Yes, I wouldn’t say they are solely to blame, but their influence drives politics, and politics drives infrastructure and societal change.
There is no “big bike” or “big pedestrian” lobby, so we have to pull hair and teeth to get just a measly strip of paint on the ground, or for a sidewalk to be built.
But the car industry, and their friends in politics, have made so if millions need to be spent for “one more lane, bro”, they’re totally fine doing it.
Hell, our own corrupt Ontario Premier (Doug Ford) wants to spend $400 million on a parking garage. $400 million could build an entire network of active transportation connections throughout the entire province, and most places have to beg to get the government to give even a $1 million for projects that save lives.
It’s almost unheard of for politicians so say that car-centric projects are a bad idea. Yet, some run on an election platform to GET RID OF bike lanes. And that goes beyond just pandering to the public with wedge issues, there has to be industry influence at play, too.
Yes, I wouldn’t say they are solely to blame, but their influence drives politics, and politics drives infrastructure and societal change.
There is no “big bike” or “big pedestrian” lobby, so we have to pull hair and teeth to get just a measly strip of paint on the ground, or for a sidewalk to be built.
But the car industry, and their friends in politics, have made so if millions need to be spent for “one more lane, bro”, they’re totally fine doing it.
Hell, our own corrupt Ontario Premier (Doug Ford) wants to spend $400 million on a parking garage. $400 million could build an entire network of active transportation connections throughout the entire province, and most places have to beg to get the government to give even a $1 million for projects that save lives.
It’s almost unheard of for politicians so say that car-centric projects are a bad idea. Yet, some run on an election platform to GET RID OF bike lanes. And that goes beyond just pandering to the public with wedge issues, there has to be industry influence at play, too.