The @RegionWaterloo bike lanes are not about catering to wealthy 'cyclists' in gentrified parts of the city. They are about creating a more just and equitable community and developing infrastructure that means everyone can get around safer. 1/6

Importantly, they bring good active transportation infrastructure and mobility CHOICE to areas that have long been neglected when it comes to good planning & urban design. Westmount and Cambridge lanes run through diverse areas that lack transport options 2/6

. @RegionWaterloo @Redman4Region @tomjgalloway14 @SeanSstrickland If you are seriously committed to building a socially just and equitable community, bike infra beyond the downtown core has to be central to transportation strategy. 3/6

Will bike lanes be busy from day 1? No. It takes time to develop cycling but it has to start somewhere. Policing, racial profiling and how BIPOC residents experience urban space differently also part of creating equitable transportation and cities... 4/6

But for goodness sake DO NOT CANCEL THESE BIKE LANES!!!!!!!! (I can't believe I actually have to tweet this today).

Studies show bike lanes make roads safer for all modes of travel and have little impact on drive times. Listen to evidence, not loudest voice in the room. 5/6

These bike lanes are about creating a more equitable city. Given region's history of barn raising (i.e. helping each other out), this is surely something we can get behind 6/6

Extra tweet:
For those that need more convincing, here's a report from the US that shows people living along busy roads suffer worse air pollution, which makes COVID worse. Low-income & visible minorities disproportionately live along these busy roads. https://www.mapc.org/pollution-disparities-covid19/