In a week where motorcyclists got a hand shake from the Mayor, cyclists seem to be getting the cold shoulder at City Hall this week.

The 2002 Budget may have a cut in the money for cycling promotion and the safety and education initiatives that are funded out of the Urban Development Services (UDS) budget. A description of many of these services are on the City of Toronto's cycling web site: Promotion, Safety and Education. Last year the $108,000 that paid for these programs was almost left out of the 2001 budget (see previous post). This year again that whole line item is at risk. There is a chance to have the money put back into the 2002 budget at the meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee on Friday January 18th. However we will need your support to do this.

This year the budget request for this area was about $300,000. This included new money since the new Toronto Bike Plan was approved this year and more activities are planned for this area as a result. On Monday January 14th the Planning and Transportation Committee met and debated the UDS budget. It appears the situation now for the Bike Plan is that there is no money in the base budget for Bike Safety and cycling promotion initiatives. There is a total of $148,000, which is included in a separate category of new spending which will only be included in the final budget if City Council adds more money to the overall budget envelope of the UDS. If that does not happen there will be no money for Bike Week, The Road & Trail Safety Ambassadors, Cycling Promotion programs etc. Given the general talk about the budget in the papers there is a good chance that will not happen. So we are back to where we were last year trying to protect our existing funding. In order to safeguard the existing cycling programs the City of Toronto has the Planning and Transportation committee has to move that money into the main budget at their meeting this Friday.

The $148,000 is basically a zero percent increase from last year's $108,000 since the additional $40,000 is to cover salary costs that were previously covered by a different staffing line item. If the Committee approves only $108,000 that will be a de facto cut of $40,000. An additional $150,000 was requested to cover additional activities that are mandated under the Toronto Bike Plan that was approved by Council last July. That $150,000 is not even included in the new money category. If that decision stands there will be no chance that this will be included in the final budget even if Council votes to have more money in the UDS envelope. The request for this new money has essentially been turned down flat. If on Friday the committee puts this $150,000 in the list of new items for funding then there will be a chance that it may be in the final budget if more money is available.

If you want to let council know that you would like to see council follow up on its approval of the Bike Plan with some money to implement it there are a few ways to do it. You can go to the Planning and Transportation meeting to make a deputation. The deputations on this item will be at 10:30 am on Friday January 18th. If you want to get on the list to make a deputation you have to call the Committee Clerk, Christine Archibald. Her number is 416-392-7039. You have to call tomorrow (Thursday Jan 17th) to get on the list.

Another thing you can do is call the Councillors on the Planning and Transportation Committee and express your support for having the $148,000 included in the UDS budget not as a new item but as part of the base budget, and in addition the $150,000 included as well to allow us to fulfil the new mandate of the Bike Plan as approved by Council. If one of these Councillors is the councillor from your ward let them know. The opinion of their constituents carries more weight than that of someone from outside their ward.

If you want to find who is your councillor and their contact info the go to this page. and type in your street address.

I have listed the Councillors on the Committee below. Click on their names to get their Contact or click on their email addresses to send them an email.

Planning and Transportation Committee

The money in the UDS budget proposal is very important for the implementation of the Bike Plan. New trails get alot more attention but promoting safety and promoting cycling is equally important.

Martin Koob
tcc-rep@tbn.ca