Alan Halberstadt

Alan Halberstadt
2517 Gail Road N8W 2Z7
Phone: (519) 971-8989
Email: ahalberstadt@sympatico.ca
Website: http://www.alanhalberstadt.com

1) What are your views on cycling in Windsor?

While strides have been made to make Windsor infrastructure more friendly for cyclists, much more needs to be done to connect routes and make streets safer for commuters, families and baby boomers. The number of cyclists on our roads and “sidewalks” continues to multiply, which has thankfully ramped up the political advocacy to make positive improvements. Bottom line, Windsor City Council needs to spend more than $200,000 per year on bike infrastructure, especially in light of the 10-year-old Bicycle-Use Master Plan recommends $1-million per year. The additional spending on bike transit will pay off in the long run as more and more people turn in their motor vehicles, relieving stress on our roads and lowering the cost and frequency of road rehabiliation.

2) Do you own a bike? How often do you ride it?

Yes I own a bike, and I do not ride it nearly as often as I should due to a hectic schedule. I hope to use it more once I get a new bike, hopefully next spring.

3) Recent research shows that 65% of Windsorites have ridden a bike in the last year. What do you think can be done to get more windsorites cycling more often?

Families, seniors and commuters need to feel safe on our roads. If measures are taken to improve the feeling of safety and security more citizens will ride their bikes more often. I have been the City Council member on the Windsor Bicylcing Committee (WBC) for 11 years, and support the need to upgrade the BUMP study to implement new cycling infrastructure strategies and practices, employed in such gold-standard cycling communities as Madison, Wisc. and Portland, Oregon.

4) What do you think needs to be done to make Windsor more bicycle friendly?

In addition to what I have previously stated, I believe it is important that Windsor set benchmarks for improvements. On Monday night, Sept. 27, Council will be considering my recommendation to apply to the Share The Road Coalition of Ontario to be designation for grading — Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze or Honourable Mention — as a Bike Friendly Community. Windsor native Eleanor McMahon, who is executive director of the Coalition, will be making a presentation to Council and hopefully it will be a no-brainer for Council to approve an application for designation. There will be no cost other than sfaff time to fill out the questionnaire, and once Windsor receives its grade, Council can identify best practices from other communities to improve its ranking in years to come.

5) What are your views on enforcing cycling laws in Windsor?

Quite frankly, Windsor Police generally take a hands-off approach to enforcing the Highway Traffic Act as it applies to cyclists, and there is no enforement of the city bylaw prohibiting cyclists from sidewalks. The WBC is in the process of reviewing the bylaw, with the mind to lower the fines for riding on sidewalks for over $100 to perhaps $25. The committee recently consulted with Police in a stratetic planning session and the results of that exercise should be discussed in the October meeting of the bike committee.

6) Are you willing to make a commitment to bike to at least 4 city council meetings per year, to lead by example?

6. Yes I am willing to make that commitment.