By Staff
September 12, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
This is a photo op that will have gladdened the heart of Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon.
Anything to do with cycling and sharing the road in a responsible way gets her attention.
The announcement earlier today at the Appleby GO station that the province is going to install secure bike storage at GO station and car pool lots making it easier for cyclists to commute to and from work, school, and appointments.
The construction of new, secure bike storage lockers at GO Transit stations and car pool lots across southern Ontario. This investment is part of Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan and is funded by proceeds from the province’s cap on pollution and carbon market.
Eight bike lockers will be installed at each of 15 commuter parking lots across the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, Niagara, and Simcoe Region for a total of 120 bike lockers. Work will be finished by the end of March 2018.
In addition, 28 bike rooms will be installed at 26 GO Transit stations in the Greater Toronto Area over the next four years as part of Ontario’s GO RER program, expanding storage capacity while enhancing security. The first locations, which will be complete by spring 2018, include: Appleby, Markham, Mount Pleasant, Bronte, Unionville, and Stouffville.
Minister of Transportation Steven De Luca and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Eleanor McMahon were in Burlington today to launch the new Commuter Bike Parking Program, which will help encourage people to take their bikes as part of their daily commute.
Eight bike lockers will be installed at each of 15 commuter parking lots across the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, Niagara, and Simcoe Region for a total of 120 bike lockers. Work will be finished by the end of March 2018. In addition, 28 bike rooms will be installed at 26 GO Transit stations in the Greater Toronto Area over the next four years as part of Ontario’s GO RER program, expanding storage capacity while enhancing security. The first locations, which will be complete by spring 2018, include: Appleby, Markham, Mount Pleasant, Bronte, Unionville, and Stouffville.
Locations:
GO stations: Burlington and Appleby
Car pool lots: QEW at Guelph Line and Hwy 403 at Hwy 6/Plains Rd
No mention of any fee for use – they will all be in place before the June election – which is more than can be said for the Burlington GO station upgrades.
No report on whether or not the two politicians rode their bikes to the event.
This just might give cyclists a reason to use New Street now that it is still on its Road Diet.
Ontario is investing approximately $2.5 million from its carbon market to fund this project.
About 1.5 million people in Ontario ride their bikes at least once a week during the spring, summer and fall, and many cycle year-round.
The Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program is a commitment under Ontario’s five-year Climate Change Action Plan which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.
No mention for our MPP of the 3 over due – 20 million dollar over budget Burlington GO station 🙁
“Anything to do with cycling and sharing the road in a responsible way gets her attention”.
Never was a truer observation made! McMahon is definitely a “one trick pony”. The only thing she truly cares about is bike lanes. Shame she didn’t expend as much time and focus on the outcome of the PARC review as she does upon bike lanes.
When she campaigns in the next provincial election she should take note of the fact that there are many streets in older parts of this city without sidewalks. Why? There are many residents who like to walk, or walk dogs, or walk young children, etc. If there are no sidewalks they walk on the road. That isn’t safe, especially at night. Evidently though, that isn’t her concern…or the Mayor’s, or Council’s. By the way: sidewalks, unlike bike lanes, are used year-round.
The priorities in this City, like are politicians, are really out of sync!
I tried carpooling once, but it didn’t work out for I couldn’t take overtime. If you’re in a carpool, you have no other option but to lose out.