Ronna-Rae Leonard

Hello to all of you at the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition,

For some reason, your question to candidates did not get sent to me.  I learned of your request from a supporter and Coalition member.  I had another candidate forward your question and email address, so that I could respond.

Below is my contribution to your process to inform voters.

Regards,

Ronna-Rae Leonard

As your Courtenay Councillor, I support a well-planned city that provides safe, efficient and affordable alternative ways of moving about, so people will leave their cars at home.  Within our growing community, I support transit-oriented development, along with strong walking and cycling infrastructure.  I have long advocated for the use of Gas Tax Transfer funds to support a better cycling infrastructure.  I recognize it as a mode of transportation that means healthier citizens, reduced infrastructure costs to local government, reduced greenhouse gases, as well as cleaner air and water.  I believe that our transportation planning should prioritize pedestrians first, followed by cyclists, public transit, cargo transit, and lastly, cars.  Other cities have done it and I will continue to work on that vision to make Courtenay safe, affordable, and a place we are all proud to call home.

Shortly after I was elected in the fall of 2005, I recognized the need to raise the profile of cycling.  I committed to working out the logistics of collaborating with the other jurisdictions in the Comox Valley.  All jurisdictions  agreed to participate in the "outside the box" solution of the Comox Valley Cycling Task Force.  I see the value in collaborations at all levels, and spearheaded the development of the Cycling Public Advisory Committee, to ensure early public participation in all planning and transportation infrastructure development, and to insert cycling interests into the budget cycle.  We are going down a new path and there are fits and starts, but we are assured that cycling needs will be on the transportation agenda.

People will only choose cycling if they think it will be a safe way to get around.  The best way for new cyclists to gain skills and confidence is by off-road experiences.  They will certainly have a safe experience on a separate bridge and a network of paths.   The idea of a cycling/pedestrian bridge is articulated in the Official Community Plan.  It's been there for years, sitting dormant, despite interest and regional support via the Cycling Task Force.  Recently, Ed Schum brought forward a vision of a wood bridge built with a great collaboration with the Timber Framers Guild, and this has ignited the imagination of people.  We need to take a "can do" attitude and follow the vision.  Such a bridge would also  strengthen the connection to the growing network of ped/cycling paths in East Courtenay, the Riverway, and in West Courtenay.

Commuter cyclists need more than off-road experiences.  They need a safe and efficient system.  The CV Cycling Plan, which was commissioned in the early days of the Cycling Task Force, suggests that we need to focus on achieving bikeway interconnections, as well as developing consistency and standardization of the routes throughout the Comox Valley, improving identified existing routes, and seizing regional opportunities.  Hundreds of cyclists contributed to the identification and development of the Plan.  We have the benefit of many experienced cyclists who are contributing to prioritizing the works that need to be accomplished, starting with improving the major arterial routes. There have been some wrong turns along the way, including recent developments which have not served commuting cyclists well.  I will continue to advocate for better infrastructure for cyclists.

Change happens when people come to appreciate something new.  Support is also built with education and engagement.  That means fun events like Car-free Sunday and Bike to Work Week.  As more people cycle and walk, the more support there will be to make cycling and walking safer, efficient, and enjoyable.  I support a vision of a transportation system that makes room for everyone!

Please visit www.ronnaraeleonard.ca