What is mayor’s stance on shelved Master Cycling Plan?

By Letter to the Editor on September 29, 2017.

When Ted Clugston was running the first time for city council in the aldermanic race, I personally asked him if he would support cycling in the community — a Master Cycling Plan, in particular, to lay the groundwork for all future development of cycling in our community. He said he would give it and the cycling community his support.

Flash forward to the city finally, after a number of years, approving $35,000 to be spent to produce a Master Cycling Plan. Clugston, an allderman at the time, voted in favour of this initiative and spending the $35,000 to produce it. However when the plan was presented to council for approval, Clugston three times stated he would vote yes to accept the plan, but would not vote to spend a penny on implementing it!

When it came time to actually implement the plan, under now-Mayor Clugston’s guidance, the complete Master Cycling Plan was put on the shelf, where it still lays to this day.

So Mayor Clugston, before the upcoming civic election, I and and other cyclists in the community would like to know, before they mark their ballot, where you stand on supporting the cycling community. It is high time that the Master Cycling Plan be revisited and acted upon. We await your response. Active and alternate transportation is in vogue across Canada and around the world.

John MacLaren

Medicine Hat

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