Scott Rose Wrote:
>
I moved to Vancouver BC in 1999, .... Parking on
campus? Deep cuts as surface parking lots have been converted to
high-density housing so that several thousand of the people commuting
into campus daily can eliminate the need. More recently, the proposed
city transportation budget was unveiled-- there was almost as much
funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements as there was for MV
improvements.
It's possible for governments and universities to take steps to reduce
automobile traffic. It just takes political will....
>
Vancouver BC is clearly way ahead of UW-Madison and the City of Madison in encouraging less automobile driving. Here, the UW-Madison believes all it needs to do is to convert their existing campus parking lots to parking ramps (give or take a few thousand spaces).
The City of Madison is even worse in their planning for the status quo. But the Madison community as a whole is not much better. For example, I testified at the City of Madison long range "Comprehesive" Plan hearing earlier this month. I was the only person demanding an aggressive stance by the city in reducing motor vehicle driving to and from the city. I reminded them that we've have way more bad air days in Madison in 2005 than in previous years (4 ozone action days and 7 days having air health advisories for combustion particle pollutants), and that Madison should do its fair share in reducing greenhouse gases from motor vehicle driving (and flying). Unfortunately, when only one or two individuals raise concerns about problems such as health concerns and excessive motor vehicle congestion, the effects are trivialized.
You're right that it takes political will by government, universities and other public officials in a community to reduce automobile traffic, especially since most people prefer to drive cars. But unless some of the deadbeats in Madison come out and demand change to the status quo of too much auto driving in Madison, the auto pollution, traffic and number of bicyclist collisions with automobiles in Madison will just continue to grow.
The Madison Common Council is scheduled to adopt its Comprehensive Plan on January 3, 2006. It may be all over but the shouting.
Mike Neuman
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