Elections
Hamilton's Cycling Master Plan has Council approval. However, the implementation timeline is very long and ward councillors can block individual bike lane projects. Do you support accelerating the completion of a continuous bicycle network and other initiatives like a bike sharing program and better access up and down the Escarpment? Why or why not?
Responses to the question: "Hamilton's Cycling Master Plan has Council approval. However, the implementation timeline is very long and ward councillors can block individual bike lane projects. Do you support accelerating the completion of a continuous bicycle network and other initiatives like a bike sharing program and better access up and down the Escarpment? Why or why not?"
In This Page:
4 Candidate Responses (top)
| Ward 06 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Behrens, Chris | Yes | Yes the timeline should be sped up. We have terrible air quality here in Hamilton and we need to encourage people to get out of their cars and use bikes. As for a continuous network, we most definitely need one. I am a father of young children, I usually have to drive to Confederation Park for use to be able to enjoy a bike ride together. The current situation is just too unsafe, and it does not make sense. |
| Jackson, Tom | Maybe | I am a strong supporter of Hamilton's Cycling Master Plan. I am not convinced that there is clamor for bicycle commuter lanes across the city. I strongly support and advocate for funds to enhance recreational cycling trails around the city. The city has constructed pedestrian/cycling bridges across the "Linc" and the QEW. This is a testament to my record on this subject. |
| Knowles, Steven | Yes | Yes I encourage the completion of such projects. As a cyclist myself I understand the benefits of riding safe and they bike lanes are the first step in road safety. |
| Yan, Nathalie Xian Yi | No | I agree with "shifting Gears" initiative IN PRINCIPLE, because by promoting the use of bicycles we can increase individual fitness and decease pollution by taking cars off the road. Part of the problem cycling is Hamilton is not that we don't have enough "bike routes", it is that we have too many drivers who do not ride a bicycle themselves, drive too fast, and have no regard for cyclists with whom they should Share the Road.
I noticed it is also a problem which I see all the time that some cyclists have no regard for pedestrians by using a bell to alert. In addition, it concerns me that our bylaw does not address the use of the helmets except for children. Recently I have paid lots of attention in a rise in the use of electric scooters and electric motorcycles, which to date are not licensed. There are no rules as to whether they should wear a helmet and the maximum of speed they are allowed. These new modes of transport to me are a public safety risk needs to be addressed. I think it is unfortunate that the Master Plan report advocates the spending of so much money on either making new lanes, improving signage to segregates to smaller roads, rather than focusing on educating drivers on how to share the road. I hope that the master plan funding does not become more of a "cash grab" for the business than a resource for real change I the Bicycle Culture in Hamilton. I believe we could have done our homework better by engaging more individuals from other communities with a stronger bicycle culture, such as China, the Netherlands, German and even city of Ottawa. I believe we could learn more from these communities, without trying to "reinvent the wheel". |
Response Summary (top)
| Brief Response | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 2 | 50.0% |
| No | 1 | 25.0% |
| Maybe | 1 | 25.0% |
2 Candidates Have Not Responded (top)
| Ward 06 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Febers, Michelle | ||
| Pecyna, Ed | ||
