Ward Candidate Active Transportation Survey Results

This is an alphabetically ordered list of all the registered candidates running in new Ward 14: Toronto-Danforth - and the contact information we dug up for them online:

(The names of all those who responded have links down to their answers.)

Lanrick Bennett - lanrick@lanrickbennettjr.ca
Chris Budo - chrisbudotoronto@gmail.com
Dixon Chan - Dixon@dixon2018.com
Marisol D'Andrea - VoteDandrea@gmail.com
Paula Fletcher (Inc.) - info@paulafletcher.com
Mary Fragedakis (Inc.) - teamfragedakis@gmail.com
Ryan Lindsay - (no public email) http://www.ryanlindsay.ca/contact
Lawrence Lychowyd - (no public email) http://www.larrythelawyer.ca/Contact.shtml
Chris Marinakis - (no public email) https://chrismarinakis.ca/contact-us
Alexander Pena - (no website, no online search results at all)

On October 10th at 5:26 PM we emailed all the registered candidates (that we could find an address for) and asked them these five questions phrased exactly like this:

Responses

Below are their responses - ordered in the order they replied to us with their answers.

From Marisol D'Andrea (received October 10, 2018 at 9:03:29 PM EDT):

1. Will you be a champion for building safe, connected bike routes in Toronto Danforth?

Yes.


2. Will you support building protected bike lanes on main streets, including the major corridors in the Cycling Network Plan?

Yes.


3. Do you support accelerating the City’s 10-Year Cycling Network Plan to be built in the next four years, instead of by 2026?

Absolutely.


4. Can you provide your position on adding physical separation + Protected Intersections to the Dundas bike lanes?

I support it. The Protected Intersection design has promise. If there is any interference with traffic and pedestrians, the bikes should have traffic lights to have a safe flow of traffic and pedestrians.


5. Can you provide your position on the Danforth complete street study and implementation?

I support the Danforth complete street study and implementation. Over 70% of Torontonians, including myself, would cycle more if infrastructure were improved. The implementation of the Danforth bike lane will complement my platform on the revitalization of the Danforth. We need to consider adding physical separation + protected intersections to some of the main intersections, such as Coxwell Avenue and Main Street. In addition, we need a better toolbox for effective implementation, including education and engagement. I will work hard for this plan to come to fruition.

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From Dixon Chan (received October 10, 2018 at 9:31:16 PM EDT):

1. Will you be a champion for building safe, connected bike routes in Toronto Danforth?

Yes.


2. Will you support building protected bike lanes on main streets, including the major corridors in the Cycling Network Plan?

Yes.


3. Do you support accelerating the City’s 10-Year Cycling Network Plan to be built in the next four years, instead of by 2026?

Yes.


4. Can you provide your position on adding physical separation + Protected Intersections to the Dundas bike lanes?

I believe that we need to update the complete Street Guidelines with safer separated and curb protected cycling lanes and protected intersections. When a street is designated for a Complete Street design, the blueprints for a protected lane will be visually referenced in the guideline.


5. Can you provide your position on the Danforth complete street study and implementation?

I’m definitely in favour of a complete street redesign of Danforth.

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From Lanrick Bennett Jr. (received October 12, 2018 at 2:22:01 PM EDT):

1. Will you be a champion for building safe, connected bike routes in Toronto Danforth?

As an avid cyclist and father of two children, safety on our streets is a paramount concern of mine. Our community has waited 15 years for a champion for safe, protected and connected bike lanes throughout our Ward. As City Councillor, I will ensure that we have a coherent plan to keep our roads safe.


2. Will you support building protected bike lanes on main streets, including the major corridors in the Cycling Network Plan?

I look forward to reviewing the recommendations of the Cycling Network Plan. It is my firm belief that we can and should add dedicated, protected bike lanes on the Danforth to enhance road safety while minimizing the impact on parking and businesses.


3. Do you support accelerating the City’s 10-Year Cycling Network Plan to be built in the next four years, instead of by 2026?

I know that we need to do more to protect cyclists and pedestrians in our city. That is why as Councillor, I will support initiatives to help accelerate the creation of protected bike lanes throughout Toronto-Danforth and the city of Toronto as a whole.


4. Can you provide your position on adding physical separation + Protected Intersections to the Dundas bike lanes?

With the tragic death at Jones and Dundas, we have seen what happens when bike lanes are built without barriers. It was back in 2002 that we saw the bike lanes on Dundas created, and since then, we have put paint before protection. That is why I support the creation of protected bike lanes for cyclists on Dundas, and I will make sure these bike lanes are connected on a grid to ensure we can all commute safely.


5. Can you provide your position on the Danforth complete street study and implementation?

I know that we need to work hard to meet our goal of zero pedestrian deaths on our streets. That is why I will support the implementation of Toronto’s Complete Streets guidelines so we can share the road and increase pedestrian safety.

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From Mary Fragedakis (received October 13, 2018 at 3:23:36 PM EDT):

1. Will you be a champion for building safe, connected bike routes in Toronto Danforth?

Yes. I think we need to strengthen north south routes as well as work to make intersections safer – for all users. Last but not least, as a youth, I used to bike around Toronto-Danforth. I would like to have City Transportation staff work to develop a program to enhance bike safety in local neighbourhoods.


2. Will you support building protected bike lanes on main streets, including the major corridors in the Cycling Network Plan?

Yes. I supported the Cycling Network Plan and I voted to increase its budget. As a Councillor I have never voted against a bike lane.


