The Better Transit Alliance is a member of Victorians for Transportation Choice (VTC), a collection of seven groups who work for better transportation solutions for all. We have received numerous responses to our questionnaire on transportation issues, and more are still coming in.
Candidates who responded have overwhelmingly supported a target of reducing car traffic 25% by 2030 as called for in the provincial climate plan, and a set of supportive policies to make public transit, walking, rolling and cycling more appealing in Greater Victoria. Both mayoralty candidates in Saanich support the 25% traffic reduction target.
Specific questions regarding public transit include one regarding bus lanes, with variations by municipality. The City of Victoria question is “Do you support rapidly completing 24/7 bus lanes along Douglas Street through downtown Victoria, as well as similar measures along all of BC Transit’s proposed RapidBus routes in Victoria?” The Saanich question asks about support for “rapidly completing 24/7 bus lanes along McKenzie to UVic.”
The other VTC transit question is “Do you support making transit fares more affordable, both by reducing the cost of passes and individual fares and free or discounted passes for youth, seniors, and people living on low incomes?”
The VTC’s member groups – Better Transit Alliance of Greater Victoria; Capital Bike; Greater Victoria Placemaking Network; British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association; Walk On, Victoria; Vancouver Island Transportation Corridor Coalition (VITCC); and the Action Committee Of People With Disabilities (ACPD) – want our communities to shift to transit, walking, biking, and rolling, as a means to meet transportation needs while improving livability, while reducing carbon pollution and other harm.
It is inspiring to see so many candidates commit to providing healthy and affordable transportation choices. And the Better Transit Alliance and other VTC member groups will be watching carefully to see if the the politicians who get elected follow through or not.
Candidates answers are available at www.transportchoicevictoria.ca. VTC will not be endorsing any candidates.
Please review the candidate answers for your municipal and CRD representatives, and vote for better transit on Saturday!
And help spread the word on Twitter and Facebook!
