Say it with me, friends:
It's not actually the process that you think is wrong, it's the outcome.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/06/09/opinion/bike-bus-lanes-transparency-parking/
They even have the chutzpah to cite Cambridge's Cycling Safety Ordinance (CSO) as a failure of process and public debate.
Besides the YEARS of public meetings, outreach, and debate, the 2021 City Council election was to some degree a referendum on the CSO. And CSO supporters hold 6-7 seats today.
Are Mr. Hurst and Ms. Anthony election deniers?
I'm old enough to remember when MassDCR ignored a public process and even a city vote in favor of keeping pandemic full-weekend closures, and reverted without a word to Sunday only.
Somehow, that process withstood the authors' affinity for transparency and consultation! What was the critical difference? Hmm.
@bikepedantic glad to see I’m not the only one still thinking about this piece
@bikepedantic There have been like 3 elections where the CSO was a notable part of it. Each one became a bigger deal in the election, and each one supporters increased.
That's before we talk about the many attempts to amend it and each project getting 3-4 public meetings plus a ton of other outreach.
Maybe the process is robust but the desire for better biking is also robust?
excellent, someone has posted the article to local nextdoor. Strap yourselves in, kids.