Multi-modal transportation use should be encouraged

By Lethbridge Herald on April 29, 2023.

Editor: 

I write once again to respond to a bad take published in your Commentary section regarding Mr. Scott Harvey’s letter published April 14 “Adding parking and bike lanes will be a waste of money.”

Mr. Harvey states that in his 39 years of driving in Lethbridge, he has never seen such poor states of the roads. I must agree, they’re in bad shape.

However, it is not the proposed redevelopment of 3rd Avenue to increase bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian access (which will help remove weighty and damaging personal vehicles from our streets) that is the cause of our roadway woes: it is our development pattern. 

I propose that the thousands of kilometres added to the City’s footprint in the 39 years of his tenancy, built through Euclidean zoning practices that create car-dependent, sprawling neighbourhoods with few local amenities within walking/cycling distance are to blame for our lack of paving perfection.

You see, it has well been proven in the urban planning world that our development pattern over the last 60-ish years (that so-called suburban dream) which has resulted in our heavy reliance on weighty vehicles to move efficiently around our city, and that does not generate adequate property taxes to cover the costs of the aging infrastructure it requires, are more to blame than those projects not even funded yet.  

Indeed it is by redeveloping these poorly developed areas, particularly in our downtown and adjacent areas, to encourage more multi-modal transportation use that will free up future funds to maintain our otherwise be-vehicled streets. This small, incremental investment will draw those neighbours who do reside in proximity to such places, out of their vehicles and into the open air to experience their city at a much more leisurely pace when their hectic lives may best benefit. 

By investing now, we pave a smoother way to a better future for both bike-riders and drivers alike. 

Kelti Baird

Lethbridge