Local politicians regular cyclists?

[shootingstar]

It nearly seems a convenient requirement if the mayor of a city that aims to be "green", etc., does not cycle regularily then at least, it's useful some other local politicians cycle regularily...

to be supportive of local cycling initiatives at times.

Few days ago, we joined the mayor (http://thirdwavecyclingblog.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/building-on-low-cost-low-effort-opportunity-dunsmuir-viaduct-separated-bike-lane-into-downtown-vancouver/)on a group bike ride for official opening of a new separated bike lane. There was another city councillor with us. Both are regular bike commuters. Does it help at times? Yes, both don't shy away from publicly supporting cycling infrastructure developments. There are 3-4 additional councillors that regularily cycle also. In a way, the mayor is a good living example of what regular cycling can do to a person...he is fit, healthy.

Unfortunately a 3rd councillor, a cyclist and champion of cycling causes, was hit by a car during his bike ride, just 1 day before this opening and group ride. It made news headlines and unintentionally cemented the need for separated bike lanes for certain routes.

And your area politicians as cyclists and supporting cycling? Or maybe they just bike and lie low at city hall.

[Fredwina]

when I lived in PA , a member of the bike club was a state Representative.
One of our city councilman used to commute by bike. until he was arrested :(

[Catrin]

It certainly is helpful for local politicians to support bike/ped facility development. Indianapolis has not known for alternative transportation options, but that is changing as new multi-user trails open, and more formal bike lanes are incorporated in certain areas of town. There are issues with the bike lanes, and I wouldn't ride them at my current skill level, but progress is being made!

Our current mayor was at the ribbon cutting of a new, albeit short, mountain biking trail last year, and this spring there is going to be something called the "Mayor's Bike Ride" to celebrate the opening of another trail. These things certainly do bring things to public notice, and that is a good thing.

Now if they could get the message across to everyone that cyclists do not HAVE to use the sidewalks.... and to the cyclists that no, you shouldn't ride opposite traffic flow... these would be even better things.

[Crankin]

The mayor of Boston caught the cycling bug and now they have a "cycling czar," Nicole Freeman, a former racer. Commuter cycling is definitely on the radar because of this. I heard her speak at my club's annual dinner and she is a good advocate for cycling.
Sen. John Kerry is a pretty good cyclist, too. I have seen him riding through Concord, though not in a couple of years. I once saw him on his Serotta, when he was running for President, with a bunch of Secret Service riders with him.

[Kathi]

Our governor (Colorado) broke his ribs in a bike accident.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=133722&provider=top

He definitely supports cycling in Colorado.

[shootingstar]

City of Toronto mayor has been cycling often. He will be finishing his tenure later this year. There were photo ops of him at the past Copenhagen Climate Change summit..with a bike.

One of the Canadian national opposition leaders, Jack Layton (NDP party) had been cycle commuting for a number years. His wife, also a politician (provincial) was a regular cyclist. Not sure about now. Ages ago, when Layton was a Toronto municipal councillor he chaired a committee on cycling matters. I know, because my dearie was part of that committee.

I understand mayor of Washington, DC cycles often.

But it is great too that senior bureaucrats in municipality cycle regularily, especially if they are responsible for transportation, engineering, planning, etc.

[tc1]

The latest mayor of Seattle, Mike McGinn, was basically canonized before the election because he is an alleged bike rider. Dude is fatter than me! Nothing wrong with big people riding, I am a big people, but he sure doesn't look like a serious cyclist.

Unfortunately, he was also the least qualified person running. But it felt good to the majority to elect someone with green cred, so we're stuck with him for while.

He has also proven himself to be one of those obstructionist types I mentioned in the urban planning thread that you started-wants a dense downtown and to !@#$ with any other transportation needs.

[footloose]

The mayor of the nearby city of Sarnia, Ont, while not a cyclist himself, has been somewhat supportive of local bike paths and cycling.

When a group of teens quietly built a mountain bike course in the "back 40" of a large park in Sarnia, there were a contingent of people including city councilors that wanted it bulldozed and removed for fear of injury and the city being sued. The teens had done a very nice job, were not causing any trouble, just occupying themselves with good clean fun and physical activity. The mayor went and had a look and decreed that it should stay.:cool:

[kiwi girl]

I used to mountain bike with our former mayor (when he was mayor) - at a council owned mountain bike park no less which was kind of cool. We haven't been riding with him for a few years now, not sure why really - although my partner said he saw Garry riding his bike into town last week.

[Librarygirl]

Our federal Opposition leader here in Aus, Tony Abbott, is a keen cyclist:


http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/tony-abbott-shows-his-competitive-streak-on-early-morning-cycle-round-adelaide/story-e6frg6nf-1225830983362


He caused a bit of a stir a little while ago for being keen on a pair of Speedos as well:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opposition-leader-tony-abbotts-wife-bans-speedos/story-e6frf7jo-1225812609552

Well, with a body that buff I think he deserves to show it off a bit - although I'm not a huge fan of the banana-hammock either :p :p

[7rider]

And your area politicians as cyclists and supporting cycling? Or maybe they just bike and lie low at city hall.

Adrian Fenty, the Mayor of Washington, D.C. is famously - and somewhat controversially - a triathlete. I say "controversially" because he has been filmed by an overzealous crew looking for a scandal using a motorcycle police security escort on his mid-day training rides (and filmed allegedly riding on closed-to-bike roads (which is an extremely popular group bike ride route, btw)) and running stop signs and red lights. Still, he's done a fair bit to make the US capital more bike-aware (if not friendly), as much as the locals are dragged into it, kicking and screaming. :rolleyes:

Can't say any of my local pols are bike riders.

[Lifesgreat]

Yup. Our mayor is a regular cyclist.

I just started my third term on the city council and, of course, bicycle. Several of my colleagues are getting back into cycling too.

We are in the process of creating a pedestrian/bicycle plan with the help of Alta Planning and Design (http://www.altaplanning.com/default.aspx) and look forward to that being done.

We are having an awesome Bike To Work Day with the City Council cooking breakfast before riding. There are over 90,000 people in the city I live in, I just hope they all don't show up hungry! :)

[sunandwaves]

I agree that it would be beneficial for local officials to support bike/ped development. I think that would be great if it were to happen more often :)

[shootingstar]

Our federal Opposition leader here in Aus, Tony Abbott, is a keen cyclist:

.................................................................................................
He caused a bit of a stir a little while ago for being keen on a pair of Speedos as well:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opposition-leader-tony-abbotts-wife-bans-speedos/story-e6frf7jo-1225812609552

Well, with a body that buff I think he deserves to show it off a bit - although I'm not a huge fan of the banana-hammock either :p :p

What people do to get attention. He's alot more fit than many guys his age. :p
I understand the current mayor of Sydney, Australia is quite pro-bike and seems to be intent on improving cycling infrastructure. Our local group had one of the heads for the cycling advocacy organizations, provide a presentation to us during her visit to Vancouver.