Poll results: talking transportation

The results are in. We had a total of 23 votes. The poll statement was “talking transportation: I think my city would benefit most through…”

The use of light-rail transit 5 (21%)
More bike lanes and bike paths 3 (13%)
A city-wide public bike rental system 3 (13%)
Improving the subway system 4 (17%)
Making buses more efficient and comfortable 8 (34%)
Making the downtown more walk-friendly 0 (0%)
None of the above 0 (0%)

Total = 23.

What’s important is that public transit and alternative transit methods (walking, biking) are all critical for any green city. However, not every city needs a subway system. Not every city needs light-rail transit. In a city like Peterborough (pop~80,000) the total land area and population density does not justify the need for these massive public transportation projects. However, Peterborough could benefit from more bike lanes, bike paths and making the overall downtown more walk-friendly. Walk-friendly means constant maintenance of sidewalks, having city parks and gardens and other aesthetic features that make the overall walking experience more enjoyable and safe for citizens.

A city-wide public bike rental system. There is only one in Canada, it’s in Montreal and it’s called Bixi. I am not too sure how popular or successful this initiative is but I will get some insight when I visit Montreal on Friday. A city-wide public bike rental system can be expensive to implement. This too would be justified in a city with relatively high cycling ridership, or cities that have decent bike lanes for cyclists. There have been talks about having such a system in Toronto but nothing has come about.

Light-rail transit…. Well it is expensive. Toronto is currently creating 7 new light-rail transit routes across the city. I spoke with a civil engineer from the Toronto Transit Commission and he told me that it costs $30 million for every kilometer of installation (much cheaper than the $150 million/kilometer for subway).

Making buses more efficient and comfortable had the most votes (8 votes). I think everyone can relate to this irrespective of where you live. Both small and large cities alike have some form of a bus system. Peterborough has a bus system that is mostly used by low-income citizens, seniors and students. The buses are decent but many students complain because their scheduling and logistics are horrendous. Making them more comfortable, spacious and efficient in terms of their routes and scheduling times would be great.

Last, when evaluating alternative transit and public transit options in any city, it is critical to get the public perspective. If the city’s planning department thinks that a public bike rental system would be beneficial, then some sort of survey must be done to gather the public point of view. Transit services (especially in Peterborough) need to do a qualitative study looking at the experiences and feelings of students, low-income citizens and seniors when they take the bus. These studies might help inform policymakers about the importance of ensuring efficient, comfortable and diverse transit choices.

Key message: The key to a successful transportation system is multiplicity of choice.