Archived Letter - 449

Thanks heavens for Doug Breen and Guelph-Eramosa for NOT automatically approving the Active Transportation Plan!  What a wanton waste of taxpayer money with no clear, organized and specific plan.  There are OCCASIONAL  bicyclists on rural roads, but it almost always for race-days, weekenders training for cycling races, and out-of-county residents.  It is rarely one's neighbors.  If the county wants to build something that people in every area will use--each of the communities could build a fenced-in dog park.  Right now, I have to waste gas driving to either Fergus and use the unfenced dog park (which is wonderful by the way!) or drive over to Acton to use the small, fenced portion near Fairy Lake.  Well over 100-400 people use those parks on a daily basis.  Why don't I walk my dog at home?  I live on an extremely busy rural road, and it is not safe to walk a dog along--let alone ride a bike along! And, new dog parks could be built for far less than this silly multi-million dollar boondoogle of paving road shoulders on busy rural roads.  The transport trucks and heavy agricultural equipment that "zoom" or "plod" down these roads make them less than idea for any kind of bike lanes.  And, there are numerous trails already sprinkled throughout the County.    Please when the 2013 budget process comes along, remember that voters are thrilled to hear that you finally stood up for us and our pocketbooks, and said quite intelligently and forcefully, "Thanks, but not thanks!"  We are proud of you!

Jeannette Bisbee