What is the attitude of Vancouver’s municipal and mayoral candidates toward cycling? HUB, the region’s largest cycling advocacy network, wants to know.
HUB, which is not an acronym, asked the city’s mayoral, municipal and park board candidates this question: “Would you vote in favour of infrastructure investments that separate bicycles from motor vehicles along key transportation corridors and certain busy commercial streets?”
Park board candidates were asked if they favoured such infrastructure in parks.
By the soft deadline of Oct. 24, fewer than half of candidates had responded, said Colin Stein, a HUB committee member helping run the poll. He said 28 of 59 candidates had responded by Oct. 29.
All 15 Vision municipal and park board candidates, in addition to Mayor Gregor Robertson, had responded with identical answers. All answered yes to the question.
Only one NPA candidate had responded so far. Stein would not say who. "
Five COPE and two Green candidates have responded.
HUB is not endorsing any specific candidates or parties but will post the candidates’ answers online Monday. The organization sent a similar question to candidates in 15 additional municipalities on Oct. 14 and asked them to answer within 10 days.
The poll is intended to raise awareness about the Nov. 15 municipal election and inform voters about their options at the ballot box. Candidates can still submit their answers.
“We reached out to both party headquarters, as well individuals. We tried to reach every candidate to give them the change to respond,” said Stein.
“We are still accepting submissions. We’re happy to take updates. We will do everything to accommodate them.”
HUB contacted 398 municipal and mayoral candidates running for park board or city hall in 17 municipal elections to ask questions specific to issues in their cities.
“We’re encouraging voter engagement in local electoral politics and for voters to check out what candidates stand for,” he said.
In a news release announcing their poll two weeks ago, HUB executive director Erin O'Melinn said, “As with past provincial and municipal elections, many people want to have the opportunity to vote for transportation platforms they agree with, but it can be hard to get this information."
