CITY CYCLISTS CUT OUT OF RACE BENEFITS

Hamilton Ontario, Canada

Once the rainbow jersey is awarded and the last of the world cycling championship racers leaves Hamilton, city cyclists will be no better off than they were before the race.

Despite the existence of an official SHIFTING GEARS cycling plan, the needs and concerns of city cyclists are routinely ignored, but this year, the year of TWO major cycling events in the city, the local council canceled the annual modest $300,000 earmarked for cycling infrastructure!

Scarce bike racks. No through-city bike lanes. No connected system of trails and paths.

Excited about the possibilities the race offered, Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) a local University-based sustainable transportation advocacy group, approached city council in August 2001 to ask that in the two years leading up to the race, the city fast track their cycling plan.

At the time we asked “Can cycling fans arriving in Hamilton in 2003 ride on a safe, well signed network of bike routes and paths? Will the cyclists be able to secure their bikes to bike racks? Will there be infrastructure in place for local cyclists after the race is over?”

The answer is, sadly, a resounding no! There have been zero improvements to the cycling network in the two years prior to the cycling championships and very little sign of action on the horizon.

In a city where 20% of households lack cars, and 40% of residents say they cycle regularly or occasionally (Hamilton-Wentworth Community Cycling Survey, 1997), spending on car centric capital improvements outpaces spending on cycling by a ration of 209 to 1. This is not acceptable in a city where pollution and death and injury from cars is a major problem.

In February 2003 TLC went back to council seeking bike racks in sufficient numbers on all city blocks that have recreational and commercial establishments; safe bike routes from McMaster University to the downtown core; to the lakefront trail; a safe route up the mountain access; the completion of the eastern extension of the Hamilton to Brantford rail-trail; an effective webpage on the City's website providing information about cycling routes and plans (like ones found in cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, or Portland Oregon); and overall, an implementation of a dense network of safe, well signed bike routes within a short bike ride from all the city's residents.

The day of the races has arrived and Hamilton has none of these things. TLC believes that the citizens and cyclists of Hamilton deserve better from their city politicians.