all racked up at University Plaza

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust
RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre
2300 Yonge Street, Suite 500, PO Box 2386
Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4
Tel: 416-866-3033; 1-800-465-2733
Fax: 416-866-3020

Monday, August 17, 2009

Transportation for Liveable Communities
PO Box 19, 1280 Main Street West
Hamilton ON L8S 1C0
tlchamilton.org
905-525-9140 ext. 26026
tlchamilton@gmail.com


Dear RIOCAN


As advocates for sustainable transportation, Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) would like to suggest that University Plaza in Dundas, ON, could benefit if adequate facilities for secure bicycle parking were provided.

We believe you will find such a policy is beneficial to you and your tenants as it will make University Plaza a more appealing destination for the many cyclists in the area.

The location of the plaza is ideal for cyclists, as it is connected through the parking lot to the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail, a busy cycling route for residents of surrounding Dundas and Hamilton neighbourhoods, and nearby McMaster University.

Currently the plaza has only one bicycle rack outside the Metro store, and no other cycling provisions for the rest of the plaza.

As both cycling advocates and regular visitors to the plaza, we request that Riocan invest in more bicycle racks at various convenient locations at the plaza. One rack in one location obviously is not adequate for the growing number of cyclists visiting the stores.

TLC has previously worked with the city councillor and the management of the nearby Fortinos outlet to ensure adequate bicycle parking, to which they have responded well, even doubling the original number of bicycle racks to meet demand.

We see our request for more racks as good business policy, as it will mean cyclists will not have to lock to hand rails, or other similarly unsuitable locations.

Representatives of TLC would be happy to meet with you to discuss how the plaza could be made more cycle-friendly, where racks could best go, and what kind of racks work best, for example.

We look forward to your reply,

Thanks,

Randy Kay

for Transportation for Liveable Communities

(Photo taken at the one bike rack at University Plaza, Dundas, May 2009)