Email to Marty Gold

Last Updated on Sunday, 11 October 2009 21:10 Written by John Bain Sunday, 11 October 2009 21:06

Dear Marty,

Like to start off with say LOVE your show, its a refreshing breath of reality. I have been listening to your show for about 1.5 years ... well since I started going to RRC(FYI I am a student). I really like the direction and opinions that you have. OK, enough brown nosing now.

Marty why do you "rag" on the bike lobbyist who have worked hard trying to create a type of cycling atmosphere in Winnipeg. How is it there fault that they have "ruined" downtown, cause congestion to streets with bike paths/sharrow's and consumed resources that could be better spent(in who's opinion?). As a student of RRC I am beginging to think your gonna cut off your nose to spite your face. Your lissener demographic maybe Global but your situated on a campus FULL of people who bike here.

If my phone had a camera I would snap a pic to show you the bike racks teaming with bikes, it just dosent seem fair that our "home team" is rooting for the other guys. I dont want to say your pandering to a certain demographic but your show slogan is "your only drive home talk show"(correct me if I am wrong).I havent seen a cyclest with a radio and a cell phone so your deffinetly not going to get alot of call ins from us(I dont think I mentioned it before but I bike to school, about 16km each direction).

Anyways I understand how the cyclist in Winnipeg are considered a special interest group and that things have started turning there way. But do you know who's fault that is ? Its the drivers,  there in ability to organize and protest there opions is there own downfall(it litteraly makes them sheep following the norm of what everyone else decides ). I dont know how else to explain it, everyone has the same amount of voice/power and in the end its all about voting.

Cycling Home So I can hear you today
Broken Keyboard guy

Thank you John,
 
I expect to read this email today after 4.30 PM. If I get pressed for time it will be after 5.15PM. The replay will be next Tuesday at 11 PM.
 
I want to address your points. I rag on the bike lobby because I have seen them in action. (If RRC has a bike group I would welcome them expressing how they are different from the visible groups, but I see no evidence of a "home team" as you describe.)
 
I have seen them whine "if we compromise then what do we get out of it".
They didn't give a damn about seniors who may need taxis or handi-transit downtown. They don't care about the complaints residents have about proposed changes, or the fact the consultants had NO answers to legitimate questions about the impact and cost of the changes being made to accommodate 200 activists.  (I urge you to read Progressive Winnipeg blog about the misleading lterature and process- he has called for the conversions to be stopped).
 
In fact, yesterday Harvey Smith admitted on the air, he has no idea what is going on regarding Assiniboine, even though Public Works is supposed to approve of any changes to that street.
 
The people elected city councillors -- NOT Bikes to the Future, to run this city.

And as for resources could be better spent "in whose opinion"?- Harvey Smith's for one. He said categorically it made no sense to spend money on this stuff until the streets were fixed.
 
Blaming drivers for this situation is ridiculous. They are not following anything like sheep, they have been thrown off the cliff.
 
-  They had a right to expect they are being represented by the city bureaucrats, and have been let down.
-  They had a right to expect the consultants will properly solicit their concerns and reflect them, and this did not happen.-
- The Mayor admitted on my show that the Active Transportation Advisory Committee lacked a voice from drivers.
-  And lastly councillors were also too trusting of the process and think someone else did their jobs.
 
And lest you forget, I have not only read emails from cyclists but even had one do a review of bike lane use downtown in August. They DO listen (maybe like you to the replays, or before they leave work) and they agree, our dollars are being wasted on a fringe, anti-car movement.
 
Marty