Durham Region Cycling Coalition DRCC

Transcription

1 Durham Region Cycling Coalition DRCC Bruce MacDonald - Executive Director Promoting Safe Cycling Throughout Durham Region

2 Where Are We? Large Region East of Toronto Population 600,000 + & growing fast Area 4x larger than Toronto 8 municipalities Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Brock Uxbridge, Scugog Mixed Urban & Rural area

3 Who Are We? Supported by 5 local cycling clubs Endorsed by 5 local bike shops

4 Our Mandate We are promoting Safe Cycling Throughout Durham Region, as an Active means of Transportation

5 Why? Based on our experience, it will not get done without a little nudging. This Ghost Bike is for Roman, our friend & president of one of Cycling Clubs, killed in 2015 He was one of the people initially supporting the creation of a local cycling advocacy group.

6 What we do? Simply put, we advocate for safer cycling, within; Regional of Durham All 8 of our municipalities And Provincial roads within Durham (MTO) Whitby 2016 CycleON funding announcement

7 How we do it? We found like minded people to run our advocacy group (we initially found them in the cycling clubs and bike shops, go figure) Create a website, create Twitter and a Facebook page, , branding etc.

8 How we did it? Came up with areas of concern Created a few key strategies Assigned tasks, actions, areas captains Looked for areas of engagement Talked to people Asked for public input Engaged with other area cyclists (non club) Kids Bike Safety Day

9 Key Strategies? Create partnerships & participate Communicate with your followers Educate yourself (Book 18, Complete Streets, visit Ottawa, Montreal, Copenhagen, NYC take photos) Share your successes with the public Be polite, be professional, be collaborative But be persistent and also be tenacious

10 We advocate for? All Cyclists: Young and old Road, Mountain Commuters Tourist The environmental and health benefits of cycling Continuous bike lanes, trails and multi use paths The social and economical benefits of existing infrastructure, e.g., Water Front Trail, Trans Canada Trail, etc. Advocate for building it correctly the first time!

11 Find champions? Ask for support (council, mayor, MPP, MP, etc.) Share in successes Be polite, be professional, but be persistent! (don t give up) Provide input to upcoming projects Challenge to do better Support goes two ways Hold accountable Give credit! Two local political Champions; - Mayor Parish - Mayor Mitchell

12 Communication Communicate with political Leadership Communicate to staff contacts Be polite, be professional, but be persistent! (don t give up) Be helpful! GO Train Poster Advocating for TransCanada Trail Creating tourism videos

13 Do presentations Do them whenever appropriate Formal Council Meetings Informal Subcommittee Trails, Transportation plans, Environmental, etc. Do them regularly (be persistent) Meet with officials Asking for AT committee in Uxbridge

14 Keep your eyes open Have people scanning for road improvement, open houses, PIC s Review budgets and challenge Ask for funding before budgeting Challenge for better (do not accept poor) Ask why not? Get it on record! Send comments

15 Engage the leadership & public Attend events/council meetings Participate where ever possible Attend Public Information Centers Reach out to neighboring groups Be seen at formal cycling related events Do it regularly Be seen, be persistent! Oshawa s new Cycling Lane announcement

16 Support elected officials/staff? Publically endorse new cycling Projects Participate where possible Join municipal advisory committees Provide public support (or not) Positive news paper article (or not) Do TV interviews Ride the Riding Public celebrations Keep it on the agenda! Opening New section of WFT

17 Ride with change makers Take Share the Roads suggestion Ride the riding Whitby MPP Lorne Coe PC Oshawa MPP Jennifer French NDP Whitby MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes Lib Regional and Municipal Councillors, Mayors, etc.

18 What we have learned Many elected officials do get it go find them Many municipal staff do get it go find them Build relationships Build contacts Find champions (elected and staff) Be polite, professional, but be persistent

19 Engage with other groups Share the Road Ontario by Bike Waterfront Trust Ride of silence Cycle Toronto, etc. Attend events like Greg s Ride Support each other Engage with each other Ride of Silence CT & DRCC Coldest Day of the year Ride STR & DRCC Tour Hwy #407

20 Thanks that should be my 5 minutes and my 20 slides You can reach out to us any time at: Website - Facebook Durham Region Cycling Coalition durhamrcc@gmail.com