City report admits to low interest in cycling, but suggests lack of bike lanes is racist, discriminatory
The City of Mississauga is planning to spend almost $250 million to create 600kms of new bike lanes across the city. They are proceeding with the plans despite their own data revealing very little usage and demand for bike lanes.
City council at a June meeting endorsed a new update to the Cycling Master Plan that calls for almost a quarter of a billion dollars to be spent building what they describe as new and improved cycling infrastructure. The lengthy 323 page document bills itself as “more than a blueprint for infrastructure,” saying it is “a call to action for safer streets and more inclusive mobility across Mississauga.”
The long-term plan would see 600km of both new and upgraded cycling lanes at a projected cost of $234.4 million while the 5 year plan would see 175.8km of new and upgraded cycling lanes for $97.5 million.
The challenge, according to the report, is that as of 2022 data, “Mississauga residents cycle for [only] 0.9% of all trips.” In other words, as the report says, there is a “substantial gap between the potential for active transportation and actual travel behaviour.”
To better understand residents’ opinions and experiences about cycling, city staff held 49 engagement and outreach events and collected survey data.
When people were asked why they would choose to ride a bicycle, 11% said “convenience” 20% said “fun,” another 20% said “being outside/connecting with nature” and 22% said “exercise.”
As for reasons people would choose not to ride a bicycle, responses included “skepticism about…climate, car-centric infrastructure, the perception that cycling is primarily a recreational and not a practical mode of transportation…and the perceived impact of bike lanes on traffic congestion.”
Some members of the public responded to the survey stating that there are not enough cyclists to “justify the cost of new infrastructure.”
The City doesn’t seem to be swayed by residents’ opinions though. According to the report, these “personal perceptions are shaped by individual experience, but don’t always reflect broader patterns or facts.”
This is why the report pushes for “education” as a big part of the cycling master plan. “Programs that raise awareness, encourage behaviour change, and provide incentives are seen as essential to increasing cycling mode share by building a culture of active transportation.”
The City also seems to be pushing the notion that the lack of bike lanes is in some way racist and discriminatory. A key aspect of the plan is “equity.” The terms “equity and equitable” appear almost 200 times throughout the document.
The report claims that equity for bike lanes is important because, “Historically, across North America, planning decisions have prioritized vehicle-centric infrastructure, often at the expense of equity-deserving groups including racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, people living with disabilities, and low-income populations.”
In order to counter historical discrimination, investments in cycling infrastructure would be prioritized in areas with the “highest cycling potential” and “equity need.” Malton, for instance, is highlighted many times in the report as an “underserved area” deserving of more bike lanes.
Other specific examples of where bike lanes would be upgraded include Bristol Road West and Confederation Parkway where “painted bike lanes” are proposed to be upgraded to “protected bike lanes” and Truscott Drive, which would go from a “shared route” to a “protected bike lane.”
The Cycling Master Plan Update was adopted by General Committee on June 17 with unanimous consent. All city councillors present were supportive of the plan, however, Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko told city staff that he would like advance warning before any bike lanes were installed in his ward due to “sensitivities” about certain projects within the local community.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOUR SAY!
Do you support the city’s new bike lane plan? Do we need this many bike lanes in Mississauga? Is it worth the cost? Let us know at info@mpulse.ca
