CyclescapeWe’ve asked all of the candidates for councillors in Ashford Borough, Canterbury District, Dover District, Shepway District, Swale Borough, and Thanet District for their views on a number of cycling-related topics. Their answers can be found on our May 2011 election page.
Tags: Ashford Borough, Canterbury District, Dover District, elections, Shepway, Swale, Thanet
I read your questions and have the following comments on them
We asked the following questions in this ward:
1. Would you work to introduce a 20mph speed limit in all residential areas in your ward in order to reduce the risks of death and serious injury and encourage walking and cycling as recommended by the The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS)?
Sounds like a reasonable question but if you live anywhere near where I do, the 30mph limit is treated as a guideline at best, those who transgress, are likely to pay as much attention to a 20mph speed restriction as they do the 30. Furthermore, without adequate consultation and investigation the question is without merit. Yes I would love to do something to reduce the risk of death and serious injury, but is reducing the speed to 20mph the way to do it, I dont believe so. You need to tackle the problem, which is reckless driving, not speed.
2. Would you actively pursue the creation of more dedicated walking and cycling routes away from motorised traffic such as the creation of a cycle routes to schools?
To what end? There seems to be adequate pavements for walking, which was a fairly well accepted form of transport when I was going to school. I have no problem with additional cycle routes as long as they are funded privately, I do not see why public money should be spent to further what is a hobby for some. It is not an essential service and in the current climate we should be careful to ensure that what little money there is, is spent on essential work for the use of the community as a whole, not the minority.
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3. Across Kent District Cycling Strategies are being submitted to Kent Highway Services. Will you ensure that the new Cycling Strategy for your district will be actively pursued and implemented?
This would largely depend on what the strategy was and wether It was in the best interests of the community surely.
4. As property developments begin to re-emerge, will you pursue funds from developers to be utilised to increase walking and cycling?
Only if it was deemed during the development submission that there was inadequate provision for these activities.
5. Would you support your council providing free adult cycle training?
Absolutely not. Why would anyone support such a scheme in the current fiscal climate. I fully understand and accept the health benefits that cycling as a hobby can bring to an individual, however this is a by product of exercise in general. Would you propose that “ALL” exercise activities are afforded the same funding, ie free personal training sessions to those attending a gym, free squash lessons, tennis lessons, the list goes on. As with all activities like this, anyone wishing to engage in the activity should be taught by friends/family or pay individually for lessons.
6. How will you liaise with your communities to ensure safe routes to schools and other community facilities and the increase in shared paths and cycle lanes?
If there are identified “unsafe” routes to schools and other community facilities, i would expect a risk assessment to be undertaken by a qualified body to make appropriate recommendations to remedy the situation. Any recommendation that proposed the creation of a shared path or cycle lane would be taken under consideration, and if this was the most economical and quickest resolution to make the route safe then I would work hard to ensure this was implemented.
7. Will you work to ensure cycling can play a key role in an integrated transport structure?
I admit I do not know how to answer this question as I do not fully understand the basis on which it is being asked. When you say “key”, are you talking about as part of the transport infrastructure overall? Lets be clear, the purpose of transport is to move goods or people from one location to another. This includes, road, rail, sea, air. How we choose to do that is a matter of cost, preference and time constraints. I dont quite understand how “cycling” can play a “key” role, nor understand the necessity for it to do so?
Is this response from a candidate in the local elections? If so, please can you let us know your name such that we can include it in our election pages here:
http://www.spokeseastkent.org.uk/election/may-2011