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her McIntyre led a strong campaign but her message of environmental sustainability, including transportation improvements and walkability was not enough to take the seat in Ward 2.
McIntyre is hopeful that the newly elected city council will follow the lead set by candidates standing on environmental issues.
“I hope that because it (environmental issues) resonated so well and so many more candidates started talking about it, I hope that this council going forward will hear the message.”
McIntyre does not feel that current Regina developments have been doing a good job at keeping people in their neighbourhoods.
“Neighbourhoods have to be designed with walking in mind,” McIntyre said. “They have to have a safe infrastructure for walking, cycling, transit and driving.”
She feels that the current neighbourhoods need to be looked at to ensure there are mixed use areas; places where people can work, play, shop and learn.
“We need to do better,” said McIntyre. “In a city I don’t think you should have to have a vehicle. You should be able to function with transit or walking or biking.”
Pamela Moran is a student who lives in the east end of Regina. She relies on a mix of transportation to get around but says the city should do more to offer a variety of transportation options, including walkability.
“It’s ridiculous because there are so many people and in certain areas they have no sidewalks. To go on Prince of Wales there are no sidewalks, not even one. I see so many people walking in the mud and feel so bad for them,” said Moran.
Catherine Verrall is the president of Transport 2000, Prairie Region, a national organization of volunteers devoted to promoting sustainable transportation. She describes a walkable city as one designed so people are living in compact form with mixed destinations within walking distance. This includes libraries, grocery stores, schools and work nearby.
“People should be able to walk easily from where they live to where they want to go,” said Verrall.
Environmental sustainability and creating walkable neighbourhoods is something that she takes into consideration when voting. She says candidates need to be aware of the interconnection of issues.
“Poverty and housing and walkability and public transit, all these things are really interconnected. So a candidate that is concerned about one is probably concerned about the others as well.”
