Alayne McGregor - 2000 Ottawa-Carleton Cyclists' Advocate of the Year

Alayne McGregor showed us again this year that important cycling advocacy requires commitment and knowledge that comes from working on a task long enough to get good at it.

In 1999-2000, she helped draft Terms of Reference for the new Ottawa Cycling Committee. Her 5 years of experience as CfSC's representative on the (old) Ottawa Cycling Advisory Group was very helpful.

Dozens of long and cryptic Transition Board reports were read and analyzed by Alayne this year, to study their effects on cycling and transportation in the new City of Ottawa. She attended many Transition Board meetings, and talked with board members about supporting cycling and a new cycling committee.

Responding to the proposed closure of many neighborhood schools in September, Alayne drafted Terms of reference for "The Benefits of cycling and walking to school" and "Benefits of neighbourhood schools" CfSC policies. That included drafting the original proposal, consulting with the membership and cyclists on the CfSC mail list, and bringing an improved, revised draft back to the CfSC Board for final approval.

In October, Alayne prepared content for the I bicycle and I Vote campaign area of the CfSC web site and similar hand-out flyers. This new area advised cyclists how they could best seek support for cycling from candidates in the 2000 municipal election campaign.

When nobody else was available and the deadline was looming, Alayne drafted the formal request for funding and increased funding for the Cycling Safety and Promotion Program in the 2001 budget. She also performed final edits on the proposal, and hand-delivered it to ensure that it got in on time!

Despite spending many hours in front of the computer screen, Alayne is well known to many Ottawa area cyclists from her active participation in the CfSC mail list/newsgroup, where she received feedback from members and shared helpful information.

Alayne also found work that got her out from behind the computer screen and out and about doing cycling advocacy. She:

• served as a substitute CfSC representative at RCAG when the primary rep. was unable to attend meetings.
• attended all-candidates meetings for municipal elections and asked candidates for their support for cycling in 2001 budgets
• took an OC Transpo bus 20 km to Cumberland City Hall to speak to the Transition Board at a public meeting, and asked for cycling support to be included in their 2001 budget
• participated in "Don't use Your Brain for Brakes" meetings, where she strongly represented CfSC's and cyclists interests in projects involving health professionals and police, educating them about our needs for balanced and effective enforcement campaigns

And Alayne did this while she carried on active duties as a volunteer Ottawa Public Library Board trustee (board member) and a CfSC Director.

Fine work on all our behalf - thank you Alayne!

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