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David Chen (ProVancouver): Bike lanes are needed, but not on arterial routes. Idling cars create worse exhaust than cars moving from start to destination. All future bike infrastructure would be part of the complete community plan that includes planning recommendations, community and user input.

Fred Harding (Vancouver 1st): Vancouver 1st believes cycling routes on the side streets should remain, and that all other cycling routes should be seasonal, with two exceptions: the West 10th Avenue cycling route in front of the hospital should be removed and the Adanac Overpass should be reopened to all traffic.

Ken Sim (NPA): Over the last 20 years our streets have gotten more congested, even though the number of cars hasn’t changed much. Bike lanes are important, and the NPA supports them, but there are some cases where bike lanes may be in the wrong places, such as near hospital entrances. The NPA will also review barriers to traffic flow, because we are all suffering from poor planning decisions.

Kennedy Stewart (Independent): Bike lanes are key to reducing road congestion. Stewart supports separated bike lanes as a way to encourage more people to cycle, while keeping them safe. Ensuring people can afford to live close to where they work is the best way to promote walking and biking. When infrastructure is expanded, he says, the city needs to do it in a way that keeps all modes of transport moving.

Shauna Sylvester (Independent): She supports expanding city’s bicycle infrastructure. Having separated bike lanes is a safety issue. She supports making cycling infrastructure safe for children, families, and seniors who may not feel comfortable using it. She would update the Mayors’ Council Transportation 2040 Plan to increase the target for share of trips by bike from 12 per cent to 25 per cent.

Wai Young (Coalition Vancouver): Coalition Vancouver will not build another separated bike lane unless one is removed from some place else. But the party says its love intelligent bike lanes, just not bike lanes intentionally placed to obstruct traffic. It would audit all bike lanes for use and effectiveness, promoting common sense solutions.

Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE): The expansion of bike lanes increased dramatically starting in 1998 under the advocacy of COPE city councillor and climate scientist, Fred Bass. COPE will continue to strongly support expansion of cycling and pedestrian safety infrastructure because these measures get people out of cars and are essential components of fighting climate change.

Green Party of Vancouver: The Greens want to make Vancouver the most walkable city in North America. It wants more bike lanes, better connecting routes to increase efficiency, the promotion of safe cycling in public schools, a clear cost reckoning of the city-subsidized bike share program, and slower, safer residential streets with a 30 km/h speed limit.

Vision Vancouver: Vision supports protected bike lanes that keep people safe. Under Vision, Vancouver has seen tremendous growth in cycling in our city, especially among women and children. This is good for people’s health and the environment. Vision will continue to lead on active transportation by widening sidewalks and by expanding bike share in Vancouver.

OneCity: OneCity supports making the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and transit users a priority. We will also initiate a city-wide accessibility audit and increase the city budget for curb ramps. OneCity believes a city that works for eight-year-olds and 80-year-olds is a better place for all.

MORE ABOUT WALKING AND BIKING

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Taxation

Hector Bremner (Yes Vancouver): We need to conduct a review to ensure we are spending taxpayer dollars wisely, implement a new city plan that unlocks new revenue streams, and split residential from commercial (small business) and non-profit property assessments. This would level out tax increases and get us back on to a healthy financial track.

David Chen (ProVancouver): Lowering taxes without lowering expenses leads to deficits, borrowing and increased liability on the tax payer. A complete audit of the finances, core review and private contracts review needs to be done along with a switch from in-kind development amenity transfers to cash-only to normalize finances, then lower taxes if possible.

Fred Harding (Vancouver 1st): Residential taxes for seniors will be frozen and reduced. An ombudsman for business will be set up to address on a case-by-case basis taxes paid by shopkeepers. Property taxes will be reviewed, and Vancouver 1st aims to significant cut property tax cuts as Vancouver’s fiscal situation is turned around.

Ken Sim (NPA): The NPA goal is to cap property tax increases to the rate of inflation. Right now, residents are seeing increases that are too high, without a corresponding increase in services. We will also do a much-needed full review of all the programs and policies at City Hall to find efficiencies. I think we’ll find a lot of room for improvement.

Kennedy Stewart (Independent): Stewart says tax policies would remain about the same if he were mayor. Stewart says he was met with local business improvement associations and understand their concerns. He is promising a review of all city policies that affect small business, including taxation and permitting, to help support and grow our neighbourhood-based economy.

Shauna Sylvester (Independent): She would call for the appointment of a small business ombudsperson. She also plans a financial report to the public on where tax revenue has been spent, within 100 days as mayor to open a discussion about taxation. She want to work with B.C. Assessment and the provincial government to create new assessment categories for small businesses.

Wai Young (Coalition Vancouver): Coalition Vancouver would immediately cut city taxes and fees. It would order an in-depth review of the city’s books and would require all departments, except sanitation, to cut spending by five per cent.

Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE): COPE believes in progressive property tax, with a higher rate for more expensive properties. The mansion tax is a progressive tax whose revenues will be targeted to build modular and non-market housing. COPE will protect small neighbourhood businesses by seeking to establish progressive tax brackets for small, medium and large businesses.

Green Party of Vancouver: With the Greens, residents can expect taxes to stay about the same. They can also expect more transparency, with detailed line items on city budgets — so that taxpayers know their money is being well-spent. Greens also would seek to lighten the tax load for business through split assessments and targeted property tax reductions for long-term independently owned neighbourhood small businesses.

Vision Vancouver: Under Vision, council invested in priorities and public services that matter to people while balancing budgets. This approach has served people well. One provincial tax change we do want fixed is how small businesses are assessed at the much higher rate of a potential condo development. This is unfair for businesses and needs to be fixed.

OneCity: OneCity is proposing a Land Value Tax to dampen speculation while ensuring that real increases in land value create benefits for everyone. Revenue raised will fund affordable housing and expanded public transit. We will also work to make arts and cultural spaces affordable through a targeted tax exemption, and will support local businesses by creating a new classification of tax rates that differentiate between local independent businesses and chain stores.

MORE ABOUT TAXATION

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How do your taxes and user fees compare to neighbouring cities? And how much more are you paying since the last election?