Discussing alternate transportation on St. David's Road
Kate Siklosi
Issue date: 12/12/06 Section: News
There has never been a better time to make a change to a lifestyle that is more active and healthy, and thanks to the Brock community, that opportunity just got easier.
For those students and faculty who choose to cycle, run or walk to campus, hopes of bicycle lanes for a safer route to school will soon be realized.
With many members of the Brock community willing to bike or go on foot instead of drive, there is only one issue that prevents them: The St. David's Road traffic. Having ramps to busy highways and speeds up to 70 kilometres an hour, St. David's Road is not a safe route for those who choose the healthy alternatives of cycling and walking.
To deal with this issue, there was a meeting recently set up between the road engineer consultants and the public to discuss the issue of implementing separate bike lanes and sidewalks. The main issue of discussion was the bikers, walkers and runners being able to make a return trip along St. David's Road, from the Thorold area to work or a meeting at the new Regional Headquarters or to Brock University; which currently poses a challenge for students, employees, and volunteers who would like to use alternative modes of transportation.
Virginia Stewart, who cycles, walks and rides the bus as preferred modes of travel is a Brock student in Applied Health Sciences, attended the meeting for the public. Stewart said that her main issue with the population that choose to cycle or walk is their limited numbers.
"[There are] not enough. Niagara residents top the list of the Canadian population being overweight."
She outlined the benefits of shifting from the convenient use of motorized transportation to human motorized modes of travel, such as walking and bicycling, which would not only increase people's physical activity, but also reduce traffic congestion, and noise, as well as reduce crime, save enormous amounts of money spent on roadways and parking for automobiles, and reduce air pollution.
For those students and faculty who choose to cycle, run or walk to campus, hopes of bicycle lanes for a safer route to school will soon be realized.
With many members of the Brock community willing to bike or go on foot instead of drive, there is only one issue that prevents them: The St. David's Road traffic. Having ramps to busy highways and speeds up to 70 kilometres an hour, St. David's Road is not a safe route for those who choose the healthy alternatives of cycling and walking.
To deal with this issue, there was a meeting recently set up between the road engineer consultants and the public to discuss the issue of implementing separate bike lanes and sidewalks. The main issue of discussion was the bikers, walkers and runners being able to make a return trip along St. David's Road, from the Thorold area to work or a meeting at the new Regional Headquarters or to Brock University; which currently poses a challenge for students, employees, and volunteers who would like to use alternative modes of transportation.
Virginia Stewart, who cycles, walks and rides the bus as preferred modes of travel is a Brock student in Applied Health Sciences, attended the meeting for the public. Stewart said that her main issue with the population that choose to cycle or walk is their limited numbers.
"[There are] not enough. Niagara residents top the list of the Canadian population being overweight."
She outlined the benefits of shifting from the convenient use of motorized transportation to human motorized modes of travel, such as walking and bicycling, which would not only increase people's physical activity, but also reduce traffic congestion, and noise, as well as reduce crime, save enormous amounts of money spent on roadways and parking for automobiles, and reduce air pollution.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Sarah Edwards
posted 12/12/06 @ 4:55 PM EST
Hi!
I am also a Brock student who prefers walking to alternate modes of transportation. This is largely due to my interest in physical activity, but also influenced by the expense of parking at Brock. (Continued…)
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