bikeToronto: Civic Vote 2003 Council Candidate Michael Johnson Survey Results

Ward 16 - Eglinton-Lawrence Candidates

Survey Posted:
Alexander Hoffman
Michael Johnson
Albert Pantaleo

Not Returned:
Anne Johnston
Karen Stintz

Not Sent:

Candidate: Michael Johnson
Office: Councillor
Ward: 16 - Eglinton-Lawrence
Website:
Email: michaeljohnson@interlog.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: First. Let me tell you something about myself: I have been an urban cyclist for 30+ years and do not own a car. I cycle year-round (conditions permitting) and have cycled in many other cities, partly to make comparisons and partly because that’s how I prefer to get around. I was an active member of Environmentalists Plan Transportation. Ward 16 is made up mostly of affluent households who have cars. Recommending switching to cycling to them would sound sanctimonious and out-of-touch. However, there is support for cycling in the area – as ling as it doesn’t interfere with auto-mobility. At the same time, people don’t like the amount of traffic that swirls around and through the area. For families with children a bicycle-oriented way of life is out of the question. The same for elderly people. For many people, riding a bicycle is a terrifying ides. Better transit is a more viable option for any significant reduction in car use. While I support more widespread cycling, this is my perspective.

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

Strongly Support

Comments: Frankly, I cannot think of any traffic calming measure in Ward 16 that would impinge on bicycle use – can you cite any? People want traffic calming, but they don’t want their car use made more difficult.

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?

Somewhat Support

Comments: Snow removal is a vexing issue. Before we focus on clearing bike routes we should be making it easier for pedestrians and transit-users during snow periods.

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?

Strongly Support

Comments: We’ve got bits and pieces of bike route all over the city and we have to work toward connecting them. I would like to revive the idea of the Lake Ontario shoreline route following the (defunct) Scarborough Expressway corridor, for example.

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: Most of the east-west signed routes are very logical (I know there can be opposition to any- and everything). Duplex and Jedburgh are narrow streets with a lot of impatient drivers (I use them a lot). I question a bike lane on Lawrence – it is a heavily used transit route and I personally do not enjoy mixing with buses. I would rather see a bike lane go counter-direction on Chatsworth, then cross Yonge into Lawrence Park. If putting in a bike lane means reducing curbside parking there will be great resistance. One unhappy event for me was when a part of the Poplar Plains bike route was erased so that people could park to pick up their kids from Brown School. I would like to examine this plan closely when I have more time (i.e., not during a campaign).

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?

Somewhat Support

Comment: I honestly don’t know what immediate priorities would be – of course several things can be dealt with at once. Signed routes off major transit routes are always easiest – and can lead the way to the more demanding routes.

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?

Somewhat Support

Comments: I’m leery of loading more costs onto the TTC unless there’s a possible proven payoff. Please define "secure bike parking facilities". I’ve seen racks on buses (but can’t remember where) – is there any study as to their costs, use and overall efficacy? I use the subway a lot with my bike, but don’t think of buses – maybe I should.

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

Strongly Support

Comments: Safety concerns are a big barrier for many. It’s important to get younger people securely cycling before their evolving life pattern goes into the car-oriented trajectory.

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: I was part of a BUG (Bicycle User Group) when I worked at Metro Hall. One of our members cycled daily from Milton!! – an example destined to be followed by very few. Making parking less attractive might help shift the balance (VERY controversial idea). The Toronto Public School Board has 32,000 (!) parking spaces on its property, with more constantly added. There are a lot of hidden subsidies for parking – I’d like to bring them more out into the open.

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

No Answer

Comments: My own vacations often involve cycling in other cities: Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, San Francisco, Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam…….We have a good network of bicycle rental places. I guided a Montreal visitor through part of our ravine system – he was blown away. There’s potential here. Tourist promotion is currently a high-profile issue – here’s a chance to include cycling.

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?

Somewhat Support

Comments: One experience: I am on the board of a non-profit that builds housing for people with Alzheimers. We have a completed project on Merton Street. The bicycle parking requirement was a condition of our permit and I’m afraid we haven’t complied – we had so many other requirements to fulfil re our tenants and staff (who are very transit- dependant).

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