To the editor:
Re: "Oakridge plan part of car-reduction trend," Nov. 9.
Allen Garr has obviously jumped on the "density can do no wrong" bandwagon, despite the fact that its two main promises, increased affordability and reduced traffic, have failed to materialize over two decades or more of non-stop development.
The reasons, which our urban planners appear to be ignoring or are in denial of, are twofold. First, development which is largely residential overlooks the fact that people still have to get to work, often in industrial areas relegated to the suburbs.
Secondly, though mass transit can make a dent in commuter traffic, in our "car culture" the majority of people will continue to drive their cars. But perhaps idealists such as Garr are dreaming of some utopia where most city dwellers are wealthy enough to not have to work, while they will happily park their expensive cars in favour of getting around locally by transit or bicycle.
But here's what I predict: widespread gridlock within the next decade. Place your bets.
Charles Leduc, Vancouver
