BACCC asked all municipal candidates for their views on environmentally-friendly transportation options, presenting them with these three questions. Views expressed are solely those of the candidates and do not reflect the views of BACCC or its members. All responses have been reviewed to ensure appropriateness and relevance to the questions posed. We encourage you to make an informed decision by researching your local candidates.
Hamilton Ward 15 Candidate Ted McMeekin
From the recommendations in BACCC’s Options for Travel report, which would be your top priority to enact to ensure safe, reliable, convenient and equitable transportation options?
Affordability is a must – especially with so much emphasis on ‘Code Red’ issues of Poverty, hunger, housing and lack of a basic income.
Equitable transit options cannot just be talked about, they need to be real. There are large swaths of our city with limited or no transit. Given the industrial commercial to residential property tax ratio (14% – 86%) the financial viability of providing enhanced transit options and especially equitable options is strained. The city needs to push for greater fiscal involvement by the Provincial and Federal governments that have a greater ability to generate and allocate funding for safe, reliable, convenient and equitable transit.
If environmentally friendly transportation options are not convenient, residents will be less likely to choose those options over driving.
What steps would you take to ensure environmentally friendly transportation options are convenient?
I would start with a more authentic conversation with the citizens of the city. Transit must be on routes that make sense and are reliable. more people give up on transit as a travel option because it doesn’t serve their needs and even when it has the potential to do so is often unreliable.
Environmentally friendly transportation needs to be perceived as safe in order to be viewed as a viable option.
What steps would you take to ensure all users feel safe when using all transportation methods?
Well lit and patrolled loading area would be important, especially for women and in the darker hours of the day.
Strict protocols need to be established so that transit providers are not abused. A quick and practical way to have an enforcement officer respond to an unsafe situation should be a priority.
