Provincial Election 2022: Platform Promises for Cyclists

 

By Annie Legate-Wolfe

The Provincial election is quickly approaching on June 2nd. With the interests of our members in mind, we conducted a search of cycling-related terms in each of the 4 main parties’ platforms to see where they stand on advancing active transportation for Ontarians. Below is a summary of our findings. 


Progressive Conservatives

The PCs had one reference to cycling in their Plan to Build. This refers to a prior investment in the West Montrose Covered Bridge (Region of Waterloo), to improve access to pedestrians, cyclists, horses and buggies, and small vehicles.


Liberals

The Liberal’s platform, A Place To Grow, includes 14 references to cycling-related platform promises. These largely occur in the “Changing How We Move” section, which proposes:

  • Investments in Ontario’s cycling networks;

  • Making it more affordable and safer to bike, walk and drive by:

    • Providing a 30% rebate, up to $500, for e-bikes;

    • Expand cycling lanes and trails by providing communities with $100 million annually to build separated bike lanes and cycling trails; and

    • Expand bike sharing and rental services and secure bike parking.

New Democratic Party

The NDP made no reference to cycling in their platform, They Broke it, We’ll Fix it.

Green Party 

The Greens had 15 references to cycling in The Green Plan. These are broken out into the following proposals:

  • Getting from A to B: 

    • Dedicating permanent, long-term funding for walking and cycling infrastructure.

  • Connect neighbourhoods with people-powered transportation: 

    • Implement Vision Zero to prioritise road safety for pedestrians and cyclists;

    • Create a fund for municipalities to build protected bike lanes while preserving safety and curb access;

    • Support geared-to-income sharing and rental systems for bikes and e-bikes;

    • Require secure bike parking and e-bike charging in new and existing multi-unit buildings, in surface parking lots, and at all government buildings;

    • Redesign roads to reduce motorists’ speed in areas that are a particular danger to pedestrians and cyclists;

    • Require all new or resurfaced highways to have paved shoulders for safe cycling; and

    • Establish commuter cycling networks across Ontario.

  • Increase access to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure:

    •  Cash incentives up to $1,000 for an e-bike.

A table of the results is below.

This blog is intended for information purposes only. The parties’ platforms have been condensed and should not be considered to be a comprehensive statement of their positions. LCL does not support or condone any particular party.

POST SCRIPT:

The Ontario NDP has told us that their Green New Deal (mentioned on pg.55 of their platform) is meant to be included as part of their platform. With that in mind, the graph has been amended as follows.

 
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