GuelphToday received the following letter to the editor from a reader who has a reminder that giving credit where it's due is important as well.
Far too often articles and letters to the editor are places to unload, often rightly so, on politicians and bureaucrats. Sometimes though, I think we should give the powers-that-be kudos when appropriate; so I’d like to offer congrats to the City of Guelph for installing protected bike lanes on Silvercreek Parkway North as part of implementing the 2012 cycling master plan.
I think it’s doubly important to give credit where credit is due, given the short sighted proposals on the subject by the current premier of the province and the many recent tragic traffic incidents in our city. The Silvercreek bike lane is a decision based on public demand, years of study, public meetings and a 12-year-old cycling master plan. I’m looking forward to seeing more of this plan implemented. My fear is due to provincial downloading and micro-managing legislation enacted by the present provincial government, cities like ours can’t implement policies that our citizens want for safer, greener and a more prosperous city; like the Silvercreek North bike lane.
The present provincial government’s policies, borrowed from the USA, of making everything a wedge or cultural issue serves only to divide our communities and seeks to use this division as a way to rule rather than represent their constituents. I’m sure that many will flood the comment section if this letter is published with side issues they’ve picked up from our rulers at Queens Park. Sadly this is to be expected as it seems anger and culture wars have replaced rational discussions of policy ideas.
What I do want to say is “thanks” to the city staff and council for one more small step to help make Guelph a safer, greener more lively place to live and work. Here’s hoping our rulers at Queens Park don’t force us to pay to remove this necessary piece of infrastructure. If they do, it won’t be the first such move by our rulers at Queens Park, nor sadly will it likely be the last.
James Smith,
Guelph
