Arab on Bikes

I observe that Paula Arab of the Herald has another moderately nuts column about how the city needs more and special bike paths and lanes. She seems not to get that her entire argument boils down to "we need bike paths because Paula Arab wants them for her own use".

She notes that only 1% of locals use bikes, and fails to see that 10,000 out of 1 million residents do not require and should not get a special $28M bike path system. The wants of such a small minority do not merit huge costs and upheavals even if Paula Arab wants it and even if it would be nice.

Further, the cost is quoted at $2,800 per cyclist, but given its a governmental $28M we all know it will be $100M in two shakes of a bureaucrats butt, so $11,200 per cyclist. Even worse, I expect the costs do not include land the city already owns so the cost numbers will not include opportunity cost, or the cost of expropriating new roads to replace the road lanes given to bikers so I'm guessing the real actual cost the way a businessman or dude in the street would see it will be near $400M, or $40,000 per biker.

I drive a motorbike and I save both traffic room and "the environment" (Hogwash. More anon) when I do. Where's my $2,800? Or $11,200? Or $40,000?

Arab writes: "The transportation bureaucrats are out of touch with the needs of those commuters for alternative modes of transportation". Needs? Really? How did "wants" become "needs"? Does she give any evidence of "need", some similarity between bicycle riding and food, clothing and shelter? No, of course not.

I too want a full bicycle path network, but I don't want to pay for it. It's pretty clear that most people feel the same way, 99% of us in fact.  So guess what, I can't have it. Add it to the list of things we'll all have in Big Rock Candy Mountain. Some of us, a lot of us, probably most of us, think the City should stay out of funding fun, entertainment, "civic jewellery", and stick to necessities. The streets actually used by the 99% cry out for work and need that $28M.

Arab is also a bit of a totalitarian, finishing her article with "The folks who wrote Calgary's proposed policy should be forced to give up their parking and start cycling to work". No doubt she believes it a good idea that those daring to have a different opinion from a lefty Herald editorial writer "need" a stretch in a Gulag for re-education.