This week Region of Durham Council approved the final Regional Cycling Plan 2021, Wednesday, Oct 27, 2021. Here is a link to the 99 page Plan.
www.durham.ca/en/living-here/resources/Regional-Cycling-Plan-2021---Final---October-2021.pdf
It's interesting, and cyclists may want to tune into the Region of Durham Council meeting video to hear the discussion.
While I am not on Region Council, I do have major concerns regarding Oshawa's cycling vision. Imo those involved in deliberating on the Region's Cycling Plan Update on behalf of Oshawa need to explain:
1) about what is missing on the Primary Cycling Network Vision map concerning the City of Oshawa:
Why doesn't it reflect the Harmony Creek Trail in Ward 1 which is to be extended north of Coldstream in 2022 to the Delpark Home Centre and then a short time later, north from Greenhill Ave. to Conlin Rd and further north in the Kedron Part II development area....If this map is the visioning to 2040, there should also be included connective trails in the Hydro Corridor east of Ritson Rd and the trails approved in Kedron Part II. Also, why would Oshawa not ask for a future primary cycling trail on Thornton Rd. N. under the Hwy 407?
2) about the absurdity of this being approved at Region Council the day before the Oct 28 Oshawa Public Information Centre (PIC) meeting. The next evening Oshawa residents were to participate in a virtual meeting for the future development plans for 1,200+ acres north of Hwy 407:
How is it that a whole Oshawa community can be so disrespected? (I intend to raise awareness more about this very troubling meeting soon.. they deserve a do over meeting.)
Note, the map on page 50 lays out new roads in the area north of Hwy 407, where the future planning area roads have NOT been approved.
Regrettably, Oshawa residents seem to have been correct when they tried to voice their concerns at the painful-on-account-of-the-poor-internet-connectivity Columbus public planning meeting Thursday. Oct 28, 2021, saying "it seems like we residents don't have input because really it's like everything has already has been decided'.
The map below is taken from page 50 of the Regional Cycling Plan 2021. I've enlarged the area in a key box on the right side.
Two new east west roads, one immediately north of Hwy 407, may be desired by developers and city staff, but these AND the two new north south roads on the cycling map do not exist and have not been approved. Area residents were only presented with information about the developers' land use and road plan on Thursday evening.
Side note: why wouldn't the primary cycling route be planned for the new roads where cycling lanes can be built easier and better? Is that because the developers would need to pay to have the cycling lands on their subdivision roads and have some of their land taken up? Instead they seem to approve taking from long-time residents' properties and having the local government expropriate with the cost to taxpayers, than opt to put forward a more progressive and sustainable future visioning plan.
www.durham.ca/en/living-here/resources/Regional-Cycling-Plan-2021---Final---October-2021.pdf
It's interesting, and cyclists may want to tune into the Region of Durham Council meeting video to hear the discussion.
While I am not on Region Council, I do have major concerns regarding Oshawa's cycling vision. Imo those involved in deliberating on the Region's Cycling Plan Update on behalf of Oshawa need to explain:
1) about what is missing on the Primary Cycling Network Vision map concerning the City of Oshawa:
Why doesn't it reflect the Harmony Creek Trail in Ward 1 which is to be extended north of Coldstream in 2022 to the Delpark Home Centre and then a short time later, north from Greenhill Ave. to Conlin Rd and further north in the Kedron Part II development area....If this map is the visioning to 2040, there should also be included connective trails in the Hydro Corridor east of Ritson Rd and the trails approved in Kedron Part II. Also, why would Oshawa not ask for a future primary cycling trail on Thornton Rd. N. under the Hwy 407?
2) about the absurdity of this being approved at Region Council the day before the Oct 28 Oshawa Public Information Centre (PIC) meeting. The next evening Oshawa residents were to participate in a virtual meeting for the future development plans for 1,200+ acres north of Hwy 407:
How is it that a whole Oshawa community can be so disrespected? (I intend to raise awareness more about this very troubling meeting soon.. they deserve a do over meeting.)
Note, the map on page 50 lays out new roads in the area north of Hwy 407, where the future planning area roads have NOT been approved.
Regrettably, Oshawa residents seem to have been correct when they tried to voice their concerns at the painful-on-account-of-the-poor-internet-connectivity Columbus public planning meeting Thursday. Oct 28, 2021, saying "it seems like we residents don't have input because really it's like everything has already has been decided'.
The map below is taken from page 50 of the Regional Cycling Plan 2021. I've enlarged the area in a key box on the right side.
Two new east west roads, one immediately north of Hwy 407, may be desired by developers and city staff, but these AND the two new north south roads on the cycling map do not exist and have not been approved. Area residents were only presented with information about the developers' land use and road plan on Thursday evening.
Side note: why wouldn't the primary cycling route be planned for the new roads where cycling lanes can be built easier and better? Is that because the developers would need to pay to have the cycling lands on their subdivision roads and have some of their land taken up? Instead they seem to approve taking from long-time residents' properties and having the local government expropriate with the cost to taxpayers, than opt to put forward a more progressive and sustainable future visioning plan.
