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 4 Candidate Robert Paris
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?
Safe walking and cycling routes, which incorporates safe driving roads that enables safe use for walking and cycling. This will include the construction of the LRT, where the focus should be both the impact that construction has on the day to day lives of people and business, but also how to take advantage of the LRT once created. Looking at routes being dedicated to cycling and walking, and also roads that are optimized for driving from point A to point B.
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?
We need to make sure that the LRT will be and the HSR does provide viable options on a regular schedule to get anyone from point A to point B. In addition to this, providing great and safe cycling routes. This may need some new thinking where it is not just about how bicycles and cars can share the same space, but also routes dedicated to cycling alone.
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?
I feel like this is focused on people walking and cycling. As I mentioned above, we need to think beyond just how pedestrians and cyclists can travel safely, and this may not just mean these users operating safely with cars, but possibly away from cars. The goal should be being able to get from A to B without danger. The goal is not cars and bicycles travelling safely together.
