@Paulatics has, does, the committee consider the *bicycle* when considering #transportation?

We see federal and provincial interest in electric cars, & hear of aspirations for passenger trains, but with so many Canadians living in dense urban communities, the potential for bicycles (acoustic & electric) to reduce carbon emissions, city infrastructure costs & health risks as well as to improve quality of urban life, is profound. Yet we hear zip from our federal authorities. Why?

#biketooter

@Paulatics just to be clear, I'm not trying to be rhetorical or antagonistic. I'm genuinely puzzled.

Bicycles are so obviously the personal vehicle of the future; we make steel & aluminum & batteries in Canada, we have a history of bike design & building; we could have a bike/trike industry here (we could lead the world on #winterbiking). But our MPs seem oblivious (even Steven Guilbeault🤯).
Is it b/c the auto lobby is too rich? Or policy ppl still equate bikes with recreation?
#biketooter

@HyL @Paulatics Probably a good part of this is the constitutional division of powers. The federal government really doesn't have a lot it can do to promote bike use. Traffic planning is a local matter. Licensing (of e-vehicles on public roads) is provincial.

Federal transportation authority is specifically for interprovincial modes of transportation (trains & planes) and product safety & environmental regulations (cars).

For bikes, the main thing they can do is directed infrastructure grants.

@Paulatics @AmeliasBrain
Yes. I read @enobacon's reply & knew immediately it was from someone unaware that Canada has effectively no passenger rail system (except for rich tourists) 🤭.

But a bike + bus route to the airport, and safe bike parking there, is something we *could* and should have. (Would bike storage at airports fall under your committee's purview, Senator?)

@HyL @Paulatics @AmeliasBrain @enobacon

I understand that in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor (which does hold half the country's population), passenger rail almost rises to the level of a European economic basket case country that wouldn't be admitted into the EU.

I have not used the train in that corridor, so that's just from what I've heard.

In Western Canada, the Maritimes, and the rest of Ontario and Quebec, it's purely a tourist attraction, for sure.

@dragonfrog @Paulatics @AmeliasBrain @enobacon

yes, between Hamilton & Montreal there is passenger rail & even commuter trains. But that is a tiny part of Canada's geography, & it used to be better, affordable, and an alternative to short flights.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whatonearth/rail-travel-canada-1.6681160

https://www.viarail.ca/en

@dragonfrog

If you like being frustrated, try to find trips between major Canadian cities using the ViaRail booking site ( https://www.viarail.ca/en )🤣

@Paulatics @AmeliasBrain @enobacon

#Canada
#Rail
#Travel
#AltText: Two screen shots, 1st showing search for train travel between Edmonton & Montréal, 2nd showing no train service found.

@HyL @dragonfrog @Paulatics @AmeliasBrain @enobacon

God what a tragic state.