What do you think are the benefits of active transportation (e.g. walking, riding a bicycle)?

I HAVE BEEN A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL FOR  OVER 40 YEARS.  I PLACE A SIGNIFICANT EMPHASIS ON ACTIVE LIVING AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.  OVER HALF OF OUR CHILDREN ARE INACTIVE AND WE HAVE THE HIGHEST OBESITY RATE IN CHILDREN IN OUR HISTORY AS A COUNTRY.  CHILDREN LEARN FROM OTHERS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO START EARLY AND BE ACTIVE.  ALL MODES OF MOBILITY ARE VITAL TO A HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY.

Research recommends enabling biking and walking for transport as an important public health measure. What are your thoughts on the current state of the infrastructure for active transportation in the city? How will you increase the convenience and safety of all modes of transportation, including walking/using a wheelchair, riding a bike, and transit?

ONE OF THE MANY REASONS I HAVE VOTED FOR INCREASED TAXES IS TO INVEST IN OURDOOR SWIMMING POOLS, PLACES TO PLAY, RECREATION CENTRES, INCREASED PATHWAYS, IMPROVED SNOW CLEARING OF PATHWAYS FOR YEAR ROUND MOBILITY.

Lowering speeds to 30 kph in residential areas improves road safety for all users, especially children and seniors.  Calgary citizen groups in many communities are calling on the City to act against speeding. If elected, how will you work to reduce vehicle speeds in residential areas in Calgary?

MY TRACK RECORD IS TO WORK WITH MY COMMUNITIES ON HOT SPOTS, INITIATE TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE STREET, HAVE VOLUNTEERS WORK WITH CALGARY POLICE TO HAND OUT BROCHURES WHEN POLICE STOP SPEEDERS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, COMMUNICATE TO RESIDENTS THAT THOSE WHO  SPEED MOST OFTEN LIVE IIN THE COMMUNITY AND EACH OF US HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.  LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT ISNT THE ONLY REMEDY.  EDUCATE PARENTS TO NOT DOUBLE PARK AND SPEED IN SCHOOL ZONES.

Vibrant communities depend upon everyday people using city streets to shop, eat, linger, and walk. Several factors play into the walkability of communities including: intensity, mixing of different types of uses, connectivity, and quality of the urban realm. If elected, how will you increase the walkability and vibrancy of Calgary’s communities?

I WILL UNDERTAKE ‘Inspiring Neighborhoods” policies to do walkabouts to engage the communities in W13 to identify what they like about LIVING THERE AND WHAT THEY DON’T LIKE AND DEVELOP PLANS TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.  WE NEED TO FRESHEN UP ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES AND INVEST IN PLACES TO PLAY. COMMUNITIES ARE  BECOMING MORE DIVERSE AND MANY NEW CANADIANS LIKE TO GET OUT AND WALK AND BE ACTIVE.  THEY NEED TO FEEL SAFE.  WE NEED TO ALSO IMPLEMENT CEPTED (SAFE COMMUNTIES THRU ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.}  WE ALSO NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE BROKEN WINDOW THEORY AND ACTIVELY DEAL WITH GRAFFITI SO PEOPLE FEEL SAFE And PROUD OF THEIR COMMUNITIES SO THEY GET OUT AND WALK AND BIKE ANFD PLAY.

Bicycle access to amenities (e.g. work, school, recreation) requires bicycle facilities that extend beyond our pathways. In addition, this summer we saw how reliance on a pathway network built primarily in a river floodplain resulted in a loss of viable travel routes for many Calgarians. Of its 18,000 lane-km of roads, Calgary has only 26 km of marked on-street bike routes. Given that 98% of Calgarians are uncomfortable riding in traffic, do you support reallocation of roadway space to provide people on bicycles with equitable, reliable, safe, comfortable, and efficient access to the amenities they need to reach?

YES

How will you increase the convenience and appeal of transit as a mode of choice, as well as facilitate the possibility of multi-modal trips (e.g. walking & transit, riding a bike & transit)?

JUST LIKE I HAVE IN MY PAST TRACK RECORD.  ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE ROUTE AHEAD…30 YEAR TRANSIT CAPTIAL  PLAN.  INITIATED MOTIONS TO INCREASE TRANSIT AND BUS HOURS OF SERVICE EVEN IINTO COMMUHNITIES WITH LOW RIDERSHIP. CHAIRED TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE FOR PAST 2 YEARS. SUPPORTED SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN Lrv’s, BRTs and transit ways.

Are you familiar with the New York experience from 2007-2013? How can we replicate most of that success here in the next five years?

\use ;their expertise and adapt to our circumstance.

Will you advocate for the prioritization of cold hard cash directed towards alternative transport options, and an urgent move to make on-the-ground changes immediately?

YES  ALREADY HAVE AND AM COMMITTED TO DO SO