This phrase, familiar to a generation, summed up the paradigm shift that taught us to think of space as something that would become part of our reality.  A paradigm shift is a change from one way of thinking to another. It is usually abrupt, sometimes violent, but inevitably transformational.

The transformation of our transportation network to accommodate larger numbers of older drivers, pedestrians and public transit users will require that we recognize that our transportation system is still the slave of the demographic tidal wave of Baby Boomers who no longer commute.

Our goal must be to increase seniors' ability to use the transportation network safely. Independent mobility plays a critical role in preserving the health, well being, quality of life and cognition of older adults

In November 2008 the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) released the results of a study conducted for the Province of Ontario on how Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) can safely be integrated into mixed traffic on Ontario roadways. Click Here to Read the Results...

The Ontario government has similarly been conducting pilot programs on e-bikes (power assisted bicycles) and Segways (Bill 169, The Transportation Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005).

The Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility, (PUMA), vehicle is a cooperative effort by Segway and General Motors to provide energy efficient, zero emission alternative transport.  A two-seater, it can travel at up to 55 km/h and can range for 55 km between recharges.

Project PUMA is intended to address the growing problem of congestion and parking in cities, but it also provides a valuable mobility option for seniors and people with physical disabilities.  In fact, the stated goal of the pilots is to "demonstrate the government's commitment to expanding mobility options for Ontarians while promoting environmental sustainability and fuel conservation".

Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) also have the potential to provide freedom and continued mobility for aging and/or physically impaired drivers.  They are affordable, ranging from a low of approximately $8500.00 to a high of $13,000.00 and are designed to be used on existing streets and roads as long as they meet Transport Canada's technical requirements (e.g. headlights, seat belts, turn signals, windshield etc.).

They are powered by an electric power train and they cannot exceed a speed of 40km/h.  One of their most attractive features is that they do not produce emissions.  They are also compatible with properly designed bicycle boulevards or bike paths.

One of the safety risks identified in the NRC study was the problem with speed differentials and crash-worthiness in mixed traffic.  If you read through the many pages of graphs and comparison studies however, the real problem becomes apparent.  A driver in an alternative vehicle is at risk of considerable harm in mixed traffic.

The NRC suggests that the LSV be restricted to roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less and display a slow moving vehicle sign.  It also suggests that LSVs be given a separate right-of-way or a separated and adjacent LSV/bicycle lane.

Since these vehicles are not intended for use on roads with high traffic density and are incapable of reaching the speed limits of most public roads, LSVs and other personal mobility options will either be limited or encouraged by a local government's commitment to them.

Cities that embrace the benefits of no-emissions transportation, increased mobility for the handicapped and elderly and an alternative to the congestion caused by automobile use must ensure that ongoing provisions for alternative transport are part of their long range transportation strategies.

To some, this future may seem as unlikely as "the-once-upon-a-time" prospect of walking on the moon ....


"...Electric vehicles are the way to go in Ontario.  This plan helps get more people behind the wheel of a green vehicle to create jobs, reduce smog and equip Ontario for the 21st century."
-Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, July 15, 2009