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Darrell Mussatto is a current Councillor in the City of North Vancouver he is running for Mayor.

1. What type of bicycle riding do you do and how often?

I own a mountain bike and use it both for recreation and for commuting to work one trip out of seven. I am an ambulance paramedic and am a member of the BC Ambulance Service paramedic bicycle squad. This means for about half of my shifts I ride a bicycle as a paramedic at various events in and around Vancouver and at the Vancouver International Airport on specially equipped bikes. As well I work special events as a bike paramedic at such events as the Fireworks festival of Lights, Parades, etc. I try and ride my bike to work when I am stationed in West Vancouver and enjoy recreational riding on the local trails.

2. What do you think your municipality has done well in cycling and where do you feel improvements are needed?

While we have done some good things, both short and long term, we can always do better. Short term, we have completed and are currently updating our bicycle master plan, have made numerous small improvements (bicycle activated signals, signage for bike routes, repaired storm drain grates, hosted annual bicycle events (Tour de North Vancouver), dedicated shared bike lanes, stand-alone bike lanes and bike paths, installed end of trip
facilities for cyclists, produced maps, and funded at my request the Stanley Park bike festival. Long term, we are dedicating bike lanes on our east west major roads (marine drive) so that as it is redeveloped over the future years there will be accommodation for bikes. We must think both short and long term and try to accommodate bicycles at every chance (i.e. proper storage space in rezonings, road resurfacing, etc.).

I must add that the joint city/district bicycle committee was a result of my notice of motion over 7 years ago. It is still a functioning committee and I am still the council rep on it. I am proud of this.

3. Do you feel more money should be spent on cycling programs and what do you feel the priorities for spending should be?

Yes, more money should be spent on cycling programs and the priorities should be defined by the members of the bicycle advisory committee. This group of volunteers puts in a great amount of hours, has great knowledge of our needs and deserves to be involved in the decision making process.