3. Do you support accelerating the City’s 10-Year Cycling Network Plan to be built in the next four years, instead of by 2026?

Yes, I have voted to spend more in order to accelerate the implementation of the Cycling Network Plan. I would like us to make the Cycling Network safer.


4. Can you provide your position on adding physical separation + Protected Intersections to the Dundas bike lanes?

Again, I think it is so important to make bike lanes safe. As we build more bike infrastructure we attract more cyclists. This is a good thing but it means we need to make those lanes safer and intersections safer. Though I can see starting with the Dundas bike lanes, we need to roll this out elsewhere.


5. Can you provide your position on the Danforth complete street study and implementation?

I moved the successful motion at City Council to have the Danforth Major Corridor study done from a Complete Street perspective. I was disappointed that City staff delayed the Danforth Major Corridor study to focus on projects where they could take advantage of funding from the federal government.

We should get the Danforth Major Corridor Study and Avenue Planning study going in 2019 to create a new Danforth that is revitalized but that preserves what is special about the Danforth.

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From Paula Fletcher (received October 15, 2018 at 7:00:52 PM EDT):

1. Will you be a champion for building safe, connected bike routes in Toronto Danforth?

Yes - I have always supported fully protected, connected cycling routes in Toronto-Danforth. I’m proud to have pushed for a comprehensive corridor study to bring bike lanes onto the Danforth in a permanent, defensible way. I ride my bike to work and around the ward, and I know how important it is to improve safety for all of us.


2. Will you support building protected bike lanes on main streets, including the major corridors in the Cycling Network Plan?

Absolutely - including the Danforth, using a ‘complete streets’ approach and involving businesses and residents in the planning process. We have bike lanes on some of the major corridors, but they need to be refreshed and separated. I know there is more to be done - intersections can be made more safe with protected turning lanes. I will work with you to make these improvements a reality.


3. Do you support accelerating the City’s 10-Year Cycling Network Plan to be built in the next four years, instead of by 2026?

Yes I do. There have been too many tragedies and close calls on our streets for us to delay on building the full Cycling Network.


4. Can you provide your position on adding physical separation + Protected Intersections to the Dundas bike lanes?

I am fully in favour of this proposal. In 2016 I requested that City staff begin looking at opportunities for separation, and I have recently requested the General Manager for Transportation Services look at installing protected intersections on Dundas. I will be working with her to make this happen for our community


5. Can you provide your position on the Danforth complete street study and implementation?

I am proud to have gotten this study underway. The cycling community has long pushed for complete streets on the Danforth that include separated bike lanes - and I agree. I believe the Danforth corridor study is the best way to make sure that these lanes go in and stay in.

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From Ryan Lindsay (received October 16, 2018 at 4:12 PM EDT - via Twitter):

1. Will you be a champion for building safe, connected bike routes in Toronto Danforth?

Yes I will continue to champion a safe, connected bike network in this ward.


2. Will you support building protected bike lanes on main streets, including the major corridors in the Cycling Network Plan?

Yes, I will fight for protected bike lanes on main streets, including Danforth, Carlaw, Broadview, Donlands, Samon/Browning, Cosburn, Dundas, Woodfield, Eastern...


3. Do you support accelerating the City’s 10-Year Cycling Network Plan to be built in the next four years, instead of by 2026?

Yes, I support the acceleration of the building the cycling network, so that we can complete it by 2022 instead of 2026. We can't wait any longer to get this city moving!


4. Can you provide your position on adding physical separation + Protected Intersections to the Dundas bike lanes?

Yes, I support physically separated lanes and protected intersections on Dundas E, and am disappointed how long this has taken. Everyone, whether on bike, in a car, or on foot, feels and IS safer when bike lanes are physically separated. Let's get this done asap.


5. Can you provide your position on the Danforth complete street study and implementation?

I support a complete streets approach along #theDanforth, from he Bloor Viaduct to Victoria Park. There's enough room for cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles, and such an approach will increase safety, health & support of local business. #topoli #torontodanforth

[See the thread on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/fundevolution/status/1052287413089779712]

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From Lawrence Lychowyd (received October 17, 2018 at 3:22 PM EDT - via Twitter Messages):

1. Will you be a champion for building safe, connected bike routes in Toronto Danforth?

Yes. The routes must make sense as far as being an effective route for cyclists while maintaining the economic vitality of the surrounding neighbourhoods where applicable.


2. Will you support building protected bike lanes on main streets, including the major corridors in the Cycling Network Plan?

Yes. Protected bike lanes make the most sense and when I am driving alongside a cyclist, I feel safer when there is that physical divider between us. I do not support bike lanes on routes with streetcars as the traffic congestion resulting from same would just be magnified. There is not enough room on those routes for streetcars, cyclists, car traffic and parking.


3. Do you support accelerating the City’s 10-Year Cycling Network Plan to be built in the next four years, instead of by 2026?

Yes. Like any transit initiative, this will never get cheaper to do and if we want to encourage cycling as an alternative to vehicular traffic as another cog in the total environmental plan it needs to be done.


4. Can you provide your position on adding physical separation + Protected Intersections to the Dundas bike lanes?

I have no issue this being done on Dundas Street in our ward.


5. Can you provide your position on the Danforth complete street study and implementation?

I would be in favour of a well planned remodel of the Danforth provided that the business owners along the strip were active participants in the design and that it can be shown that there would not be a severe economic impact on the businesses that run this economic engine of the City.

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