to get their daily dose of exercise by peddling their way to work - not slugging it in a neon lit gym after slugging it in a neon lit office at work all day long. Most do it for all the above reasons.
We all take a risk of biking everyday at the side of roads that are really dangerous. We aren't wanted on the roads or the pavements. We need bike lanes to help keep us safe and encourage other people who want to cycle to feel safe.

I love Halifax but positive change here seems to either 1.) never happen because some people are afraid of it or 2) takes so long to happen, the rest of the world is light years ahead.

I imagine someone will make some smart comments about cyclists - but I guarantee you those same people don't think beyond their own means. I don't mean to sound "holier than thou" as I have a car myself and I understand some people really have to drive to work everyday. But I am guessing not one of those councillors who voted against the cycle path, cycle.

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With regards to my earlier comment about Blumenthal not voting, he later said in an e-mail that he was absent due to a family emergency.

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I don't see why they don't compromise. Create a three lane system (like on Chebucto), with generous bike lanes on either side.

The argument of the local businesses losing parking space is an absolute load although I admit some ignorance on the subject... Which businesses actually said this?

To those who are actually surprised that Reg Rankin voted against this plan, consider this: Rankin owns a gas station. He would have plenty to lose by having more people biking to and from work.

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Hard to believe that businesses along Herring Cove Road feel that they will lose business with addition of bike lanes and a third turning lane. Yeah lets keep the expressway mentality - faster is better. Now lets lower the speed limit to 40 and patrol it. To many cars going to fast mean less business not more! Where is the vision on this council - thank you Jennifer Watts for continuing to show show leadership with your votes!

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I just got back from Montreal, and just... WOW. It was so amazing to see how integrated the bike network / culture is in that city. Bike-sharing, protected bike lanes, bike parking, racks EVERWHERE!

If a city as old as Montreal can refurbish their downtown infrastructure to accommodate cyclists, why can't we?

Come on city council... get on it.

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I wrote to every councilor on this issue and received a few responses, including from my councilor Jerry Blumenthal who wrote "thank you for your comments. we do not have enough bike lanes." Then he abstained from voting. What gives, Jerry? You've lost my vote.

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Wow. And Reg Rankin is in the Canadian Urban Transit Association board. Wow, just great Reg. I guess I know how my vote isn't going next election.

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So sad.
How do these councilors think that a four lane freeway is improving Spryfield? How do these businesses think that having a thoroughfare is good for business? I will continue to drive THROUGH Spryfield to get to OTHER places that are more people-friendly (and four lanes will help me to bypass this $^%hole strip!).
I am personally going to boycott Spryfield businesses based on their decision to lobby council against bike lanes, and to encourage my friends to do the same.
Shame on you, Herring Cove Rd businesses!

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I strongly disagree with the "yes" vote on Herring Cove Bike Lanes. I find the lack of vision, disappointing.

I bike from Timberlea to downtown Halifax as much as I can. We need more bike lanes, not less.

Reg Rankin - you've lost my vote for re-election.

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I am soooo sad, as this decision represents that which is holding Halifax back in many ways...especially for the life we want to live in the future.

Shame on the Councillors and Mayor who did not recognize they stand on the shoulders of many, many hardworking people (citizens and staff) that put policy in place who care about this city. If they don't like the policy, they should change that...not be whimsical about what is most advantageous to them personally.

We are not organized to make a difference in this city. If a few residents can shift a policy and go against city staff recommendations and think of only themselves...what are we to do?

It is not just about bike lanes...it is about how people can be short sighted and really in the end defeating themselves with fear and bad decisions....rather than trying something new...and proven to be better for not just themselves, but the greater good.

We could have tried it, and then if it didn't work, change it. Now the options are limited. Car culture instead of a healthy, friendly forward thinking city.

We can stand by and let this go by saying "oh, it is just the way things are in Halifax" or we can do something extraordinary. What will it be? What will be our response?

How can we use this incident (one of many) to catalyze that which is good and forward moving.

Pam Cooley
CarShareHFX.ca

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Definitely shows which councillors are for business, and which councillors are for the people of HRM. Maybe not the people who drive their car/truck from the Spryfield Mall to Tim Hortons to MacDonalds on Herring Cove Rd., but the people who care about the environment, who want a car free peninsula, and who are healthy and active enough that cycling is a way of life.

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This type of conservatism is the reason why so many of the educated young leave this city when all other signs indicate they should stay. A complete lack of vision, again and again. It feels hopeless after a while.

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I know I should have probably made my voice heard by a councilor beforehand, but I bike in that area and it could really use bike lanes. I really didn't realize that the businesses had that much sway. I don't think it would make a heck of a lot of difference in how much business they get, and I think making bike lanes would be a nice PR move on the part of the city. People need to face the reality that a. oil won't last forever and b. we've got a country of lazy people who could benefit from getting off their butts and onto a bike.

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Kelly's shortsightedness wins again. I cannot believe I shook his deathgrip hand in Ottawa when he came to visit how OC transpo works, and the bike lanes; learning nothing.Still he mires the city with a lack of direction and absolutely no forward momentum.

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