Mastodawn

Senator Paula Simons🇨🇦Aug 9, 2023

Yesterday, I had the privilege & thrill of visiting the Edmonton International Airport tower and the Nav Canada control centre, in my capacity as a member of Standing Senate Committee on Transportation and Communications. It was a fascinating visit, and one that gave me so much insight into this aspect of our aviation sector. #Edmonton #yeg #EIA #NavCanada #Canada #SenateofCanada #TRCM #AirTrafficControl #Alberta

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Dr. Young-Leslie 🇨🇦Aug 10, 2023

@Paulatics has, does, the committee consider the *bicycle* when considering #transportation?

We see federal and provincial interest in electric cars, & hear of aspirations for passenger trains, but with so many Canadians living in dense urban communities, the potential for bicycles (acoustic & electric) to reduce carbon emissions, city infrastructure costs & health risks as well as to improve quality of urban life, is profound. Yet we hear zip from our federal authorities. Why?

#biketooter

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Dr. Young-Leslie 🇨🇦Aug 10, 2023

@Paulatics just to be clear, I'm not trying to be rhetorical or antagonistic. I'm genuinely puzzled.

Bicycles are so obviously the personal vehicle of the future; we make steel & aluminum & batteries in Canada, we have a history of bike design & building; we could have a bike/trike industry here (we could lead the world on #winterbiking). But our MPs seem oblivious (even Steven Guilbeault🤯).
Is it b/c the auto lobby is too rich? Or policy ppl still equate bikes with recreation?
#biketooter

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😀🚲Aug 10, 2023

@HyL @Paulatics bicycles are incredibly efficient and thus don't cause enough money to slosh around to capture the attention of for-profit politicians. They are an incredible lever to achieve public good though, with ROI of 5-10x just accounting for public health and economic activity. Bikey people just misunderstand the greasing of palms that's required since we put grease on everything with threads. What about square taper crank spindles #bikeTooter

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Senator Paula Simons🇨🇦Aug 11, 2023

@enobacon @HyL I'm a cyclist. When I worked for the Edmonton Journal, I routinely used my bike to get to work from April thru September. (I was never a winter rider, I confess.) I am a big fan of bike paths, especially proper separated ones. But as I explained in another toot, the Transportation committee deals with federally related transportation - planes, trains and ships. That said, I'd be all in favour of seeing municipalities direct more federal infrastructure $$ to active transport.

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Dr. Young-Leslie 🇨🇦Aug 11, 2023

@Paulatics @enobacon
:-)
As you probably know, the City of Edmonton budgeted $100M to expand the bike network, but that is 50% of the estimated need. Sohi told the committee they would try to get the other $100M from federal funding, but I've not heard anything positive on that, as yet. Yeg has contracted Toole to help decide how to allocate the $100M (= good!).

PS: if you're in town on September 17, join the Fancy Women Bike Ride! Fyi: @FWBR_yeg

#BikeTooter

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Ride of the Fancy Women, YEG Aug 11, 2023

Yes, @Paulatics, do join the Fancy Women Bike Ride in Edmonton!

The event is international, always the 3rd Sunday in September (the Sunday before Car-Free Day).
2023 will be the 3rd year in Edmonton, but the 11th year internationally.
Last year 120 ♀️🚲 came out to Churchill Square! It was such fun.

RSVP & more details:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fancy-women-bike-ride-2023-edmonton-tickets-681521718807

(🙏Help us amplify by boosting?🙏)

@enobacon