[getsmart-l] ONTARIO: Comprehensive policy program to promote cycling

[Media Release]

Emacs!


Media Release - For immediate release

Bikes belong in Ontario!

BTAC releases comprehensive policy program to promote cycling

(Toronto, Sept. 20, 2007)  "Bikes Belong in Ontario," a comprehensive 
policy program to promote bicycling, was released by the Bicycle 
Trade Association of Canada (BTAC) today. BTAC is calling for the 
provincial parties to adopt the program highlights of which include:
    * Direct and dedicated funding to Ontario municipalities for 
increased bicycle infrastructure;
    * Direct financial incentives to increase bicycle use and safe cycling;
    * Provincial tax incentives for private sector employers to 
install bicycle parking, showers and other cycling specific amenities 
necessary for employees to cycle to work and encourage Ontario Public 
Service employees to cycle to work by providing similar access to 
cycling specific amenities;
    * Direct and dedicated funding for youth cycling training and 
cycling awareness training for drivers; and
    * Seed funding for the establishment of a not-for-profit 
organization to assist the province, Ontario municipalities and 
private sector employers in developing and implementing cycling 
policies and plans specifically related to increasing cycling 
transportation and recreational cycling in Ontario.
BTAC strongly supports the Liberal pledge to eliminate Ontario PST on 
bicycles and bicycle helmets and to invest in municipal cycling 
infrastructure. British Columbia has exempted bicycles and bicycle 
accessories from provincial sales tax for over twenty years.

"While the health benefits of bicycling are significant and a tax 
exemption on bicycles will encourage cycling, a tax exemption on 
helmets will encourage safe cycling," said Dr. Charles Tator 
(University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Division of 
Neurosurgery) Founder of the ThinkFirst Foundation of Canada, adding, 
"As an organization dedicated to preventing brain and spinal cord 
injury through education, we like both the message it sends about 
riding as safely as possible and the financial incentive it provides to do so."

"Bicycling, as a mode of transportation, addresses many important 
issues challenging Ontarians," said Rob White, BTAC Vice-President. 
"We need to hear more from each of the political parties on bicycling."

Bicycle transportation is known to be the healthiest, most 
environmentally friendly and efficient means of urban transportation:
    * A bicycle can cover a given distance using one-thousandth of 
the fuel and one-thousandth the greenhouse gases than does a typical 
car. Assuming only a 2% conversion of automobile trips to bicycle 
trips in Ontario, greenhouse gas emissions reductions would be in the 
order of 330,000 tonnes of CO2e/year.
    * Bicycling benefits the Ontario health care system by reducing 
the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease, high blood 
pressure, obesity and the most common form of diabetes.
    * Bicycling transportation reduces urban congestion and 
pollutions contributing to smog.
Go to the following link for the complete policy platform:

http://www.huffstrategy.com/MediaManager/release/Bicycle-Trade-Association-of-Canada/20-9-07/Bikes-belong-in-Ontario-policy-platform/764.html

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For more information, contact:

Brent Kulba (e|c|o media relations), 416-972-7401, kulbab at huffstrategy.com


The Bicycle Trade Association of Canada (BTAC) is the national voice 
of cycling in Canada and the hub of the Canadian bicycle industry. 
BTAC advocates, builds partnerships, promotes trade and commerce and 
seeks to motivate, unit and inspire Canadians to make bicycling the 
pre-eminent form of transportation and recreation in Canada.  See 
www.btac.org for more information.

The ThinkFirst Foundation of Canada is a joint effort from not only 
neuroscience health professionals and educators, but also injury 
survivors, corporations, local businesses, and communities to prevent 
brain and spinal cord injury through education aimed at healthy 
behaviours in children and youth. See www.thinkfirst.ca for more information.


Emacs!


The panelists in the photo (left to right):
Paulette Blais, CAN-BIKE Instructor; Dr. Charles Tator, ThinkFirst 
Foundation of Canada Founder; Rob White, BTAC Vice-President

Contact Brent Kulba, 416-972-7401 or kulbab at huffstrategy.com for high 
res photos.

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