David slays Goliath, ..........................nearly alone this time

Follow up on the City of Toronto Works committee and their new 5 year road safety plan. This was in the hands of the city's councillors starting nearly 2 years ago on the PWIC committee together with many 'expert stakeholders' attending up to last October including the city's transportation experts, Toronto Police, Ontario Ministry of Transport, RTI motorcycle training college and CAA but to name a few.

As I mentioned in earlier postings it was in early October I discovered in a media release that this new road safety plan only mentioned two of three vulnerable road users (VRU's), motorcycles being excluded. Anyhow seeing this I went to the October meeting armed with a singular voice and a virtual sling and stone. I pleaded with the Chair and members of the committee and asked them to include motorcycles as a VRU as they were recognized in all other major organizations.

That plea was ignored as just prior to the committee meeting June 10th again the plan was going forward for final discussion prior to going to the full city council for approval again not including motorcycles as VRU's. This time I prepared better with another verbal pleading presentation that including statistics showing the 5 year fatal figures that demanded action be taken. After the meeting that I felt did not go very strongly I then started lobbying certain committee members, called on the motorcycle industry, both Canadian national organizations and many other 'biker' friends in media. I can't say that all of these got involved, in fact I was disappointed in many of them. However some of the seeds did fall on good soil and finally I felt that the soil was being watered and turned over or maybe stirred a bit.

Since June 10th, and certainly for the past two days I have been glued to the full Toronto City council meeting which is worse than watching a 50 gallon can of water coming to the boil. Finally at about 4pm today the road safety plan was presented with an amendment. In a preamble to the amendment being presented it was recognized that a major oversight had now been recognized in that "motorcycles should be included as being a vulnerable road user".

Councillor Perruzzi, a motorcycle user presented his motion for inclusion of motorcycles and finally it happened, we are vulnerable! Now, the real work starts, we have to get them working on a safety plan for us, we have nearly 2 years of neglect to catch up with. Perhaps we will get the real hard working 'bikers on the committee and make a difference. We have not been well served up to this time! Volunteer if you have the skills. Links to the PWIC committee are in the City of Toronto Council website.

And no stone was cast this time to make a difference!!