The Morning After

Coral and I finished putting up the last of my first batch of 200 posters.  The posters I put up Saturday held up in the weather very nicely.  Better than I had thought so I am jazzed to move forward on another batch of 200!

Just finished another survey.  This survey comes courtesy of the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition. http://www.gvcc.bc.ca

OMG! its like a MySpace survey, but serious.

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Name: Jeremy Baker

Municipality: Esquimalt

Position sought (Mayor or Councillor): Councillor

1.) Do you own a bike? How often do you commute by bicycle? No, but I do ride a scooter.  And I commute everyday by scooter.

2.) How do you propose to expand and increase cycling, walking & public transit in your municipality?

I am an advocate of the “Living Street.”  A living street recognizes that public roads are a connection in the community between residents and should be shared equally amongst all stake holders, cars being just one of many groups that use the road.  All or at least, most streets in Esquimalt should be designed for pedestrians, cyclists, transit and cars and electric cars.  Roads should be designed to include as much humanity and nature as the township can afford and space allows.  Right now, many roads in the township do not even have a basic sidewalk.  I would advocate creating a schedule to convert Esquimalt’s roads to living streets.

3.) What initiatives would you propose to make our streets safer for cyclists, including improving cycle-friendly infrastructure?

The living street is designed to control car speed and improve safety.

http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/about_living_streets/living_streets_manifesto.php

4.) What is your position on the development of a regional transportation authority in Greater Victoria, and how do you see the cycling community being involved in this process?

If there isn’t already a regional plan for transportation then there really needs to be one as the average Victorian is not concerned with the arbitrary “borders” between municipalities.  I was under the impression that the Capital Regional District handled planning on a regional scope. (http://www.crd.bc.ca/regionalplanning/transportation/index.htm )

Cycling is an important part of the transit mix.  Esquimalt is slowly making strides to include cycling and cycling is thought of in all future development according the Official Community Plan. (http://www.esquimalt.ca/files/PDF/Business_and_Development/OCP_text_2007.pdf page 33.)

5.) If you were in a position to vote on a large development in your community, how would you ensure that cyclists’ needs are incorporated?

The Official Community Plan is clear on the municipality’s values on cycling. I would ensure that they are upheld.  If cyclists felt that they were not being fairly represented in the townships planning then I would support reviewing or plan to include cyclists.

6.) Is there anything you would like to say to the cycling community as to why you should receive our vote?

Thank you Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition for including me in your survey.  I do not commute by bike to work but I do ride a scooter daily and can understand the frustration of fighting not only the elements but also the crush of automobiles.  I want to see a town with vibrant streets that are fair to all users of the shared community asset and I believe I would be a strong ally on council for GVCC.

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What do you think?  something you could get behind?

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