Al Slemko

do you walk or take transit? How often?
I walk, may favorite walk is in the river valley and the ravines.

3. Do you feel comfortable/safe riding on the road with traffic?
a. What about your family? If not, why? How would you change bicycle infrastructure to make cyclists feel more safe?
Most times I feel comfortable riding on the road with traffic. I would add more designated bike routes and multi-use trails.

4. How do you celebrate Bike Month (June) in Edmonton?
No, but I ride my bike in June.

5. The number of cyclists in this city grew over 150% between 1994 and 2005, with over 25,000 trips made daily by bicycle, and we’ve seen even more rapid growth since 2005. Last year, City Council moved to earmark 5% of the Transportation Capital Budget toward Active Transportation Projects. This falls short of the 10% required to complete the bicycle and sidewalk strategies, and delays their completion for 25-50 years. What are your spending priorities in relation to active transportation?
We need to expand the number of options available for bicycle commuters. We also need to ensure the bicycle system is more cohesive and works well with the public transit system with fewer restrictions.

6. The 10-year Bicycle Transportation Plan calls for bikeways to be constructed across the city, making safe paths within neighbourhoods and connecting them to a City-wide network of bike corridors. Nearly 500 km of bikeways, covering the entire city, can be built for less than the cost of a single overpass. Given that cycling reduces the use of single-occupant vehicles, easing congestion and freeing parking spaces, and builds stronger, healthier communities, and is extremely cost-effective: would you commit to fully-funding the Bicycle Transportation Plan (BTP) if elected?
Yes.

7. Which specific departments and branches do you feel have a say in cycling issues? Who needs to be at the table to coordinate an effective strategy?
The departments and branches that should be included are, Transportation, both roadways and transit, Planning, Community Services, the Police departments, and School boards.

8. Edmonton Zoning Bylaw #12800 includes requirements for bicycle parking. Unfortunately, this requirement is minimal, only applies to developments since 2001, and isn’t always enforced, leaving the city with inadequate bike parking. Secure parking facilities are critical for cyclists, as bicycles are easy targets for thieves. About 10 bicycles can be parked in the space of a single car-parking stall. What is your opinion on car & bicycle parking requirements, especially in the downtown and also in new, mid- and high-density redevelopments?
The lack of bicycle storage or parking is obvious at the SLRT stations. Also some popular destinations such as downtown and Whyte Avenue have too few parking options and parking should be in highly visible spots.

9. Most cities our size have a municipal education program to help residents, businesses and institutions choose healthy, active modes of transportation. Despite a visible increase in the number of cyclists in Edmonton, the City Transportation branch currently has no education programs for cyclists. How would you (or the administration) encourage more people to choose a bike over a private automobile?
Transportation does have a transit education program in the schools so the precedent is there. Educational programs about choosing healthy active modes of transportation could be facilitated through the transportation department with the help with community services and cycling organizations.

10. Do you have a recent photo of yourself riding your bicycle? Please send it to us digitally!