- Active Transportation Master Plan
Will you commit to supporting the implementation of Markham’s Active Transportation Master Plan and its recommended cycling and active transportation projects, policies, and implementation priorities? - Yes. The ATMP is a critical piece of Markham’s future mobility strategy.
- If elected, what specific actions would you take to advance the plan?
- As Mayor, I would ensure that budgets are actually allocated to the ATMP in a way that gets projects built. In the past, projects like the traffic calming/bike lanes on Main St N. and Carlton Rd have been, “subject to the annual capital budget approval process.” I would make sure that the 5-year capital plan review due in 2027 adequately funds the Plan. I’d also ensure sufficient staff resources as recommended in the ATMP.
- Expanding Markham’s Cycling Network
Will you support the continued expansion of Markham’s cycling network, including protected bike lanes, separated cycle tracks, multi-use paths, neighbourhood bikeways, and other appropriate cycling facilities? - Yes.
- What would you prioritize when determining which projects should be built?
- There is already a prioritization in Appendix B of the ATMP, developed through community consultation and technical analysis. I’d engage community groups, and use available traffic study data, or collect new data where necessary. Critically, those consultations/reviews would happen fast, not take 18 months to complete. The City tends to get bogged down in consultation; we need to move faster on construction.
- Safe and Connected Cycling Routes
Many cycling routes in Markham remain disconnected or require people cycling to cross or travel along high-speed or high-volume roads. What would you do to improve connectivity between neighbourhoods, schools, transit stations, community centres, commercial areas, trails, and other major destinations? - Fragmentation is a major gripe of mine as a person getting around by bicycle. Look at the City’s Cycling & Trail map (https://www.markham.ca/neighbourhood-services/walking-and-cycling/city-of-markham-cycling-trail-maps) and tell my why there’s a great big gap in the multi-use pathway on Donald Cousens Parkway? Or why the cycle track on Highway 7 just kind of…ends…at Main St. Unionville? Why crossing Hwy. 407 involves “wait for gap”? Each disconnection requires a different solution, and I’m not a traffic engineer, but let’s implement them ASAP. A disconnected network is not a network.
- Protected Cycling Infrastructure on Major Roads
Would you support the installation of protected cycling infrastructure on appropriate arterial and collector roads, including where this requires reallocating existing road space? - Yes, more protected infrastructure is necessary. Although this is unfortunately at the mercy of the Province and the Region, if the roads are Regional roads. I would strongly advocate at the necessary levels for suitable infrastructure.
- How would you approach balancing the needs of people walking, cycling, taking transit, and driving?
- Markham is designed with an assumption that the personal car is the most important way to get around. To an extent, we are “stuck with” the decisions made decades ago. But! Infrastructure is not permanent; we built it, and we can change it if it no longer suits our needs. I would prioritize active transportation within neighbourhoods first, and ensure connections between neighbourhoods exist. People not driving in cars have been shortchanged for a long time, and every person *not* in a car improves traffic for those *in* cars. It’s win-win!
- Road Safety and Vision Zero
What specific measures would you support to reduce serious injuries and fatalities involving people walking and cycling in Markham? - In my opinion, Markham’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan is an embarrassment in its lack of ambition. Its goal is to reduce collisions involving vulnerable road users by 10% over five years. This means that we can expect ~300 pedestrians and cyclists to be hit by 2032. And simple math says that reducing by 10% every five years reaches zero…never. I find this unacceptable. I would dramatically increase the targets for Vision Zero and ensure it has adequate funding. All the “interventions” are there in the Plan, we just need to implement them.
- Would you support measures such as safer intersections, protected crossings, traffic calming, lower vehicle speeds, daylighting, automated enforcement, and improved cycling infrastructure?
- Yes. The Vision Zero plan clearly states that, “Intersection collisions account for approximately 61.2% of all fatal and injury collisions on City roads.” Making intersections safer is critical to making our roads safer for everyone. Toronto has been doing good work on this – they’ve installed 1,730 Pedestrian Head Start Signals since 2016, for example. (https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/road-safety/vision-zero/vision-zero-dashboard/) I would have Markham create a similar Dashboard for accountability to the public.
- Cycling Infrastructure in New Developments and Road Projects
Will you support making high-quality walking and cycling infrastructure a standard component of new developments, road reconstruction, road widening, and major transportation projects rather than treating it as an optional addition? - Yes. Active transportation around neighbourhoods should be the default.
- What policies would you support to ensure these connections are built as part of the initial project?
- I would rely on expert and community advice for specific policy recommendations, and incorporate best practices from around the world.
- Maintenance and Year-Round Accessibility
How would you improve the maintenance of cycling and active transportation infrastructure, including snow clearing, pavement quality, debris removal, vegetation management, lighting, signage, and accessibility? - Maintenance is, put simply, just a matter of sufficient staff resources and funding. If the current maintenance levels are inadequate—and I’ve been hearing from residents that they are—we need to spend more money to get it done. The uncomfortable truth is that this may result in increased taxes, but I believe that residents appreciate the value for money of maintenance.
- Would you support clear service standards for maintaining important cycling routes throughout the year?
- Yes. If we want people to use cycling routes for transportation, we need to maintain the routes.
- Safe Routes to School and Youth Cycling
What would you do to make it safer and easier for children and youth to walk or cycle to school? - First, lower the speed limit to 30km/h in school zones like Toronto has already done in 660(!) locations. Next, ensure that pedestrian crossings are placed appropriately, where kids actually cross the street. If the Province allowed it, I would re-implement speed cameras in school zones.
- Would you support expanding safe routes to school, traffic calming around schools, secure bicycle parking, protected cycling connections, and other measures that encourage active transportation for students?
- Yes to all of the above. At the very least, ensure that schools have sufficient bike racks! (Yes, I know schools are not the City’s responsibility…but there must be a way we can help.)
- Funding and Implementation
Active transportation projects require sustained funding and political commitment. If elected, would you support dedicated and predictable funding for cycling and active transportation infrastructure in Markham’s capital budgets? - Yes. The lack of predictable funding has been responsible for the patchy implementation of active transportation projects in Markham. My go-to example is the traffic calming/bike lanes on Main St. Markham, which were held hostage to the budget process for years. As Mayor, I would make funding predictable and committed.
- What level of priority should active transportation receive when transportation investments are being considered?
- High. The ATMP recommended $5.4 million per year in capital funding. In Markham’s 2025 Budget, the ATMP received $4.3 million in funding. In 2026, $2.2 million. The Mayor’s budgets have not provided enough funding to meet the Plan’s goals. Meanwhile in 2024, the City spent $33.6 million on road widening. Active transportation projects provide much better value for money, and I would prioritize them.
- Your Commitment to Active Transportation
If elected, what are the three most important actions you would commit to taking during your term to improve cycling, walking, and active transportation in Markham? Please provide specific commitments that residents could use to assess your progress during your term of office.
- Connect the disconnected bike network in Markham as described above.
- Increase Vision Zero targets and interventions to actually make a difference.
- Work with York Region to ensure the active transportation facilities they are responsible for are expanded in a way that integrates better with Markham’s network.
- I do want to note that the current Government of the Province of Ontario is notably hostile to active transportation facilities (see, for example, Mr. Ford’s campaign to remove bike lanes from Toronto). I am hesitant to commit specific goals due to the high chance of the Province simply shutting the City down. I will absolutely commit to strong advocacy for Active Transportation in all its forms.