Bike lanes great
Dear Editor:
RE: Fergus resident collects 800 signatures on petition to scrap bike lane option, July 15.
The story posted about those opposing the bike lanes has deeply upset me.
This town has thrived on community support and when someone from the community decides to take the time out of their lives to benefit the community, it should be met with positive feedback. This petition has no research backing it has no plan to take its place.
I have lived in Elora and Fergus my whole life besides one year I spent abroad in Sweden. I always thought our town was very progressive but after living in Scandinavia I realized we are far behind and this petition shows it. In Sweden they actively look for plans to better the future for its citizens.
As a young person I think it is sad that the older community is actively opposing change to benefit youth. Why do people who had no intention of using the bike lanes get a say? Some people need to look outside themselves and once they remove those self-important blinders they will realize these plans for bike lanes are great for this community.
These bike lanes are benefiting me, my family and my future children. If this town is going to go against a bike lane we are really not as great as we think we are. This is a small step; so small it is crazy that people are so against it.
I have read the concerns of those who are against this and a few parking spots missing really doesn’t seem to sway me at all. I think the petition writers should take the time to have a nice bike ride around our beautiful town and see things from a different perspective.
People have a right to safe transportation in all forms.
Elise Perreault,
Elora
‘Fossil-fuel fools’
Dear Editor:
Re: Just plain ludicrous. July 15.
My family and I have shopped in Fergus many times and will do so again after the pandemic. The car-driving letter writer complains about other road users who she claims deprive her of parking space in downtown Fergus.
She suggests that cyclists use routes other than St. David Street and that “removing parking spaces to add bicycle lanes is just plain ludicrous.” Apparently she ignores that bicyclists too “want to shop and dine downtown”.
The fact is that bicyclists have more money for shopping and dining because they don’t have the cost of buying, maintaining and parking a private car – and they don’t spew toxic fumes.
Fortunately more and more politicians and planners see the need to promote cycling and walking for the sake of public and personal health, and for the environment. Wonder why car drivers feel such priority.
Obviously there are too many fossil-fuel fools who don’t recognize human-induced climate change and the needs of our descendants for a livable planet. I despair.
Helen Hansen,
Guelph
‘Greedy group’
Dear Editor:
Congratulations! The people of Alma, Salem and Elora have stood up and said “not here.” The people of Fergus have said no to bike lanes.
To Centre Wellington Mayor Kelly Linton, other politicians, developers and business owners: I have seen the future of Fergus, Elora and surrounding areas … and you’re ruining it.
Fergus, Elora and surrounding areas have been subject to a political and business philosophy based on “keep building until we run out of space to build any more.” It may already be too late to stop the expansion from small towns to nothing more than formidable Toronto suburbs.
Urbanization has been good for business but not necessarily the longtime resident who chose to live in a small town understanding, and in most cases preferring, they might have to travel to access certain goods and services.
We are told this is all progress (“healthy growth” as Linton likes to phrase it) and this unprecedented progress (at one point the third fastest growing area in Canada) is provincially mandated. However, progress is considered “gradual betterment.” There is nothing gradual or better about what has happened to Fergus and Elora. The situation in Fergus, Elora and surrounding areas is more correctly defined as overdevelopment.
Overdevelopment engenders a vicious circle: more traffic promotes gas consumption and increases noise and exhaust emissions, traffic congestion and the need to build even more roads. This in turn facilitates residential property development. It promotes increased energy consumption for heating, air conditioning, and lighting in additional buildings, resulting in additional greenhouse gas emissions.
It results in farmland loss, which is of course a crucial resource for the food supply, forage, energy crops and renewable resources. Rural residents get endangered water supply, urbanization of rural roadways and track side seats to daily urban commuter races with all the associated noise, pollution and impact on quality of life. Sound familiar?
Overdevelopment has given rise to increased incidents of crime, increased traffic accidents – several of them with fatalities – and there seems to be no end to the new subdivisions, both residential and industrial.
Long-established traditional communities are disintegrating and social problems escalating, with an increase in public spending on police, emergency, social services and infrastructure. All of which equals a decline in the overall quality of life. All subsidized by local residents (see property tax increases)!
