You can permanently transform the future of Edmonton with just 60 seconds of your time.
Want to take action but don't have time for details, or find complexity paralyzing? Keep it simple: just click “Add Your Voice”.
The best time to do it is right now. The second best time is by Tuesday, Nov 29, 2022.
Edmonton Council’s budget decisions at the start of December will fundamentally impact the next four years and beyond.
The budget currently allocates nothing ($0) to these important active transportation projects:
Bike Plan Implementation: a city-wide network of district connectors
Missing/enhanced sidewalk & active modes connections (i.e. missing links)
Active Transportation Improvements (including the corridors and areas recently designed, and Sask Dr shared use path widening)
None of these projects will move forward unless Council steps in to find funding for them.
There will be no city-wide network of bike routes.
The Bike Plan
You may have heard in September that the Urban Planning Committee approved the Bike Plan implementation, but they actually voted only to consider it now, during the budget. They did not (and could not) approve funding to build it.
It’s okay: you don’t need to read the entire budget. (But we have some highlights below if you want to dig into it.)
You don’t need to spend your day speaking at City Hall. (That’s why you join advocacy organizations like Paths for People and Bike Edmonton: so we can send people to spend days in council chambers.)
So how can you use your limited time to have the most impact?
Join your voice with others. Use this tool from Paths for People and click “Add Your Voice”.
That’s it.
The next most powerful thing you can do for the least effort? Tell your friends and neighbours to add their voices too, and send them the link.
Paths for People will amplify your voice by delivering your letters to Council on Tuesday, November 29, along with their own presenters to advocate for funding for active transportation.
Want to do more? Great! Make sure your friends send the letter too! You can also call your councillor and the Mayor directly. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed or intimidated, just make sure that everyone sends that letter.
It’s easy and it’s effective, and you don’t need to think about it.
The details
Add your voice before Tuesday, November 29. After that, it's still worth writing, but Council may already begin making decisions as early as November 30. So don’t wait until you have the perfect message crafted or all the details: just write today!
But if you want more details, here they are.