00tones00 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 2:00 pm
trailgumby wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 1:43 pm
Hardly a compelling argument for redirecting the spend or opening up the western side to pedestrians.
I doubt Mutton is even serious with this "open letter". It's much more likely that he's attempting to re-frame the discussion so that the already rejected, dangerous 'community design' spiral looks reasonable in comparison. The one that's too steep and narrow for anyone but the most experienced riders who can already use the stairs and it's clearly been disingenuously 'designed' to maximise the conflict between pedestrians and cyclists at Burton St where the markets are so that 'cyclists will still be forced to dismount - for safety'.
There are rumours floating around that Mutton and his little band are petitioning the Teal Independent candidate to back them since the current sitting Liberal Party MP is no longer willing to try and obstruct it like in 2018. I expect this is the real reason for these games.
The obviously cherry-picked numbers demonstrate their desperation. I think it serves us better to allow him to continue to sink himself with these clearly absurd, self-serving and duplicitous arguments.
Those in the community engagement space are alert to the tactics - "They tend to latch onto an element they think is a "gotcha" that suits their agenda, and run an entire campaign on it" (paraphrasing an senior manager at Northern Beaches Council). We just need to remind that no, the real numbers have been collected over an extended period of time through independent means, and those are the ones the decisions have been based on. They will be aware that Covid lockdowns and weather have had an impact
Speaking of which, I notice the counter has been back in use for the last several months at least at the southern end, if not most of the past year. When I cycle commuted to work on Thursday last week, the first week back from school holidays, the numbers of people out on bikes was a rea surprise - especially the numbers of female riders. Most encouraging. The numbers out on the Northern Beaches this last weekend was terrific - really busy!