Re: City to turn $13-M greener, Nov. 25.
I am pleased to learn about the WinSmart projects to improve air quality, boost transit ridership and build bike paths: laudable goals all three. Unfortunately, while most of the eight projects announced have some bearing on these three areas, the second-largest amount is earmarked for putting GPS systems in the buses and electronic signs at a few stops. It's predictable that this measure will have no impact on ridership. On the same topic, I could save the city $330,000 for the marketing campaign to find out why people don't take the bus or bike: People won't use a bike if it means competing with motor vehicles on busy roads, such as Pembina Highway; and people won't take transit if the service is infrequent and competing with cars on congested streets.
I think city council now needs to explain why there is no money to improve the frequency and speed of transit and why the bike path goes only halfway to the U of M.