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debating a cycle lane on the street

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2016.08.22

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.

rand()m quote

...a man is always prey to his truths. Once he has admitted them, he cannot free himself from them.

—Albert Camus