Dear Editor,
Re: “Councillor balks at bike lane price tag” News, Dec. 15, 2022
We are three siblings who love to bike in Richmond. Along with our parents, we have covered the local area and have also biked in Vancouver and surrounding cities.
We were extremely disappointed to learn about Coun. Carol Day’s position against building a bike lane on Steveston Highway, especially after she expressed her support for the expansion of cycling infrastructure before the election.
Steveston Highway is one of Richmond’s major roads and is always very busy.
We have also noticed, while walking and biking around the city, that many cars in Richmond drive way over the speed limit.
If the city were to, in Carol Day’s words, “trim the cost of the multi-use pathway for cyclists and pedestrians” and paint lines on Steveston Highway, it would prove unsafe for cyclists, especially families like ours that include younger children.
Going by bike is good for the planet and also helps people stay fit.
Therefore, it is important to us the city supports safe cycling and promotes active living.
If more bike lanes were built for cyclists, especially on major roads like Steveston Highway, it would encourage more people to bike.
People would feel safer knowing that there was a proper bike lane there.
To highlight Richmond’s need for better bike lanes, we challenge the mayor and all eight of Richmond’s city councillors to go by bike for a week.
It would also be a good example for citizens. We hope that, with some real-life experience in the matter, our leaders will be able to make a more thoughtful decision.
Sana (Grade 9), Misaki (Grade 7), Seiji (Grade 6) Lee
RICHMOND
