Council Candidate for Hagley Ferrymead.
1. I am very keen to pursue policies that will encourage more people to cycle as an every day transportation mode. It is very clear that unless local government/central government drives this together with the cycling community nothing is going to change substantially. I am a supporter of putting more of the council's budget into cycling and public transport initiatives. Twenty years is far too long to complete the cycle network in my view. I have a dream of children and youth being once again able to cycle to school and to get themselves safely around their local neighbourhoods. It is tragic the way our streets are clogged with people taking their children to school in cars. I noticed on the videos most cyclists look to be of a healthy body weight size - cycling as an everyday activity would increase people's health enormously so there are many benefits both personal and to community to encouraging more cyclists.
2. No, I wouldn't be in favour of rescinding the law on cyclists wearing helmets until such a time as we can get the speed limits down around the city. I have met brain injured people who were hurt when cycling - so no at this point. I think we need slower speed limits.
3. I would need to know more about how this would work but I am very interested in the idea the same applies to question 4.
5.Yes, I am happy to get behind a campaign to do this and number 6.
6. I do not currently cycle other than as a recreational cyclist. This is because I live on a hill and am terrified of the Ferrymead Bridge interchange area. I was a utility cyclist when younger and poorer, cycling from Linwood to university for many years. I would love to be a regular cyclist again but can't see how to easily integrate this with my present location.
7. The more people who cycle the safer and more efficient our roads would be, so yes. There needs to be a whole raft of measures to encourage people switch over to cycling and public transport as a preferred travel method.
Regards
Linda Rutland
Council Candidate for Hagley Ferrymead.
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