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 5 Candidate Krysta Boyer
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?
My first priority would be to enact those measures which would increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists who use our transit infrastructure. I would like to engage with local organizations, such as DSR, to audit the areas surrounding schools to establish what further safety measures needs to be put in place. I would then like to expand this audit to include those areas within Ward 5 which have poor safety records. Following the audit and the implementation of improved safety measures I would like to institute an educational campaign in order to alleviate safety concerns and in turn encourage people to cycle and walk in those areas more regularly.
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?
For cyclists I imagine convenience in terms of a journey from start to finish. Cycling pathways must be easily accessible and easy to locate (way-finding), have routes which connect to major amenities, be well maintained year round including snow removal services, be properly separated from vehicle traffic, have plenty of options for safe storage along the way, safety measures, should include bike share stations and should be interconnected with bus stops and/or routes.
The journey is similar for pedestrians. Walk ways should be easily accessible for our seniors and those who are disabled. Our walkways should be properly maintained year round including snow removal services. The paths themselves should have elements of beautification, access to bus stops, way-finding, proper lighting and other safety measures, and seating throughout (rest stops).
I would also like to see paths which encourage shared use between pedestrians and joggers and/or rollerbladers.
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?
In order for environmentally friendly transportation to be perceived as safe, I would first put in tangible measures to make it safe. I would look to implement those measures identified through audits, which would create a safe means of transportation. Following the implementation of these safety measures I would institute an ad campaign where community stakeholders are involved in demonstrating the convenience and safety of our options by showing them in use, and highlighting those measures which make the options safe. The idea of safety goes beyond tangible constructs where it would include safety, diversity, anti-bias and customer service training for all public transit staff. The culture of transit needs to be one where its users feel welcome and safe no matter what part of transit they are using.
