bikeToronto: Civic Vote 2003 Council Candidate William Sheehan Survey Results

Ward 44 - Scarborough East Candidates

Survey Posted:
William Sheehan

Not Returned:
Donald Blair
Gay Cowbourne
Ronald Moeser

Not Sent:

Candidate: William Sheehan
Office: Councillor
Ward: 44 - Scarborough East
Website: williamsheehan.0catch.com
Email: william_f_sheehan@hotmail.com

Survey Results

1) Are you familiar with the Toronto Bike Plan and will you support its implementation of as one means of reducing car dependance as outlined in Toronto's Official Plan?

Strongly Support

Comments: Despite my recent bicycle accident, I would be happy to support much of Toronto's Bike Plan; it could and should, however, be improved.

2) Would you support requests to amend bylaws to exempt bicycles from traffic calming turn restrictions and entry restrictions on streets in your ward?

Somewhat Support

Comments: Probably, but not as a blanket agreement; my support would have to depend on the individual circumstances.

3) Do you support measures to ensure that the City of Toronto's policy of keeping bike lanes clear of snow is carried out; and would you support expanding this policy to off road paths?

Strongly Support

Comments: Again, it depends; implementation of off-road plowing, for example, must be subject to resolution of Toronto's liability. In addition, path dimensions would play a part in whether or not a trail could be cleared by one of this city's plows. That aside, however, I think clearing many off-road paths would probably be a good idea.

4a) To build the Bikeway Network over the next three years, the Bike Plan recommends that the following amounts be spent by the Works and Emergency Services to build new bike lanes, paths and signed Bike Routes, and by Parks and Recreation to build new bike paths.

Year	Works and Emergency Services	% of Works Capital Budget	Parks and Recreation	% of Parks Capital Budget
2004	$3.0 M	1.23%	$1.2 M	1.66%
2005	$4.5 M	1.85%	$1.2 M	1.66%
2006	$6.0 M	2.46%	$1.5 M	2.08%
** Based on 2003 Parks capital budget of .1 M * Based on 2003 Works capital budget of .67 M

Will you support the above budget requests to implement the Bike Plan?

Somewhat Support

Comments: Generally, I would support construction of the Bikeway network. Experience, however, has taught me not to just blindly accept spending requests that come from Toronto's Works and Emergency Services (WES); I already suspect, for instance, that much of the costs, mentioned in your chart, are probably due to wasteful consultant fees. Those will do nothing for bicycling. So, prior to spending, I would want to inspect 'the books' to insure that as much of the money as possible, that is slated for bike trails, actually gets spent on them. If it turned out that the money mentioned was already appropriately portioned, then I would be surprised.

5) There are bike lanes and routes proposed for your ward over the remaining eight years of the Bike Plan. Will you be working to get these bikeway routes through the approval process and installed? View Map

Somewhat Support

Comments: Yes, with the following exception. I am the only candidate for councilor, in Ward 44, who supports construction of a multi-use trail, for all of this area's coastline. I first started pushing for such path, in 1995, at Integrated Shoreline Management Plan meetings. In 1996, the incumbent councilor agreed to build this beachtrail, but since reneged. So, although I would like to conduct public meetings, on proposed new paths, I would prefer that the first of such events pertain to the beachtrail. Yet, such path will take a lot of work; the incumbent councilor, for example, has not attained adequate funding for a beachtrail and Toronto is bankrupt. So, new cost-covering arrangements must be negotiated and that will likely take awhile. Nevertheless, I have made getting this trail into a major part of my platform and would like to get started on it.

5b) Do you support the idea of starting the approval process on one of the proposed bike lanes, paths or routes in your ward by hosting a community meeting during the first 6 months of your term? If so which route do you think is a priority?

Strongly Support

Comment: See question 5

6) Do you support improved integration between Cycling and The Transit system by such measures as: Bike carrying racks on TCC Buses, and, building secure bike parking facilities at TCC stations?

Strongly Support

Comments: Yes

7) Do you support an expanded city-funded bicycle safety program for adults and children?

Strongly Support

Comments: My first choice would be to get companies, which sell safety equipment, to provide such safety programs. Failing that, though, I would support an appropriate City program.

8) Would you support dedicating more resources to promote bicycle commuting by employees of private and public sector employers, including City of Toronto staff?

Somewhat Support

Comments: Yes.

9) Would you support initiatives to promote Toronto as a Bicycle Tourism destination?

Strongly Support

Comments: Definitely.

10) Would you support the extension of the former City of Toronto's Zoning Bylaw regarding Bicycle Parking Requirements (which requires bike parking facilities as well as shower and change facilities) to cover all new commercial and residential buildings across the rest of the Megacity?

Strongly Support

Comments: Perhaps; I would first have to investigate this one.

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