bikeToronto: Civic Vote 2003 Council Candidate Sylvia Watson Survey Results

Ward 14 - Parkdale-High Park Candidates

Survey Posted:
Mark Chmielewski
Walter Jarsky
Sylvia Watson
Neil Webster
Ed Zielinski

Not Returned:
Steven Aspiotis
David Smaller

Not Sent:
Ed Veri

Candidate: Sylvia Watson
Office: Councillor
Ward: 14 - Parkdale-High Park
Website: sylviawatson.ca
Email: snwatson@ca.inter.net

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: I am familiar with the TO Bike Plan and "strongly support" its implementation.

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: "Somewhat support", but on the strong side of the question. I do not believe in black & white solutions to problems, which a blanket 'strongly support' answer would suggest. This proposal may require exceptions where special, local, street and pedestrian safety concerns so require.

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: I "strongly support" measures to ensure that the City of TO's policy of keeping bike lanes clear of snow is carried out. As a long-term goal, I would also "somewhat support" expanding this policy to off road paths.

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: "Somewhat support", depending on the realities of the City's financial position faced by the to-be-elected Council. Currently, our city is in a major deficit situation and, over the short term, there may well be more pressing essential services that require attention and funding than the spending of city resources on new or expanded initiatives. I would be foolish to commit to an exact amount until such time as the City's actual financial position and a possible new financial relationship with the provincial government is known by all individuals elected as Councillors after this civic election.

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

Strongly Support

Comments:

5b) The Toronto Bike Plan proposes a new off road path in the rail corridor which runs through your ward (as highlighted on the attached map). Will you be supporting the building of the railpath? (see www.railpath.ca for more info.)

Somewhat Support

Comment: "Somewhat support." If elected, I intend to hold regular Town Hall meetings in my Ward that will be open to any subject of interest to constituents. I would consider having a portion of one of these meetings devoted to the matter of bicycle lanes / paths / routes. What I could "Strongly support" is a community meeting held within the period of one year where the community and I, together, discussed the matter of bicycle lanes / paths / routes and this community's view on which lane / path / route is a priority. On this matter, I believe it should be up to this community's users of bike lanes and the broader community to decide which such lanes / paths / routes are a priority and not simply to proceed on the say-so of one elected person. I would then commit to pursuing this community identified bike lane / path / route at and through City hall.

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: Absolutely, "strongly support." If bike carrying racks on buses is good enough for the GVRD Transit System in Vancouver, as well as for other North American cities, it should definitely be pursued by Toronto. I also "strongly support" secure bike parking facilities at TTC stations. The more options the city provides that encourage people to use their bikes, the more people will indeed use bicycles as a mode of transport. Transport options in a city must be developed through an integrated and holistic approach to pedestrian / bicycle / vehicular (including the pursuit of new Ballard-type hydrogen fuel cell technologies for public transit buses) traffic. If our city finds ways to encourage other methods of transportation, people will - unsurprisingly - utilise them.

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

Strongly Support

Comments: "Strongly support", and possibly funded through some P3 (Public -Private Partnership) arrangements.

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

Strongly Support

Comments: "Strongly support." This relates to question 7 and education. If any employer, public or private, can be educated about the health / social / environmental benefits of cycling, then they might also be encouraged to promote cycling to the workplace by their own employees through their promotion of these same benefits to their employees.

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

Strongly Support

Comments: Definitely "strongly support." Montreal and the St-Jean region of Quebec offer bicycle tourism and produce bicycle maps for such tourists. Luxembourg (the country) has developed a full tourist industry around bicycle tourism. This is not simply a niche market but an expanding area of opportunity. If our city develops strong, accessible and safe bicycle routes for locals, tourists will follow.

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: "Strongly support." Changing social patterns of behaviour requires a long-term perspective and leadership toward that end. If over the long term our world, let alone city, need to encourage more sustainable lifestyles in the social / environmental / economic sectors, then city governments such as TO's need to encourage changed patterns of behaviour in this regard. Using Zoning Bylaws to achieve this end is something I support. Look at the success of such uses in Portland, Oregon. Such proactive use of zoning bylaws would also enable Toronto to demonstrate a commitment to the UN's Local Agenda 21 plan for sustainable action at the local level.

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