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As a service to our members, WOBO offered the candidates an opportunity to answer questions about walking and biking in Oakland. Below are the questions and the District 2 City Council candidates’ responses, in alphabetical order by first name. WOBO does not endorse candidates for public office.
The questions:
- As a City Council Member, how would you improve safety and access for biking and walking in your district?
- What transportation projects and policies will you work on?
- How would you improve Oakland’s pavement conditions?
- Please tell us about how you walk and bike, and/or why you support better walking and biking.
Abel Guillen
1. As a City Council Member, how would you improve safety and access for biking and walking in your district?
One of the main safety concerns with pedestrian and bicyclist safety is traffic control and traffic calming. Throughout Oakland we see several areas that can improve safety through expanding bike lanes, upgrading crosswalks with signs and/or lighting, and working to promote cooperation between pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
Another key piece of safety is crime. As councilmember I would work to decrease crime throughout the district and not allow pedestrians and bicyclists to be targets of certain crimes such as muggings, robberies, and theft. This would mean better and more lighting at bus stops and transit corridors, adequate and functional bike parking to minimize theft, and increasing public awareness of best practices when commuting on public transit, walking, and biking.
Lastly, it is imperative that we have a functional, logical and adequate bike lane system throughout Oakland that realistically serves the needs of cyclists.
2. What transportation projects and policies will you work on?
As councilmember I would champion transit-oriented sustainable development as a permanent policy in the City of Oakland, this just makes sense for a city our size and with the growing number of residents coming into Oakland. I would also work on improving and expanding the infrastructure of our roads, sidewalks, and bikeways. So much of our infrastructure is crumbling, our streets have large potholes that are dangerous to bicyclists, our sidewalks are uneven making it a challenge for pedestrians and our bike lanes are simply inadequate for a city our size. I have worked to stay wellinformed regarding the Lake Merritt Station Plan and how it may impact current and future residents. I think that this is a project that should require the full attention of our council and as councilmember I would ensure that the plan successfully executes adequate housing, transit, bike and pedestrian components and business development.
3. How would you improve Oakland’s pavement conditions?
As councilmember I will work to continuously identify new funding streams that will support infrastructure improvements. As a Peralta Community College District Trustee I am well experienced with seeking both State and Federal funding for projects. Also, we should use onetime budget revenues for onetime budget expenses such as road repavement or sidewalk repair.
4. Please tell us about how you walk and bike, and/or why you support better walking and biking.
Honestly, I don’t bike and walk as much as I could or should. I try to walk during lunch to where I may be having lunch from work and I walk to local businesses and restaurants in my neighborhood. I have walked several times now from my current home near 14th Street and Madison Ave to City Hall and would continue this as councilmember as much as possible. I would say that I could do better with biking. I unfortunately had my bike recently stolen and have been meaning to purchase a new one. Both walking and biking serve to relax and unwind after a stressful day but also get me focused at the beginning of my day. It can serve as a good source of exercise and outdoor recreation which is so badly needed by so many.
Andrew Park
1. As a City Council Member, how would you improve safety and access for biking and walking in your district?
I am big believer in the “If you build it, they will come” concept, so I plan to improve safety and access for walking and biking by going beyond the accommodation of existing pedestrians and cyclists and heading towards proactive pro-pedestrian/cyclist decision making around development. Decisions around new development and existing areas of potential adjustment should be based on a rational goal percentage of walkers and cyclists in Oakland. The number of walkers and cyclists we build for in Oakland should represent how many pedestrians and cyclists it takes to help Oakland become environmentally, economically, and physically healthier. Specifically, I plan to collect surveys and call on the expertise of my Oakland cyclist network (cyclists and small cycling business owners) as well as information from cities like Davis, Ca.; Portland, Or.; and Seattle, Wa. In order to develop data and experienced based guidelines to lead Oakland’s growth in the direction of using pedestrian and cyclist friendly plans of growth. My plans to improve safety and access for cyclists and pedestrians in Oakland includes on creating more cyclists and pedestrians by making Oakland a safe, easy city to navigate on foot or on a bicycle.
2. What transportation projects and policies will you work on?
I think the progress of the BRT project calls for intense and continued monitoring; the development of Brooklyn Basin presents an opportunity to build ped/cyclist access, safety, and usability into the infrastructure of one of if not the largest development projects on Oakland’s agenda; finally, I will support analysis and planning around policies that establish guidelines around where to integrate bike lanes, traffic calming measures, and complete streets in a way that encourages more Oaklanders to bike and walk to their destinations. Policies that support safety and access to cyclists and walkers need to be fortified and enforced, and new policies need to center around thoughtful placement for cycling/pedestrian centric development and evolution-o the streets and sidewalks.
