a real snarky paragraph omitted from my bike lanes piece

The last time I owned a bicycle (before it was stolen) was when I lived in Lethbridge, Alberta.  It was a children’s bike, much too small for me, but I felt safe on it because, frankly, it was short and I wasn’t scared of tipping over.  It was also small enough to legally be ridden on the sidewalk, and I took full advantage of this.  There are no bike lanes in Lethbridge.  There are, however, a lot of engine-gunnin’, gas-guzzlin’, pickup-drivin’ folk who own the road, or at least like to act like they do.  These people shouted slurs and catcalls at me on my bicycle, and on a few occasions, nearly struck me down when trying to cross an intersection.  I can’t imagine trying to share the road with them.

BIKE LANEZ

BIKE LANES- NEUFELD- FEBRUARY 26, 2018

Though driving may be understandably necessary in rural areas, one can reasonably achieve most of their personal transportation needs throughout the Greater Victoria area through combined use of walking, public transit, and cycling.  Driving, though quick and convenient, comes at a cost- The Guardian reported in January that the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in the U.S. was now vehicle emissions.  Luring drivers away from the convenience of driving means providing appealing alternatives.  Continuing to expand Victoria’s bike lanes will make cycling a more attractive option.

While on-road cycling can be a safe option for experienced cyclists with proper training, the prospect of sharing the road with motor vehicles can be intimidating, particularly for those who are less experienced.  Bike lanes, especially protected ones, invite cyclists of all levels of experience to use them.  In fact, a 2014 study by the Portland State University showed that installation of protected bike lanes in five major U.S. cities increased ridership from between 21 and 171 percent.   

Statistics Canada describes lower rates of bicycle-related collisions and deaths in areas where bike usage is more common, due to a “safety in numbers” mindset.  This phenomenon has also been noted outside of Canada, including in Minneapolis, where cycling tripled between 1993 and 2011, but collisions did not increase. Increased ridership through a quality, expansive bike lane system will, in fact, make biking in Victoria even safer.

Victoria is a progressive city, and the capital of a progressive province.  We have an opportunity to set an example of how transportation infrastructure can evolve with the times, and we have already begun with the completion of the Pandora Avenue bike lane and construction beginning on Fort Street.  We should continue to pursue the expansion of the bike lanes, even in the face of criticism.  As more and more of Victoria becomes accessible by protected bike lanes, confidence in the system will grow, ridership will increase, and vehicle traffic congestion will decrease.  And we will demonstrate that we are dynamic, environmentally conscious leaders in the battle against greenhouse gas pollution.

TWO YEARS FREE- NEUFELD- FEBRUARY 18, 2018

In BC, tuition costs and student debt are rising, and post-secondary education is becoming more imperative than ever. Who should pay for tuition?  The present system of paid tuition leaves students overwhelmed with debt and discourages low-income individuals.  The proposition of free tuition, on the other hand, is fraught with flaws and idealistic. The solution is a compromise: two years’ free tuition.

Advocates of free tuition claim that post-secondary graduates, able to get higher-paying jobs after graduating, will more than pay for their educations through higher taxation- a Canadian university degree costing $50,630 at the outset will eventually cost, on average, $106,000 for women and $159,000 for men.  (Ivanova, 2012)  However, BC has the highest underemployment rate in Canada, with only 57% of undergraduate-educated workers employed in fields utilizing their degrees.  (Van Santvoort, 2017)  A university graduate who is only able to find low-wage work will not be able to “give back” their tuition through taxation.   

Further, under the paid-tuition model, BC students are currently graduating from four year programs with debt averaging over $30,000.  (Hernandez, 2017)  Accumulating such debt with uncertain job prospects deters individuals from enrolling, or leads them to drop out.  Providing two years’ free tuition would open the door to all to achieve educational goals, and strengthen BC’s economy with a new well of currently untapped potential.

The ‘Tennessee Promise’, initiated in 2015, is a leading example of a two-years-free program.  This “last-dollar scholarship” covers two years of tuition and fees at a Tennessee public college or technical school that are not covered by other forms of financial assistance.  (Tennessee Promise, n.d.)  Participants must attend meetings with mentors, contribute community service, and maintain a satisfactory GPA.  (Tennessee Promise, n.d.)  The mentoring program sets the stage for students to succeed, and community service ensures that recipients of the Promise give back to the state. 

The Tennessee Promise has already been successful, with “first time freshman enrolment [increasing] by 13 percent in Tennessee”.  (Tennessee Promise Sees Increased Enrollment, 2017) After two years, 17% more participating students had graduated or were pursuing further education than those who did not participate in the program. (Tamburin, 2017)  The Promise is part of Tennessee’s Drive to 55 initiative to “equip 55 percent of Tennesseans with a college degree or certificate by 2025”, which governor Bill Haslam says will be achieved two years early at its current momentum.  (Gonzales, 2018)

The two year free tuition model would benefit BC because it is a middle ground for paid and free tuition.  It would be more easily funded than a full free tuition system, would relieve financial burden on students, and would help to achieve a stronger economy.  The Drive to 55 Alliance describes its mission as “not just… higher education, but a mission for Tennessee’s future workforce and economic development”.  (Drive to 55 Alliance, n.d.)  This noble objective sets a standard which BC, already a leader of change in Canada, should proudly adopt for its own.

References

Drive to 55 Alliance (n.d.) Drive to 55 Alliance. Retrieved from http://driveto55.org

Gonzales, J. (2018, January 29) Gov. Bill Haslam touts education gains, says Drive to 55 two years ahead of pace. USA Today Network- Tennessee.  Retrieved from https://www.tennessean.com

Hernandez, J. (2017, February 22) B.C. budget eases interest on student loans while debt continues to soar.  CBC News.  Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca

Ivanova, I. (2012) Paid in full update: Who pays for university education in BC? Retrieved from Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives BC Office website: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/BC%20Office/2012/01/CCPA_Paid_in_Full_2012_web.pdf

Tamburin, A (2017, September 22) Tennesse Promise students more likely to succeed in college, less likely to drop out, new data shows. USA Today Network. Retrieved from https://tennessean.com

Tennessee Promise (n.d.) About. Retrieved from http://tnpromise.gov/about.shtml

Tennessee Promise Sees Increased Enrollment (2017, February 2) Retrieved from https://www.tn.gov/thec/news/2017/2/2/tennessee-promise-sees-increased-enrollment-strong-retention-rates-in-year.html

Van Santvoort, A. (2017, September 5) B.C. leads country for undermployment. Business In Vancouver.  Retrieved from https://biv.com/