We say we have a “transportation” problem in Grey & Bruce counties but I would suggest that we have a “speed of transport” problem. What do I mean by that?

As we have built faster and faster carbon fueled cars and trucks, the distances of a convenient trip of 45 minutes have allowed us to “concentrate resources”. Schools become bigger since the speed of transport has allowed it. Stores become bigger since their radius of draw has expanded by the increased speed of vehicles. The result is that we rely more and more on these carbon fuels being able to push us faster and farther, but what is the real problem?

If we think about it, moving slower from place to place would force us to “de-centralize”. Smaller, more rural schools can service a “slower vehicle” community. Smaller schools mean less carbon fuel needed to be burned to service the community.

Doesn’t demanding more buses and transportation vehicles simply play into the mantra of supporting concentrated organizations? With increased use of high-speed communication, can’t the internet reasonably support the needs of smaller more rural schools?

So what prevents us from using this approach? I think it is the inability of our culture to want to go slower instead of faster, as we have been taught. Can’t do it? Really, it can be simply changing the speed limit number on the sign in the road.

Robert Hope, Owen Sound