Hi, Mr. Clark,
Thank you for your letter of the 4th that arrived today.
I am glad that current standards for King's Highways include 50 cm of
paved shoulder, and that you put this in whenever practical, and that
shoulders are fully (I don't quite know what this means) paved
whenever there are 3 lanes or more, or sidewalks.
I am reassured that our highways will improve when road work is done.
Personally, I don't have any concerns so far with rumble strips. I
think they do help to keep drivers awake on rural freeways.
I would like you, and your compatriot, Tim Hudac, minister of
tourism, to consider how you can make our highways even safer and
more inviting for cyclists in Ontario, and from the US, Europe, and
places further away.
I think several measures can be taken:
1. Highway standards should mandate a full metre (100 cm) of paved
shoulder for King's Highways, and all paved rural roads in Ontario
where traffic is more than light. 50 cm allows 0cm clearance when
cyclists and trucks all try to share the same width. It seems even
more crowded when this small paved width acquires loose stones that
throw the rider back & forth a bit.
2. Roads should be brought up to this standard as road work is done,
or sooner if there is considerable traffic. Wide trucks not only
stress roads, they crowd cyclists, which can lead to injuries or
deaths. Hostile, impolite or bad motorists are also a constant
hazard. Having a wider shoulder makes cyclists safer and motorists
happier.
3. Critical roads, those that are the shortest or the only roads
between 2 points, should be targeted first for wider paved shoulders.
4. The tourism office should look into promoting bicycle tourism
around Ontario. The state governments of Illinois, Wisconsin,
Washington, North Carolina, Tennessee, New Jersey, Minnesota, and
probably others have maps specially for bicyclists.
Bicycle maps identify
- low-traffic routes
- paved roads vs unpaved
- elevations or elevation contour lines (hills make a difference)
- special bike trails
- camping & B&B facilities
and are usually more detailed, as bicycle tourists usually travel
only 50-120 km/day. Several would be needed to cover all of Ontario.
Recommended bike routes could be provided by web sites in visual,
and/or in data form suitable for downloading to a GPS device.
Recommended bike routes could also be indicated by signposts, as
Quebec does.
Bicyclists avoid creating the smog of cars or buses. They travel for
more days per trip, and usually have higher disposable incomes than
most tourists. Toronto, Ottawa and some other cities are very cyclist-
friendly, and act as a magnet for cyclists.
You have opportunities here to save lives and to encourage visitors
to enjoy Ontario. Please encourage cyclists by making Ontario a safe
and welcoming destination and home for cyclists.
Thank you,
Tom Trottier
------- http://members.home.net/tomatrottier
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ:57647974
+1 613 291-1168 fax:+1 613 594-5412
415-400 Slater St. Ottawa ON Canada K1R 7S7
,__o Much Madness is divinest Sense
_-\_<, To a discerning Eye
(*)/'(*) Much Sense--the starkest Madness.
-Emily Dickinson, poet (1830-1886)
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