The time has come to stop the destruction of our rural communities and areas by greedy developers/realtors/businesses.
Linton and his council should be making a concerted effort to put the brakes on “progress” and instead say “Fergus/Elora and area are big enough.” Anything less tells us they’re just part of that greedy group.
Charles Marchegiano,
Belwood
Surprised by note
Dear Editor:
In a July 15 Letter to the Editor, Terrence Rothwell was clear and concise about his views towards a person’s decision to be vaccinated.
He did not imply that a person should or should not. He stated some reasons that have been aired by a cross section of the population and addressed the concern of different age groups and their vulnerability to the virus.
I was surprised that the editor felt he needed to add a note to Rothwell’s letter. I am not sure what triggered such a response from the editor as I felt Rothwell’s letter was honest and compassionate and stood well on its own.
Kudos, Terence, for your concern and willingness to debate a hot topic.
Michael Thorp,
Mount Forest
‘Independent thinkers’
Dear Editor:
The July 22 editor’s note stated that Canadians under 20 accounted for 19.3% of all COVID cases, whereas those 80 and over accounted for 5%.
Many readers might mistakenly conclude from this that COVID is a much more serious problem for young Canadians. However, our elders number about 1.6 million (4% of the total population of about 38 million) and our young people comprise some 8.1 million (21%). In other words, the official percentage infection rate is much the same for both groups.
Moreover, your numbers ignore – and I will argue, diminish – the fact that while our elders make up only 4% of the nation’s population, as of May 2021 they accounted for a horrific 67% of all COVID deaths.
Numerically, our young people have performed extremely well, demonstrating, an (unvaccinated) recovery rate of virtually 100%, accounting for 0.05% of Canadian COVID deaths as of May. This is not to suggest that any COVID death is to be considered anything less than a human tragedy.
This reality cries out for age-specific SARS CoV-2 programs and policies. It also requires Canadians to, as your writer has said, “put on our critical thinking caps to put things in perspective.”
To this end, it’s time Canadians, as independent thinkers, stop engaging in sophistry and face up to this most-important, fundamental, and humanitarian question: Which is more critical: the case rate or the death rate?
Terence Rothwell,
Wellington North
Sidewalk sale fan
Dear Editor:
Thank you to the organizers of the sidewalk sale in Mount Forest. My neighbour and I would never have known the excellent shopping and products offered right here in Mount Forest. Closing off the street and opening all the stores and business let us discover the amazing purchase choices we have in town.
We started at the top end of the street and were able to sample the wonderful skin care products at Karolina Canada store on Main St. Being able to meet Karolina, we not only discovered the skin healing properties of her creams but discovered she hand makes them right here in Mount Forest. I returned to her store to purchase some of her amazing products.
We continued down the road and were able to see the beautiful and well displayed new store called Stumbled Upon. We bought some novelty glassware there that I would never have known they carried, had it not been for the Sidewalk sale.
We got to learn all the amazing services that the Getaway Spa has to offer right here in town. We got to experience and enjoy the amazing music of a local singer and song writer Cara Smith.
Your sidewalk sale gave me the opportunity to purchase her CD right there on the street and not struggle to find it online. I will be going to the August sidewalk sale with even more neighbours, and I hope we get to hear Cara singing again. All the food vendors, open stores and sales on the street, made it such an enjoyable day for us. Looking forward to attending your August sale with more friends and neighbors.
Suzanne Yates,
Minto
‘Easy day trip’
Dear Editor:
I am lucky enough to live on Puslinch Lake, which is sadly becoming more and more privatized and almost inaccessible for the general community.
To the best of my knowledge there remains only one small access for the general public and that is at the end of Travelled Road, which is off the west end of Lake Road.
Travelled Road leads right up to the lake and is a great spot to throw in a canoe or kayak. It is not a great lake for swimming but wonderful for a canoe or kayak.
During these times when we are all looking for outdoor activities this is an easy day trip from Guelph and surroundings.
Paige Gelinas,
Puslinch