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debating a cycle lane on the street

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tonight I attended a meeting in my neighborhood to discuss a proposed contra-flow cycle lane. The idea is to put the thing in on a small one-way street that's a century old and a bit narrow by the city's standards. Many of the local residents have concerns about the idea, and I was invited by the city to observe and participate as a board member of Cycle Toronto.

So I did. There were a number of objections and questions raised, and the city's investigation will continue. What I found striking was: first, that the city - and the councilor behind the idea - would go to the extent of meeting residents on their own street to hear the concerns; second, that despite a confrontational tone at the outset, the simple fact that everyone got interact seemed to bring about a sense of willingness to work together. And for that, I have to hand it to city staff; they've got a tough job but they're tackling it with confidence and skill.