We live in an age when the most unobjectionable and necessary ideas for progress can give rise to paranoia and fear. If the most innocuous, unoriginal possible idea can fuel paranoia, how can we hope to have a sensible discussion about the future of our places?
Agreed, a mix is absolutely the way to go. Dedicated bus lanes and signalling are also a great lower cost alternative to new hard infrastructure. There’s often extra driving lanes that can, for the cost of a quick paint job, become a bus lane bypassing all that traffic. Pair that with a safe and smart bike network and places to park bikes near where folks want to go and you’ve got a great core built ready for heavy rail, light rail, etc!