Have your say

Sensing improvement

Re: Vicious cycle (Aug. 31). It's indeed scary for urban cyclists. I've been hit twice and have at least two close calls per week. But the new paths and other new infrastructure are very helpful (and often aesthetically pleasing).

I sense an improvement in driver attitudes, at least a grudging acknowledgment that cyclists have a place on the roads. We may never be Portland or Minneapolis (I have cycled in both), but we are no longer a war zone.

Cyclists can do more. Rather than turning left by cutting across several lanes in busy traffic, we can "go pedestrian" and walk our bikes more safely across both streets. We can wear helmets and bright clothes.

The glass is half-full.

DAN TORBIAK

Winnipeg

ñü

Rather than a high-speed fatal accident between a bicyclist and a car on our roads, we should allow bicycles on the underused sidewalks and change the accidents to low-speed bumps and bruises.

This may not work well for downtown or heavily used sidewalks. There we might need lanes or "walk only" signs, but for the rest it might help slow the carnage.

JEFF TAYLOR

Winnipeg

ñü

As a first-time university student looking for affordable and environmentally friendly commuting options, I am planning to cycle to school all year if I can handle the cold. I am lucky, because my route is almost all on bike paths through Assiniboine Park. However, I have huge concerns about the majority of the city's bike lanes and the fact that there aren't very many.

I recently spent a few months travelling in Europe. I had the opportunity to see Amsterdam and Copenhagen on bicycle. Aside from cycling being more practical there as a means of transportation, it was much safer. Drivers were respectful and there were always designated bike paths.

There was a raised sidewalk and then beside it a big lane that was also raised, its height a bit lower than the sidewalk.

I think our city really needs to invest in something like this.

Our city needs to be accessible to all modes of transportation, and as cycling becomes more popular I think there will be a much higher demand for something to be done to make our roads more cyclist-friendly.

HANNAH STOESZ

Winnipeg

ñü

The majority of cyclists I see on city streets think they don't have to stop at stop signs and red lights.

We keep hearing that we have to better educate cyclists. Well, it's like educating those who drink and drive, and educating those who smoke. We have been educating them for several decades now, and it doesn't have much effect. Those who choose to ignore this education will always do so and accidents will keep occurring.

ANDY CHIASSON

Selkirk

Aiming to compete

Re: Patent protection for drugs should come at a price (Aug. 28). Marc André Gagnon's "modest proposal" is based on false assumptions.

Over the past 24 years, Canadian pharmaceutical companies that are members of our association have invested an average 9.75 per cent of their annual sales in life-science research.

This investment has declined in recent years, mainly because Canada has not remained competitive globally. We must compete for every dollar, and strong protection for intellectual property is a proven strategy to win investments on the world stage. Without improvements, Gagnon's proposal would further erode Canada's ability to attract global investment dollars.

Canadians should also know that the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board ensures our medicines and vaccines cannot exceed a median price determined with reference to prices in seven other countries, including five members of the European Union.

With respect to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement negotiations, the status quo is not an option. A successful CETA would be Canada's most important trade agreement since NAFTA.

It represents a tremendous opportunity to regain our competitiveness and to build a healthier, more prosperous future for all Canadians.

RUSSELL WILLIAMS

Rx&D Canada

Ottawa

Choosing a chief

Re: Havixbeck quits search for new police chief (Aug. 28). A majority of councillors became concerned when it was learned that the chief administrative officer would be selecting Winnipeg's next police chief.

On April 30, Coun. Jenny Gerbasi and I moved a defeated motion to have city council make the decision.

Coun. Paula Havixbeck seriously considered seconding. It's too bad she voted nay.

An appropriate process is needed due to crime being a major issue, the police service budget being huge and all councillors' wards being stakeholders in police service results.

In the spring of 2011, Coun. Russ Wyatt and I moved a motion establishing a police board calling for one councillor from each of the five community committees, the CAO or designate, four appropriate residents of Winnipeg, and the two residents selected by the province.

Note the distinct difference in who will pick the police chief in the future. Mayor Sam Katz and a majority of councillors defeated this motion.

ROSS EADIE

Councillor, Mynarski Ward

Winnipeg

Picking on dog owners

Re: Owners should pay the cost of finding Fido (Aug. 25). I read with amusement Steve Lafleur's analysis of our dog-licensing system. In my analysis, the government always holds the responsible people at gunpoint.

Take the Residential Tenancies Branch bias towards tenants. After all, the renter owns property and he is easier to find and collect from.

Take water utilities. The tenant can't always be found, so collect from the owner of the property. Take gun control. The criminals are underground, but the farmers own property and are easy to find.

Dog parks are not the exclusive domain of dogs and their owners.

It just means that there are parts of parks where a dog can be off-leash.

While I would be happy to subsidize a dog park (and how are you going to accomplish that without a new dog-police bureaucracy?), would this mean I don't have to subsidize the school for your kids or the Jets for your entertainment?

I'm afraid that even Fido can find flaws in Lafleur's arguments.

JOHANNA DENESIUK

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 1, 2012 A14