ON YOUR FEET! SAVE ENVIRONMENT ONE RIDE OR WALK AT A TIME

TARA COLLUM | Contributing columnist

With the labour shortage, work at home options and the exodus from urban areas, many are contemplating small town life.

Recently, I thought I found a job that could allow me to relocate back to my hometown in Gravenhurst. One catch, it required willingness to drive to Bracebridge. Many job listings in Gravenhurst require commuting to multiple locations or access to a vehicle. This is embarrassing to admit, but I don’t have a car, or a licence.

This isn’t really something to be ashamed of in Toronto. Many of my friends don’t drive. It’s not really necessary with public transit, especially if you live in a walkable neighbourhood.

So, should not having a car be a barrier to living somewhere? Does it make sense to have public transportation, enabling everyone to live where they want and be independent?

There is a patchwork of options in Gravenhurst that try to address the gaps in transportation, including taxi passes available from Gravenhurst Against Poverty. And the district’s Corridor 11 bus route. The area is also served by the Ontario Northland (see my previous column on that), and hopefully some day again their train service. But what do people do to get around after they travel here by bus?

While great initiatives, many of the Gravenhurst options aren’t offered every day, or are intended more for travel between towns. On the other hand, Bracebridge’s Ride the Wave transit offers morning to evening service Monday to Friday and on Saturdays, which could make Bracebridge a more viable option to live for many. Huntsville has the same.

These days there are many reasons why people might not drive. Environmental pressures are changing how people view our reliance on the automobile. Especially after the disappointment of last weekend’s climate conference with nations not agreeing on such matters and only “phasing” out coal power. Then this week more unprecedented weather events with parts of B.C. buried in a mudslide and drowning underwater.

And, ironically, the city of Calgary declared a climate emergency.

Many people try to walk, bike, take transit or use an Uber; being car reliant isn’t part of everyone’s lifestyle.

There is a looming shift to electric vehicles, but that would present another barrier. E-vehicles are prohibitively expensive and require the infrastructure of charging stations. Some provinces are offering thousands of dollars in rebates for those who make the switch.

More energy efficient transportation is necessary, as well as a more reliable fixed schedule modes of public transportation to provide more people with more options.

This past March the federal government’s ministries of Infrastructure and Communities and Rural Economic Development earmarked $250 million dollars for transit projects to serve rural and smaller communities. Hopefully this will provide models and ideas for more areas to follow.

While there is a shift in how to get around, there are also other groups that could benefit from public transit, including seniors and families with one vehicle.

No doubt people love to drive. People take pride in their vehicles and the freedom of going for a road trip. Or having a trunk to carry home groceries.

Car ownership, however, can be a hassle. There’s clearing heavy winter snow, driving in hazardous conditions, repair costs, insurance and ever-increasing gas prices.

So maybe more people would take public transit if it were a more viable and reliable option. Instead of fighting traffic, it can be nice to just step on a bus and listen to music or read while commuting.

While having an individual mode of transportation should always be a choice, for our changing globe it makes sense to invest in public transportation to serve more people, and make small towns more accessible and attractive places to live.

For information on the benefits of public transportation and advocacy visit the Ontario Public Transit Association website at https://ontariopublictransit.ca/