A new community association is hoping to be a voice for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users who want to adopt a low carbon commute to work in Kamloops.
The Kamloops Association for Low-Carbon Commuting and Transportation – or KALCAT – is hoping to hear from people who want to be a part of the group.
Co-founder Robert Higgins says he hopes his group can help familiarize city hall on the issues faced by their members.
“With pedestrians, we seem to be building intersections in a way which allow cars to move very quickly,” he said on NL Newsday. “We sort of need to think about how intersections are structured. On transit alone, we could really use some snow drifts cut away so people can actually get on the bus.”
Higgins, who is an entomologist at Thompson Rivers University, says the groups missions statement focuses on the need to reduce carbon emissions which goes hand-in-hand with the emergence of new low-carbon mobility technologies.
“I think to make the issues a little more active. Right now I sense that they are passive, they are being considered, but not a lot of effort and energy is being put into this,” he noted.
“We’ve just sort of launched the group, and we have about 10 of my TRU colleagues who have signed on. But we don’t want this to be a TRU association specifically. We want this to be community broad.”
Fellow Co-Founder Aaron Wiebe says they want to both advocate for their members, and also be an information resource.
“There are great resources already out there from companies like ICBC,” Wiebe said.
“I’ve had a couple of people who have already approached me say, ‘I would love to see a riding group’ and the whole idea of KALCAT is moving from the car-centric lifestyle and looking to what transportation might be like, and trying to come together and use a voice to encourage that development.”
Higgins said the group plans to liaise with the university and the city as soon as possible as it develops its list of priorities. There are plans to hold a first meeting at some point this month.
The association is looking to attract as many members as possible and hopes to have its first meeting at some point this month.
