The process for setting the 2008 budget for the City of Toronto is about to begin. 2008 has the potential to be a banner year for the Bike Plan. The Mayor has promised to complete the Bikeway Network by 2012, a package of Sustainable Transportation Initiatives which contain several important cycling infrastructure projects is being voted on at City Council at its October 22nd meeting, and city staff are developing a list of bikeway network projects to bring to the next Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee meeting. There is a risk, however, that these initiatives will stall before 2008 even rolls around if City Council does not approve the new revenue tools, proposed in Mayor David Miller's Fair Tax Plan, that will help fund these cycling initiatives and other important city building projects. (The vote on this will also be held during the October 22 Council meeting). If this plan is passed we may finally see established an ongoing funding source to ensure the Bike Plan is implemented in its entirety and on time.

On Tuesday, October 16 the City of Toronto's Budget Committee set the schedule for the 2008 capital and operating budget setting process: 2008 Budget Schedule The Capital budget will be introduced on Monday, October 29, 2007 and at that time we shall see what monies are allocated for building cycling infrastructure in 2008. Of interest to cyclists will be the the Transportation Services capital budget, which pays for building bicycle lanes, adding signed bike routes, installing bike parking and building bike paths in some hydro and rail corridors. Also of interest is the Parks Forestry and Recreation capital budget which funds new Bikeway Network paths in parks and upgrading existing park paths and trails. In addition, any funds implementing the proposed Sustainable Transportation Initiatives would be in these budgets as well. These include new cycling initiatives such investigating bike lanes on Bloor and Danforth, designing and implementing a Bikeway Network route through the downtown core, and laying the groundwork for expanding the Bikeway Network in Hydro and Rail corridors.

There will be opportunities to have input to the Budget Committee to ask that the budgets for cycling infrastructure and programs be increased in line with what will be needed to complete the Bikeway Network by 2012. Public hearings will be on November 13, 2007. However, before that gets underway Council will have to make another decision that will determine whether the city will have the capacity to increase the cycling related budget lines in 2008 and implement the Sustainable Transportation Initiatives in 2009 and beyond. On October 22, 2007 City Council will vote on two new revenues, the Land Transfer Tax and the Personal Vehicle Registration Fee, the latter of which has some of its proceeds earmarked for cycling infrastructure. If these don't pass it is unlikely that we will see any increases or new funding for cycling budgets and programs. So in addition to lobbying the Mayor and City Councillors for increased funds on new and expanded cycling initiatives the cycling community will need to lobby in favour of approving the new revenues and demand that a sufficient portion of these be dedicated toward implementing the Bike Plan by 2012.

The capital budget that is being introduced will be a balanced budget. That means total capital expenditures will equal the City's debt limit. Given the City's financial straits and without the new revenues, any new requests to increase one budget item will have to be accompanied by an equal reduction in another. If the cycling budgets are not at the necessary level the residents who want to see the Bike Plan and the Bikeway Network implemented have to convince the Budget Committee to increase the cycling budget and cut another budget. That is a tough sell given that all budgets have been squeezed.

The two new taxes being proposed by Mayor David Miller in his Fair Tax Plan, if passed, could address this dilemma. One of those taxes, the Personal Vehicle Registration Fee, actually has money earmarked for cycling infrastructure. Below is the quote from the Mayor's tax plan:

A Personal Vehicle Registration Fee would cost car drivers an additional $60 a year and motorcycle riders $30 a year. It would raise about $60 million a year, to be directed to road repairs, public transit, cycling and pedestrian improvements and other transportation projects.

The plan does not say how much of the $60 million would be dedicated to cycling improvements, but now is your opportunity to let the Mayor know you support the new revenues, but also demand that these revenues be used to fully fund the Toronto Bike Plan. There is a section of the Mayor's www.fairtaxes.ca web site where you can send in an e-mail to support it. Write to City Council. In it there is a comments section. Use that comments section to say that you "demand that a sufficient portion of the $60 million raised by the Personal Vehicle Registration fee each year be dedicated to fully fund the Toronto Bike Plan to complete it and the Bikeway Network by 2012." This is the best opportunity to let the Mayor and Council know the level of support for moving forward in a big way on the Bike Plan.

If you have been watching the news lately you know that these taxes are contentious and that there is a question as to whether enough Councillors will support it on October 22nd. There has been a well organized and well funded lobby campaign against the two new revenues. You can add your voice to the debate regarding the future of our city. In addition to using the Mayor's web site you can write to your Councillor directly. To find out who your councillor is and how to contact them go to the following web page: Find your Councillor

There may be those who disagree with this position and you can have your say as well, however I think if Toronto is to have a complete and well maintained Bikeway Network, bicycle friendly streets, safe and secure bike parking across the city, promotions to encourage people to cycle, cycling safety and education programs to ensure they can bike safely and a Sustainable Transportation System that integrates cycling and allows its citizens to do their part to cut green house gasses from transportation - it has to raise the revenues to do it right. The time for half-funded half-measures is over.

Martin Koob
info@biketoronto.ca