Ottawa accepts "best cycling city" award while slashing support for cycling

FOR RELEASE: 14:00 Thursday, December 7, 1995

Ottawa Mayor Jacquelin Holzman will accept an award from Bicycling Magazine today on behalf of the city, which was recently chosen as the eighth best city in North America for cycling. The award will be presented at 2 p.m. at Ottawa City Hall in the Rotunda, on the ground floor of the Sussex Pavilion. Ironically, at the same time the city's past support for cycling is being recognized, the city's cycling coordinator is facing the budget axe and the city's cycling plan is under attack.

 

The cycling coordinator (Alternative Transportation Planner) is the sole city staff person working specifically to improve cycling and walking in the city. The coordinator is responsible for planning road improvements that remove obstacles to safe and secure cycling. These improvements were outlined in the city's Comprehensive Cycling Plan (CCP), which was approved by city council in June, 1994. At that time, staff estimated that $265,000 per year was required for the next 20 years to fully implement the plan. Last year, $150,000 was allocated for implementation. The draft 1996 budget proposes even less, only $100,000, for improving cycling routes. At the same time, the coordinator's position is on the budget cutting block, in the Options B/C list of budget cuts proposed by staff.

"The loss of the cycling coordinator is unacceptable," said Doug Gabelmann, Citizens for Safe Cycling's representative on the city's cycling advisory group. "Underfunding the Comprehensive Cycling Plan, which is part of the city's Official Plan, will save no money. Better planning and better cycling infrastructure mean safer and more pleasant cycling, leading to more cyclists and lower social and environmental costs."

Gabelmann added that Ottawa is receiving the award largely because it has an official cycling plan and because it has had a coordinator to bring this plan to fruition.

"It is widely known that official cycling plans don't get implemented without at least one staff person dedicated to the task. These cutbacks to cycling are flat tires for the fifty percent of Ottawa residents who ride bicycles, an increasing number who depend on their bicycle for transportation. Ottawa should be the number one city in North America for cycling, but today we're back-pedalling."

Cycling residents aren't counting on Mayor Holzman to support cycling in the 1996 budget review. What she won't be mentioning in her acceptance speech for the award is her voting record on cycling issues. Because, when it comes down to support for cycling projects, Holzman usually votes "NO".

During the debate for the 1995 budget, Holzman, joined by only one other councillor, opposed Councillor Jim Watson's motion to allocate $150,000 for cycling infrastructure. In 1993, Ottawa City Council considered a motion to find money for road patching to ensure safety for cyclists. Holzman voted against. In 1992, while on Regional Council, Holzman voted against funding for a "Blue Bikes" pilot project, to evaluate the effective use of bicycles for short-distance work travel by staff.

"In these tough times the Mayor should demonstrate some compassion, common sense and leadership and get rid of her chauffeured limo, which costs taxpayers up to $80,000 every year. The savings would support safe, healthy, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly cycling transportation for all Ottawa residents," said Brett Delmage, president of Citizens for Safe Cycling.

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Doug Gabelmann and Brett Delmage from Citizens for Safe Cycling, and members of the City of Ottawa Cycling Advisory Group will be available for interviews at the awards ceremony today.

Contact: Doug Gabelmann, Citizens for Safe Cycling representative to City of Ottawa Cycling Advisory Group 722-4454 after 2 p.m.

 

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