Really? No choice!
Typical urbanite...tisk...if only everyone had the "choice" of living downtown where access to services and everything was easier. The reality is that the downtown is where (still) a large majority of jobs are located. The downtown isn't some neighbourhood community garden that needs protecting from outsiders, it is, and should be, used by ALL people. Facilitating, what seems to be, the only efficient and accessible method for suburbanites to get downtown is not wrong, especially when there is no plan to provide any other method, other than driving, to get downtown.
It is generally common knowledge that there were mistakes made in the past pertaining to planning in the "1950s". It's something we have to live with, and it is NOT something we should be trying to completely block off. There's a reason why our streets are congested..because people use them. creating pedestrian malls and transit malls downtown are all nice and pretty, but unless the GO Train or subway or buses improve in the suburbs, congestion downtown will not get ANY better, regardless of transit improvements within the downtown core.
The only benefit we can really take from this, is that people living downtown won't be affected by the congestion, if the transit improvements are made I guess.
So the poor suburbanites didn't have a choice in where they live? Really? How so exactly? Where you choose to live reflects your 'chosen' lifestyle.
I've had enough conversations with enough suburbanites to know that they'll defend the car and big houses and malls, etc. to no ends! So how is it not their choice? In fact, the 'choice' card is precisely what they use against me! They'll tell me I'm attacking their 'choices'! And then I try to explain how their choses lead to pollution, congestion, etc. and it goes round and round in circles...
...but then they cry when what they themselves created (i.e. car dependancy) turns around and bites them in the ass (i.e. rising gas prices, pollution and congestion and no time).
And when given an oppoprtunity to change that, they'll vote for someone who promises to maintain their precious choices.
Who stopped them from voting for a mayor who supports sustainable transportation instead of supporting someone who espouses the 'war on the car' nonsense. Wouldn't that give them an alternative that you say doesn't currently exist? And watch in a few months, they'll support another right-winged wack who'll tell us we can't afford better transit, and then the cycle will continue.
Take responsibility for your choices...nobody's stopping any suburbanite from moving closer to where they work (yes, this might require some downsizing...oh nooooo!). No one's stopping them from buying a smaller car (until they move closer to a subway line). No one's stopping them from opening their eyes and refusing to buy into the suburban/American crap, which is costing all of us...and no one's stopping them to vote for a pro-transit anti-sprawl candidate...(I can go on, but why labour it...I think you get the point).
...so please...spare me the 'poor' suburbanite crap.
And by the way, as for adding more parking downtown to further facilitate the car oriented transport, I further like Vancouver's position, where they say,
"
More cars and more space for parking would hamper the efficient functioning of the Downtown and result in congestion in surrounding Downtown neighbourhoods. In the future travel to and within the Downtown will rely more on transit, walking and biking".
Notice the focus on
'not' rewarding bad choices (i.e. facilitating suburbanites to
drive and
park downtown).
Facilitating, what seems to be, the only efficient and accessible method for suburbanites to get downtown is not wrong
Ummmm...have you not heard of the GoTrains? If they don't like the INfrequency, then maybe they can increase their densities to justify more frequency, but of course that would violate the suburban 'low density' choice, wouldn't it?
