The Results are In - Almost

As stated earlier it is obvious that the Labor party do not want to be contacted. The first back was from Chris Harris from the Greens

1. What is your position on investment to improve the liveability and
sustainability of local neighbourhoods?
A. Supportive of more open space for active and passive uses; slow down traffic; street treatments to discourage
commuter traffic; active programs to promote measures to improve energy efficiency, sustainable water use, capture and recycling; pale paving and more street plantings to reduce heat sink effect of public spaces.

2. What would you do to make it safe enough to ride a bicycle in your local neighbourhood?
A. Street treatments to dramatically slow down cars; lobby RTA for 30km zones in all local streets; separate cars from traffic where road width permits - otherwise mark roads with sufficient signage to raise awareness of bikes; shared pedestrian/bike zones for slower moving cycle traffic; social programs to increase cycle traffic and crowd out cars

3. If elected, how would you promote the benefits of cycling in your area?
A. Double the resources devoted to cycling in the traffic department - create a senior cycling position in management reporting to the relevant director. Require all planning and traffic staff to complete appropriate cycling planning courses in consultation with Bicycle NSW (possibly an in house course designed and run by Bicycle NSW). Improve communication between City cycling department and state government depts of Environment & Climate Change and Roads; Increase social programs to promote cycling to work, school etc. Work with minister responsible for RTA to introduce programs to increase driver awareness of cyclists.

4. What do you think of the pace of implementation of the current Cycling Strategy?
A. Too slow - too bureaucratic and too much spin by the Lord Mayor. Lots of talk and glossy brochures in the first 4.5 years and little delivered. Requires a dramatic upscaling of infrastructure roll out. More resources to accelerate planning, consultation and implementation of multiple projects.

Shayne Mallard from the Liberals was next. He did not answer the questions but sent a supportive letter. Shayne has been supportive to cyclists and does ride a lot.

A Thanks for the email. You know of my long standing support for better bicycle facilities in the City of Sydney.  My approach to this will be to continue to show leadership and commitment in this area.  I support the current bicycle strategy and working with communities to roll out the plans over the next term of Council.

From an Independent - not sure which one as they did not sign it and I do not recognise the email address

1.  What is your position on investment to improve the livability and sustainability of local neighborhoods?
A. You could never divest an suitable aliquot of funds to satisfy all regional constituents amiably, therefore you might instead foster an attitude that promotes incentive based on the acumen and action of local and even parish groups or persons based on the merit of their particular imputations.

2. What would you do to make it safe enough to ride a bicycle in your local neighborhood?
A. Educate as early as five years old persons operating a bicycle on the roadways. My driver awareness course at that age has held my road visible actions within legislative requirements for the past 40 years. It will not hurt any young person to understand how and where to be seen on the road. I thank the Australian Federal Police for doing just that.

3. If elected, how would you promote the benefits of cycling in your area?
A. These benefits are enumerable. If people can’t see them, it not that they are not there. My quip is that fear and instability regress persons to operate a velocipede. Perhaps designing a three or four wheeled devices might entice participatory involvement particularly within our aging population.

4. What do you think of the pace of implementation of the current Cycling Strategy?
A. Just seek the road using Cyclists point of view don’t assume anything. At the end of the day we are saddled up and you are limo carted.

Clovers team have still not come back, but have sent an email hoping to have something to us today.

So do check back later today

Published by: AndrewD on September 12th, 2008 | Filed under Advocacy, City of Sydney