Group seeks transit system improvements
Better sidewalks, infrastructure could lower emissions, Bay Area Climate Change Council says
Building convenient and safe sidewalks in Hamilton could help bring down the carbon footprint of the city, a group suggests in its report.
Housed at Mohawk College, the Bay Area Climate Change Council (BACCC) is asking for improvements to the transportation system and infrastructure in Hamilton and Burlington for a safe, reliable, convenient and accessible commute — helping the area become net-zero carbon communities by 2050.
In an opinion piece published in The Spectator, Bianca Caramento, manager of BACCC, painted a scenario — or daunting struggles — of an individual getting to work without a personal vehicle. They start on a sidewalk that ends before reaching a bus stop, and are forced to walk on the muddy path alongside a busy road. Unfortunately, they miss the bus, ending up waiting 30 minutes for the next one to arrive.
“What are the chances you will try to walk, bike or take transit to work again?” she wrote.
Caramento told The Spectator only four per cent of all trips in Hamilton comprise walking, cycling or public transport.
Currently, over 17 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the region come from transportation.
BACCC’s report, Options for Travel: Giving Residents a Real Choice, published on April 25, is talking about a “real road map” of solutions and alternatives that could help the environment and residents — making commutes safer and convenient. The goal is to building infrastructure for improving “low-carbon choices for residents,” the report said.
The report lists ways to tackle those barriers, Caramento said, adding, “That way, more folks could willingly choose the environmentally friendly option to get around.”
One such recommendation is that sidewalks should be in an equal ratio to roads at feasible spots. “People shouldn’t be faced with the choice of whether to walk alongside traffic or walk in the mud alongside the road,” Caramento said.
The group is seeking an assessment from Hamilton city council on the number of roads lacking sidewalks. The city’s general issues committee will be hearing the delegation on May 4. BACCC also intends to present the report to Burlington council.
Campaigning to normalize winter cycling, and improving snow plowing to allow people to cycle during the cold season are among the suggestions.
The hope is that the report would get an assessment of the recommendations from staff in Hamilton and Burlington. Caramento said the BACCC team would publish annual reports on the progress of each city on the given recommendations.