Bikes have been in the news in Durham Region transit circles of late, for several reasons:
- DRT has received money to implement bike racks on its buses. While I have not heard the word “all” used, the roughly $250,000 provided by Metrolinx certainly appears to be enough to equip the fleet.
- Further, DRT has received further monies to provide bike lockers at key transit locations. No word yet on where these locations will be, but I would expect that they would typically be locations that are natural transit centres, like UOIT or Oshawa Centre. I do hope that diligence will be taken not to duplicate the efforts of such organizations by simply providing facilities at places that already have them.
- The board of GO Transit has decided to equip all of its buses with racks as well, and to begin a process of equipping GO stations with secure bike lockers. Ajax GO station will be one of the first equipped in a preliminary phase; this is expected to occur this summer.
Metrolinx, the provincial agency now responsible for transportation planning in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, is making an emphasis in this area. One of the seven green papers recently released as part of the process of creating a regional transportation plan is focused on active transportation. This makes complete sense, as anything that can get cars off the road is a good thing, and bikes certainly qualify.
The announced combinations of racks and lockers provides many options for bike riders. Recreational riders can use bike racks to get to their riding destination with their energy intact, while commuters can use the lockers at GO stations to avoid driving to the station.
I’m not expecting this to make a major difference to congestion on area roads, but it is a good step in the right direction, and further proof that small steps can be useful steps. Not every transportation project needs to involve spending hundreds of millions or billions of dollars.
Filed under: Active Transportation, Metrolinx
It is amazing how $250,000 has been made available for bike racks. Or as some cities cal them Rack and Roll bike-storage service. (TTC Rack It and Rocket)
In the February 2008 Roger Anderson stated that it would only take $50,000 to restore mid-day service to the Duffins route. The way I see it is that bike riders are able body. Bike racks can hold up to two bikes. The vast majority DRT routes operate on 30 minute headways. That works out to a max of 4 bikes per hour.
When the run cuts were made early this year did anyone take into consideration how non able body would cope. Of course not.
“If ridership isn’t there to support the service, we are not going to run empty buses all day,” Phil Meagher, deputy general manager of DRT.
Okay Phil, will DRT run bus with empty bike racks? Watch and see.
The TTC appears to heading towards a labour strike . As I listen and read about the hardships that commuters will be facing, I am leaning towards the fact that transit is a social service.
Do I sound bitter? You are dam right!