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Ward 14 - Parkdale-High Park Candidates

Survey Posted:
Mark Chmielewski
Walter Jarsky
Sylvia Watson
Neil Webster
Ed Zielinski


Not Returned:
Steven Aspiotis
David Smaller


Not Sent:
Ed Veri

Candidate: Ed Zielinski
Office: Councillor
Ward: 14 - Parkdale-High Park
Website: WWW.EDZIELINSKI.CA
Email: info@edzielinski.ca

Survey Results

1) Are you familiar with the Toronto Bike Plan and will you support its implementation of as one means of reducing car dependance as outlined in Toronto's Official Plan?Strongly Support
Comments: Reducing dependence on cars, particularly near the city core, is vital to ensuring that Toronto continues to be a great place to live in years to come. We will not accomplish this by inconveniencing motorists- we will accomplish it by providing safe, convenient and appealing alternatives to car use. The Toronto Bike Plan will play an important part in this.
 
2) Would you support requests to amend bylaws to exempt bicycles from traffic calming turn restrictions and entry restrictions on streets in your ward?Strongly Support
Comments: Measures which make sense in terms of motor vehicle traffic do not necessarily make sense where applied to bike traffic. Most cyclists disregard the restrictions anyway; it would make sense to legitimize the practice.
 
3) Do you support measures to ensure that the City of Toronto's policy of keeping bike lanes clear of snow is carried out; and would you support expanding this policy to off road paths?Somewhat Support
Comments: I definitely support clearing off road paths. Where it comes to bike lanes, I strongly support this in principle, but find that I will have to research the logistical implications before committing my support.
 
4a) To build the Bikeway Network over the next three years, the Bike Plan recommends that the following amounts be spent by the Works and Emergency Services to build new bike lanes, paths and signed Bike Routes, and by Parks and Recreation to build new bike paths.
YearWorks and Emergency Services% of Works Capital BudgetParks and Recreation% of Parks Capital Budget
2004$3.0 M1.23%$1.2 M1.66%
2005$4.5 M1.85%$1.2 M1.66%
2006$6.0 M2.46%$1.5 M2.08%
** Based on 2003 Parks capital budget of .1 M
* Based on 2003 Works capital budget of .67 M
Will you support the above budget requests to implement the Bike Plan?Somewhat Support
Comments: Implementation of the Bike plan is a high priority item with me, and I will definitely be working to implement the Bike Plan in Ward 14 . Despite this, I cannot commit my support fully until I’m able to discern what impact these requests may have on other items within the Works and Parks budgets.
 
5) There are bike lanes and routes proposed for your ward over the remaining eight years of the Bike Plan. Will you be working to get these bikeway routes through the approval process and installed? View Map Strongly Support
Comments: Absolutely. I’m somewhat concerned about the viability of the Sorauren route from a safety perspective. Getting T52 moving will be my first priority.
 
5b) The Toronto Bike Plan proposes a new off road path in the rail corridor which runs through your ward (as highlighted on the attached map). Will you be supporting the building of the railpath? (see www.railpath.ca for more info.)Strongly Support
Comment: The railpath represents a great opportunity which must not be ignored.
 
6) Do you support improved integration between Cycling and The Transit system by such measures as: Bike carrying racks on TCC Buses, and, building secure bike parking facilities at TCC stations?Strongly Support
Comments: If we want to get people out of cars, this is essential.
 
7) Do you support an expanded city-funded bicycle safety program for adults and children?Strongly Support
Comments: Not just city funded. We should work to have cyclist awareness become a prominent part of motor vehicle driver training.
 
8) Would you support dedicating more resources to promote bicycle commuting by employees of private and public sector employers, including City of Toronto staff?Strongly Support
Comments: Generating awareness of the strides being made in implementing the Bike Plan will in itself be very effective in this regard.
 
9) Would you support initiatives to promote Toronto as a Bicycle Tourism destination?Strongly Support
Comments: I’d be cautious, because we have a lot of work to do before we can be considered bicycle-friendly, and one negative magazine review could set us back years in promotion efforts. Bike tourism is a significant side benefit of implementing the plan.
 
10) Would you support the extension of the former City of Toronto's Zoning Bylaw regarding Bicycle Parking Requirements (which requires bike parking facilities as well as shower and change facilities) to cover all new commercial and residential buildings across the rest of the Megacity?Strongly Support
Comments: New development should reflect new realities.
 
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