Editor:
Re: Mayor excited by final term, Dec. 3
In contrast to the story regarding the mayor’s eagerness to take on the key issues in her last term, we are facing service reductions from TransLink through the George Massey Tunnel with the mayor’s silent assent.
As a cycle commuter, I have paid over $21,000 over the years on two-zone transit passes for a five minute ride through the tunnel just to get my bike to the other side. This capacity is now reduced, again with the mayor’s silent assent.
The Ministry of Highways’ cycle trailer (from the Delta Town & Country Inn) is fine for leisure cyclists, but not for commuters.
It is most shameful that while other communities put effort into increasing public transit and cycling options for their constituents, Delta quietly allows their erosion.
There are no other options for cyclists to get through the tunnel, and this situation is unique to the Lower Mainland, which is otherwise fully accessible for cyclists.
Seasonal cycle commuters and those who cycle commute year round will be bottlenecked trying to get through the tunnel on the reduced TransLink capacity. It seems if we don’t like it, we can all just get in our cars and drive.
If you’re a senior or student that wishes or needs to go to south Richmond, you can take transit to north Richmond and a second or third bus back to south Richmond. It might take you three times longer, but you can always drive if you’re able.
Well, there’s the new bridge in a few years. Of course, the bridge is only a sidebar. The tunnel must go and the river must be dredged so fuel tankers can fill the soon to be built aircraft fuel depot on the banks of the Fraser River.
Is the mayor in silent agreement with this plan as well, and the real risks it holds for our community and our environment?
Dennis Garvey
