share the road cycling coalition essex active communities summit october 3 rd, 2011
TRANSCRIPT
Share The Road Cycling Coalition
Essex Active Communities SummitOctober 3rd , 2011
Overview
Share the Road Cycling Coalition The big picture Ontario Bicycle Policy Bicycle Friendly Communities Program 2011/2012 Advocacy Agenda – Active Communities
Pledge
One of cycling’s many benefits…
Strategic Directions
Engaging people and promoting cycling Enabling a shift to pro-cycling attitudes (‘changing the
conversation’) Building the capacity of the cycling movement - skills,
funding, policy and programs Advocating for municipal and provincial government
action:– Legislative Reform (Greg’s Law 2009) – Two PMBs (One metre law; paved shoulder legislation)– OBIF – Ontario Bicycling Investment Fund $25 M
Highlights from 2010-2011
Highlights from 2010-2011
• Green Paper on Bicycling in Ontario “When Ontario Bikes, Ontario Benefits”• Ontario Bicycle Policy update (1992 last policy developed) led by Minister
Wynne• Strategic Plan Development• 5 Regional/Local Bike Summits: Peterborough – March; Sault Ste. Marie – April;
Guelph – May; Essex – October; London (December 1st)• Cycling Tourism – partnerships, • Ontario Bicycle Summits (Burlington, Ottawa)• CAA Partnership• Private sector partnerships/funders
Highlights from 2010-2011
• Panel: Ontario Good Roads/Rural Ontario Municipalities Association (first panel on cycling)
• Two Rounds: Bicycle Friendly Communities Program• Eight “Share the Road Rides” Ontario• Wheeling to School Pilot Program• Several local, community presentations: Windsor, Essex, London, Petawawa, Oshawa,
Kingston, Coburg, Minden, Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma• Advocacy Tool Kit – Election Strategy development• Election Platforms: NDP, Green Party have Cycling/AT in their platforms, infrastructure $• Ontario Medical Association Policy on Cycling (August 2011)
Cycling Movement: The Big Picture
Growing recognition of the many benefits of cycling (the conversation is changing):
– Improved personal health (less obesity and diabetes, reduced healthcare costs)
– Improved quality of life and more livable communities– Addressing climate change and air pollution– Transportation solutions (reduced cost and less congestion)– Economic Development (cycling industry, tourism and leisure)
The Big Picture
Building Bike-Friendly Communities– Broad, durable and long-term cycling policy embedded in transportation policy– Engaged government and legislative agendas that promote active transportation– Infrastructure enabling and encouraging safe cycling for all
Major initiatives:– Europe – U.S. – Canada = Route Verte, 4300 km bike through Quebec
Bicycling in Ontario: The Bad News…
Unlike BC + PQ, Ontario has...
– NO clear Active Transportation policy framework – NO taxation or financing arrangements to support bike infrastructure in local municipalities– NO job creation plan linked to the business of bicycles
Bicycling in Ontario: The Good News
Stakeholder support is strong and growing– AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario)– OPPI (Ontario Professional Planners Institute)– OACP (Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police)– CAA
Cycling movement in Ontario continues to grow, building capacity and diversity – OBS, regional summits, regional rides and municipal initiatives, tourism initiatives
Growing public support for measures to promote cycling
Ontario Bicycle Policy
Green Paper on Bicycling in Ontario
Launched March 2010 Impetus for an Ontario Bicycle Policy Advice to government: priorities for creating a
“Bicycle Friendly Ontario” Action Plan for advocacy, change
Bicycling in Ontario
Expert Survey
Ontario Bicycle Policy
First policy update in 19 years. Draft: follows some of the recommendations outlined
in our Green Paper Assist MTO to promote cycling Assist municipalities Municipalities will be allowed to apply for upgrades to
roads within their jurisdiction
Ontario Bicycle Policy
Address infrastructure issues such as paved shoulders
Will make provisions for cyclists in provincial rights- of- way
It will provide for enhanced cooperation within government via an inter-ministerial active transportation committee
A process to share the cost of improvements requested by municipalities
Ontario Bicycle Policy
Broad Areas:– Education and Awareness– Road user safety– Legislation and policies
Will support the development of an Ontario Bicycle Route to encourage bicycle tourism in Ontario, create jobs and encourage economic development
Polling Data
Support for Cycling: Poll Results (June 2011)
28% of Ontarians are regular cyclists (at least once a month) – up from 24% 2009– 2-out-of-3 say they ride for health and exercise– 36% ride for reasons of cost (gas prices, general cost of driving/parking)– 20% ride because it’s better for the environment
