Hi Cam,
Thanks for your comments and concerns regarding the reorganization of the Toronto Cycling Committee.
There is no city committee that has 22 members (Comma? Style?), which equals half of council. The new role of the TCC is to act as an(space)"executive" committee tapping (syntax) into the diverse expertise (vague) of cycling specialists and advocacy groups, as dictated by the priorities which will be set by the committee. (Isn’t that what we’re afraid of? Not having any input?) Under the new City of Toronto Act, committees have more authority to direct and utilize staff (What Staff? Who are they? How are they selected?), however this means staff have more work to do and therefore we have to be more “efficient” on how we manage our ration of time and resources. Reducing the numbers does not reduce the responsibilities nor does it reduce the participation.
Meeting 4 times per year does not mean we sit idle in (during) the intervening months. Staff will require more than a month to report back and plan. The committee and the Chair reserve the right to increase the frequency of the meetings if the need arises. Secondly I expect informal meetings to take place between these periods as various projects progress.
Cycling is part of our transportation system, and we need to understand that it has to be woven into the overall transportation vision for the city. I would “hope” that everyone on the new committee will be an "advocate" for cycling and its role within the city. The committee as mentioned will be operated through delegation of activities and projects to specific members of the committee who will in turn coordinate and work with the relevant advocacy groups and interested parties on that specific project. (def: Bureaucracy. How about telling us the vision, goals and Strategic Plan?)
As Chair, and in consultation with the Mayor's office, Transportation staff, these changes are required for all of the above stated reasons excuses. Once again I urge people to have a little faith as we work towards the same goals of improving our cycling and accompanying infrastructure network in Toronto.
Regards,
Adrian
Toronto City Councillor A.A. (Adrian) Heaps
Scarborough Southwest, Ward 35
416-392-0213
councillor_heaps@toronto.ca
www.adrianheaps.com
Dearest Adrain,
Gee, you jest did a grand job of highlighting exactly why people are so unhappy with these proposed changes. We don't know what they heck you guys are up to!
Citizens of Toronto deserve to have their elected officials put cycling as a high priority. Cycling needs to be considered a safe, affordable and viable transportation option, but that has not been the case. Instead, budgets get cut, projects get delayed, frustration builds etc.
As an avid cycling commuter, I appreciate the current facilities available. However, I often hear comments from people who think I am "crazy" due to the perception that it is "dangerous". I try to tell them that the more people who bike, the safer it will be, but then there's another accident/theft/flat tire.
I wonder though, how many days out of the year you and these staff that you refer to commute by bike, and what your personal experiences have been? See, it is rather hard for us folks to know, since the hiring and planning process is, you know, so transparent and accountable.