Prepare to diversify travel habits

Re: How to get more people on bicycles — Dec. 8

For those that advocate for cycling, momentum in the cause is theirs. A tipping point has likely been crossed, biking infrastructure will continue to be built and drivers in highly urbanized areas will have to continue to adjust. Those not prepared to diversify their travel habits to certain parts of the city will spend less time there and the shift is unlikely to abate until autonomous vehicles become commonplace years from now.

In the meantime, the result is already seen along parts of the King Street, which by design is not very welcoming to private automobiles. There, retail operations are anxiously counting on a traffic and cash flow from those able to live a somewhat car-free existence. Those further off the beaten track cannot do that so much and may be missed. Bicycles help but have significant limitations for many household, business and family chores, and are not always an option seasonally or when a rider is past a certain age. When cars are discouraged and bikes are impractical, getting even modest distances to access goods and services or to reach linked transit stops can be difficult. Repurposing infrastructure swings benefits to those very near LRT stops and youthful cyclists. Cars will be hired or rented as needed but democratization of the core will have to await autonomous vehicles.

This is momentum. Tom Hiller Kitchener