A solid majority (53%) would like to cycle more often
Support for Cycling: Poll Results (June 2011)
2-out-of-3 Ontarians (65%) agree that ‘where I live, cyclists need more bike lanes/paved shoulders’
58% believe the provincial gov’t. has a duty to support cycling as a choice for Ontarians
Support for Cycling: Poll Results (June 2011)
67% agree that ‘if the province is going to spend money on roads, it should earmark a portion of that spending to meet the needs of cyclists’
69% believe that ‘As healthcare costs rise in Ontario, the provincial government should invest in cycling infrastructure so that more people could leave their car at home and ride a bike instead’
A New Context: Changing the Conversation
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A New Context Emerges
Cycling increasingly seen as a legitimate transportation choice for Ontarians
Pent-up desire to ride can drive a new focus on more/better cycling infrastructure, to increase safety for all road users including cyclists
Result is more cycling – with all the resulting health benefits, lower costs/pollution, safer streets, more vibrant communities
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Bicycle Friendly Communities Initiative
Bicycle Friendly Communities
Launched the Bicycle Friendly Community program – AMO 2010
Based on successful U.S. partnership model: Bikes Belong, League of American Bicyclists; Trek Bicycles
Canadian version: Bicycle Trade Association of Canada
Bicycle Friendly Communities Initiative
Started in 1996 Civic pride initiative, benchmark for communities Best practice models Roadmap for improvements 4 Award levels
– Platinum– Gold– Silver– Bronze
Bicycle Friendly Communities Initiative
Application Criteria: 5 “Es”
– Engineering – physical environment– Education - both cyclists and motorists– Encouragement- promotion, events, route finding,
commuting incentive, active/safe routes to school
Bicycle Friendly Communities Initiative
Application Criteria:
– Enforcement – targeted enforcement, police on bikes, by-laws that promote safety
– Evaluation & Planning – current programs, future planning: measuring cycling now; crash and fatality rates, plans for improving these numbers; Bicycle Plan, progress
Bicycle Friendly Communities Initiative
Application Review:– Reviewed by staff and external reviewers– Feedback from local cyclists and advocates
Benefits:– Recognition– Promotion– Benchmarking– Technical help– Inspiration
Bicycle Friendly Communities Initiative
Progress:
- Developed provincial advisory panel, Canadian application
- Partnership with AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) to raise awareness, deliver program
- Two Rounds 2011
- Ottawa Spring 2011 (Ottawa, Waterloo – Silver; Ajax, Windsor – Bronze)
- AMO 2011 (Hamilton – Silver; Town of Blue Mountain, London, Oshawa – Bronze)
The provincial election: A key opportunity to…
Animate the cycling community and wider public support among Ontarians who want to cycle more
Extend and consolidate municipal stakeholder support Press for concrete action on cycling infrastructure from province (Election 2011) Lay the basis for a more ambitious bicycle-friendly agenda for Ontario
The Active Communities Pledge Campaign
The Active Communities Pledge is an initiative of Share the Road Cycling Coalition to encourage individuals and communities to become champions for
cycling and other active transportation options in the October 6, 2011 provincial elections.
The Campaign www.activecommunitiespledge.ca
The Active Communities Pledge Campaign
Asks candidates for provincial office (also voters/residents) to commit to:– Promote Active Transportation– Work to create Ontario Bicycle Infrastructure Fund (OBIF) - $25m starting point in 2012 – to
build lanes/pave shoulders etc. in cities and towns– Support municipalities in applying for designation as Bicycle-Friendly Communities (BFC)
ACP Objectives
Focus political and public attention on the opportunity for a Bicycle-Friendly Ontario
Encourage candidate/voters to work for the cause of cycling/AT Inform voters of where their candidates stand on active transportation Show that the time has come for the province to answer calls for budgetary
support for cycling infrastructure
What can you do?
Apply for Bicycle Friendly Communities program – get started, get feedback
Help us to ensure that the provincial government – like Quebec and BC – plays a greater role in supporting, growing cycling in Ontario
Infrastructure funding is critical, education, legislation Whatever the result Share the Road will be looking to the
municipal sector to help us make the case for healthy communities, Bike Friendly Ontario
Attend Ontario Bike Summit: March 2012; London Summit December 1, 2011
Thank you…
We look forward to working with you in Building A Bicycle Friendly Ontario!