NDP and Green Party candidates respond to questions from Gabriola Transportation Society; Conservative opts out

Submitted by Ivan Bulic

On behalf of the Gabriola Transportation Society

On September 23, the Gabriola Transportation Society (GTS) asked the three candidates  campaigning to become the new MLA for Nanaimo-Gabriola four questions about crucial transportation issues on Gabriola.

Candidates were given 10 days in which to reply. NDP candidate Sheila Malcolmson  and Green Party candidate Shirley Lambrecht answered the questions.

Conservative candidate Dale Parker replied “I appreciate your efforts in reaching out to me. The party office completes questionnaires, please get in touch with them here. Contact the Conservative Party of BC (conservativebc.ca).

“I will ensure these important issues are marked for follow-up by me. Unfortunately, I hear too often that the government and your MLA do not respond to important issues. That practice ends with me.  Sincerely, Dale Parker, MLA Candidate, MBA Candidate, CMC Candidate.”

Despite repeated emails and telephone calls to the Conservative Party of BC campaign headquarters, the Conservative Party did not reply to the questionnaire.

Here are the questions and the responses from  Malcolmson and Lambrecht:

1) In an effort to reduce the number of greenhouse gas emitting vehicles on BCFerries, would you support removing fares for pedestrians and cyclists?

Malcolmson: Through our climate plan, CleanBC, we are aggressively supporting public transit and electric vehicles to help people reduce their carbon footprint. And I’m always open to new ways to further advance this work.”

Lambrecht: I would absolutely support removing fares for pedestrians and cyclists. As BC Greens, we are advocating free mass transit services throughout the province to create a more reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable means to get people where they need to go..”

2) What specific measure(s) would you implement to improve safety and active transportation on the Ferry Hill access to the Descanso Bay ferry terminal?

Malcolmson: Gabriola’s Ferry Advisory Committee and Transportation Society started good work on this that I want to reactivate on the provincial side. On Eastholm, adding a crosswalk and relocating the stop sign seem stalled by an ‘engineering review of pedestrian movements.’ I love the Gabriola Transportation Society’s idea of a multi-agency working group to break down silos between MoTI, RDN, Island Trust and BC Ferries, and I’ve seen this work  well for other projects.

Lambrecht: I would implement dedicated lanes for active transportation with significant traffic separation barriers to protect more vulnerable foot and non-vehicular traffic from motor vehicles. Vehicle parking would also be separated and clearly demarcated.

3) Would you support reducing speed limits to 30 kph and installing traffic calming measures in high foot-traffic parts of  the Nanaimo-Gabriola Island riding,  such as the Gabriola village core from Tin Can Alley to the Descanso Bay ferry terminal?

Malcolmson: Lower speeds are better for pollution, and human and animal safety, so I’d love to work together on this.

Lambrecht: Yes. Traffic calming measures including reduced speed limits, speed humps and bumps need to be implemented to slow traffic to keep pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers safe where vehicles often travel faster than is safe to do so. They also serve to reduce noise and emissions.

4) What one thing would you do to promote active transportation and reduce vehicle traffic on roads in  Nanaimo and on Gabriola Island?

Malcolmson: Working with local community groups, like HUB Cycling and BC Cycling Coalition, BC’s first-ever active transportation fund is building active transportation networks including all human-powered forms of transportation like cycling, walking, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

We already did this in Nanaimo. As MLA I will work with the Gabriola Transportation Society to advocate for this kind of investment on Gabriola.

Lambrecht: In addition to funding full-size electric and smaller mass transit coaches and increasing schedule frequency, I would seek investment in non-vehicular lane and pathway infrastructure to enable cyclists, all forms of mobility scooter-ists, skateboarders, roller bladers, and travellers on foot to move more safely throughout our communities.

Authorized by the Gabriola Transportation Society. Registered third party sponsor under the Election Act. gabriolatransportation@gmail.com