Ben Gadd, author of the classic Handbook of the Canadian Rockies and other books, used to live in Calgary and was a bike commuter over 30 years ago. While attending the recent SPC on LPT where the Cycle Strategy was presented, I noticed that Ben Gadd had sent the committee a letter entitled A voice from the past on the issue of commuter cycling (PDF). It makes for fascinating reading.

But what is even more interesting, or distressing, if you prefer, is the Proposal for a Bicycle Commuter Network (PDF, 3.6 MB) put forward in 1977 by the Brian Chaplin Cycling Committee, which Ben Gadd was a part of at the time (named after a cyclist run over and killed by a motorist). More than 30 years later, we still don't have a commuter network that meets cyclists needs - but in the meanwhile we've spent over $2000 Million dollars building more and more (mostly bike-unfriendly) roads in this city.

Can we really expect things to be different this time around? Get to the Council chambers on July 4th, and wear your helmet to show your support for the cycle strategy!