Election 2011: Chris J (Kit) Nichols
1. What modes of transportation do you normally use within Metro Vancouver? Do you ever use a bike for transportation in your municipality?
I use a car exclusively. Timing and weather and variety of places I go on a regular basis make use of buses unfeasible and extremely inconvenient. For years I used to bike to school and use transit when living in Burnaby and in Halifax, even when I lived in Terrace I would bike 45min into town.
2. How would you support and encourage cycling for transportation to promote healthy and livable communities?
I support healthy lifestyles, cycling is one of them. I exercise through running and soccer, and weights at home and sometimes use the gyms at Capilano University as a student. Participaction programs, and youth recognition of health through awarding them things like the old participaction skills and fitness gold silver bronze patches. Encourage family participation in group activities like walking groups, and hiking groups. Encourage swimming, recreational cycling, fitness training to a family oriented approach, it is not enough to be active as individuals, you need to have more social/physical activity to be truly healthy in today’s environments.
3. Do you think the current level of funding for cycling in your municipality is adequate?
I don’t want funding for a single group take on the entire fitness and health budget, I want people to be more engaging and get out and meet their neighbours and would encourage more developments to building infrastructure along with any designs to include social/activity community spaces like the Lynn Valley Library exhibits now.
4. What would you do to ensure a sustainable and adequate source of cycling funding during your term in office?
I don’t want funding for a single group take on the entire fitness and health budget, I want people to be more engaging and get out and meet their neighbours and would encourage more developments to building infrastructure along with any designs to include social/activity community spaces like the Lynn Valley Library exhibits now.
5. What is your level of interest in a public bike-share system integrated with the transit system?
Bike share yes, Translink involved no, Why? I feel Translink has failed to meet the mandate it was designed to embrace and has failed to understand and meet the needs of the people of Greater Vancouver. Until the entire TL process of funding and development are revised to meet the greatest good and not spend money on mega projects with no logical design parameters then it is futile to throw money at TL and expect value for my tax payer dollars. Any program like this would have to be a Metro program and TL is not equipped with the wisdom and intelligence required to understand such a program.
6. What role do you think the municipality has in supporting and promoting cycling education for children, cyclists and motorists?
All the programs are there already. ICBC and the DMV are responsible for road safety and need to enforce their mandates and programs accordingly. Education is great, but you have to be listening to learn anything and so far those that end up in trouble are the ones not listening, and creating victims that are not being serviced by a failing justice system and the insurance corporation which is failing to create justice. Pedestrians and cyclists have all the rules they require when it comes to road safety but the system fails constantly due to enforcement and justice to serve the public. Unfortunately this is a Provincial and Federal jurisdiction to deal with and I can only complain on behalf of my city and its citizens to fix it. That is where and how I would spend the time and money advocating for enforcement and justice of existing rules and making sure my city follows through and promotes this argument by example.
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