How do school board candidates feel about Car Free Zones around school? Active transportation?
Because many residents, walk, bike and use transit, the Hub New Westminster local committee sent out a questionnaire asking the school board byelection candidates about active transportation topics in New Westminster.
Here are the responses of the candidates who have submitted responses to Hub’s questionnaire, in the order they were submitted:
Shawn Sorensen, independent
- What is your usual way of getting around the City? Walk
- Will you be a champion for active transportation for people of all ages and abilities – including children, people of all genders, seniors and those using mobility devices? Yes
- Will you vote in favour of infrastructure projects that separate bicycles from cars and pedestrians in areas of high cycling potential? Yes
- Do you support Car Free Zones around schools? Yes
- Would you support a reduction in parking minimums for new construction? Yes
- Do you support the Active Transportation Network Plan?
What will you do to support students getting to school by active transportation in New Westminster? To this final question, Sorensen replied:
“The walking school bus has been a great success at the QayQayt school. I will champion more original ideas like these that offer alternative transportation options, and support a walkable city.”
Jalen Bachra, Community First
- What is your usual way of getting around the City? Walk
- Will you be a champion for active transportation for people of all ages and abilities – including children, people of all genders, seniors and those using mobility devices? Yes
- Will you vote in favour of infrastructure projects that separate bicycles from cars and pedestrians in areas of high cycling potential? Yes
- Do you support Car Free Zones around schools? Yes
- Would you support a reduction in parking minimums for new construction? Yes
- Do you support the Active Transportation Network? Yes
What will you do to support students getting to school by active transportation in New Westminster? To this final question, Bachra replied:
“I would want to increase the amount of bike workshops, to ensure all children have an opportunity to learn. I would also want to increase the bike field trips, where teachers take children around the neighbourhood on bikes. I also believe there should be more active transportation days/weeks. Potentially once a month or more where the whole district is encouraged to walk or bike to school.”
On Sunday night, Hub provided the Record with responses from Sorensen and Bachra.
In an email to the Record, Hub New Westminster said the questionnaires were sent to candidates on Jan. 22 and they were given until Jan. 28 to respond.
On Tuesday, Jan. 30, the Record contacted independent candidate Alejandro Diaz and New West Progressives candidate Kathleen Carlsen for comments on the questionnaire.
On Jan. 30, Hub posted Carlsen's responses.
Kathleen Carlsen, New West Progressives
- What is your usual way of getting around the city? Walk, drive
- Will you be a champion for active transportation for people of all ages and abilities – including children, people of all genders, seniors and those using mobility devices? Yes
- Will you vote in favour of infrastructure projects that separate bicycles from cars and pedestrians in areas of high cycling potential? Yes
- Do you support Car Free Zones around schools? Yes
- Would you support a reduction in parking minimums for new construction? Yes
- Do you support the Active Transportation Network? Yes
What will you do to support students getting to school by active transportation in New Westminster? To this final question, Carlsen replied:
“Encourage city staff to direct traffic moving through our city away from schools.”
This article will be updated to include Diaz’s responses to these questions, if they are provided to Hub New Westminster.
Established in 1998 (as the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition), HUB Cycling’s mission is to get more people cycling more often by making cycling better through education, action and events – as it believes that more cycling means healthier, happier, more connected communities. Its efforts included advocating for safer and improved cycling access to New Westminster Secondary School when the new school was being built.
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Still deciding who to vote for in the school board byelection?
The New Westminster District Parent Advisory Council held an all-candidates meeting on Jan. 22 to give community members an opportunity to hear from the four candidates: Jalen Bachra; Kathleen Carlsen; Alejandro Diaz; and Shawn Sorensen. If you missed it and would like to hear from the candidates, you can watch the all-candidate’s meeting on DPAC’s Facebook page.
A nonpartisan organization, DPAC does not endorse or support any particular candidate or party.
Want to vote?
One down, two to go.
Following up on last week’s first advance polling opportunity, voters have a second advance voting opportunity this week. Advance voting is taking place on Wednesday, Jan. 31 in council chambers at New Westminster City Hall.
On election day – Saturday, Feb. 3 – here’s where you’ll be able to vote between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Queen Elizabeth Elementary School gym – 921 Salter St.
- Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary School gym – 1714 Eighth Ave.
- Fraser River Middle School gym – 800 Queens Ave.
- Glenbrook Middle School gym – 701 Park Cres.
- Skwo:wech Elementary School gym – 331 Richmond St.
The byelection will fill a seat on the school board that’s been empty since Dee Beattie resigned in September 2023, three months after taking a leave of absence. That came after it was revealed she had been using a fake Twitter (now X) account to troll parents, education officials and others.