3. How would you improve Oakland’s pavement conditions?
Oakland’s pavement problems are a result of a dirth of support and resources to attend to normal wear and tear of streets and sidewalks. We currently have an effective system of verifying, reporting, and attending to pavement problems, but too few people know how to use that number and that online system and attention to pavement degradation is a city wide issue that all districts will benefit from strengthening. A big part of my tenure in office will focus on outreach and education about how everyday citizens can get the city and its resources to work for them. For pavement issues, specifically, improvement will include will include educating and supporting community leaders, local cyclists, and community organizations about existing resources and then depending on their sharing of experiences to help identify problem areas and hot spots that should be prioritized.
4. Please tell us about how you walk and bike, and/or why you support better walking and biking.
As I am sure every candidate is explaining in this questionnaire, my relationship with walking has changed significantly in the last eight months. I have walked over a hundred miles in district 2 and knocked on literally thousands of doors. It has been a blessing and a privilege to come to know my city in a deeper way through all of this contact with voters. But I am not surprised at how inspiring walking has become to me because I have used walking as a way to show leadership and care and community unity in the Peace Walks I organize around Bella Vista Neighborhoods, the bike programs for at risk youth my non-profit, Trybe Inc., have organized with true local cyclist leaders and small business owners- Manifesto Bicycles, and the Bella Vista Halloween community connection event I’ve organized for several years now. In a vibrant city like Oakland, when we meet challenges of violence, and poverty, and social justice struggle, we can either choose to lock ourselves in our homes and our cars and disconnect from our neighbors in order to feel safe or we can stop building our walls higher and instead hit the streets on our bikes and feet and seek the connection with one another that breeds true safety through human connection. I support better walking and biking conditions in Oakland because I believe the increased connection amongst community members that results from more walking and cycling is key in reducing crime, elevating environmental health, and moving towards a more vibrant Oakland, together.
Dana King
1. As a city council member, how would you improve safety and access for biking and walking in your district?
From 2011 to 2012, pedestrian deaths rose 6 percent and bicyclist fatalities went up almost 7 percent. Alcohol plays a large roll in these accidents. The DOT reports in 2012, that 14% of drivers involved in fatal pedestrian or bicyclist crashes were at or above the legal limit. Further, 24% of bicyclists and 36% of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes had blood alcohol concentrations above the legal limit. An educational campaign is an important first step in keeping pedestrians and bicyclists significantly safer.
Implementing infrastructure changes that physically separate pedestrians and bicyclists from vehicles will help keep communities safe for all road users. Road “diets” help less frequent riders gain confidence and feel more comfortable.
Technological advances are reducing the element of risk from the vehicle/bike/pedestrian equation. Cars are being manufactured with automated braking systems, rear cameras, and other sensor-based warnings to aid in collision reduction.
More than 30% of the population of Oakland is age 45+. The majority of residents in this demographic have grown up in a car-oriented culture. As people age, housing/retail/service provider density becomes more important and supports the concept of alternatives to autos more readily. Well-demarcated bike lanes and low cost and geographically diverse bike rental stations would encourage bicycling. Well-lit, patrolled walking paths away from traffic would encourage pedestrians and public transit stations that are clean and safe would encourage mass transportation. Retail establishments that are located along these corridors and in BART stations would also encourage usage as well as provide jobs and business development.
2. What transportation projects and policies will you work on?
There are many projects that are part of fulfilling Oakland’s ECAP requirements in an effort to reduce GHG emissions 36% by 2020. BRT, bicycle and pedestrian, transit-oriented development, complete streets, mass transit, highways and city street improvements, etc. I defer to the priorities that have been established by the ACTC overall 25-year transportation plan and support efforts in every way possible and enforce accountability measures to build out projects in progress and in the pipeline.
The first priority is to get Measure BB passed. Given the city’s budgetary constraints, thoughtful analysis and planning is critical to success. Demonstrating an appreciation for cost-parameters and a self-evident focus on efficient solutions will encourage buy-in from otherwise skeptical stakeholders. The 30-yr sunset already goes a long way towards addressing the prior measure’s open-ended spending plan.
My specific concern for D2 is the traffic mitigation/pattern plans around the 880 corridor near Chinatown. The on/off ramp access for vehicles from Jackson Street to the 16th Avenue ramp will become increasingly busy due to Jack London Square and Brooklyn Basin housing projects. Traffic in Chinatown is already problematic around the 880 queuing during rush hour, including the Posey Tunnel traffic into and out of Alameda that will continue to be troublesome should that city’s development plans proceed. Safety is important, but so is the unacceptable level of pollution concentrated in nearby neighborhoods. I want to help mitigate the amount of traffic through this urban corridor and support bicycle and pedestrian plans any way I can.
3. How would you improve Oakland’s pavement conditions?
According to the Public Works Department, Oakland is on an 85-year repaving schedule. No roadway can endure such a long repaving schedule. We should examine the context in which that decision was made. Conventional asphalt has a limited lifespan of about 12 years.
There have been technological advances in surface materials and pavement management. It’s incumbent upon Public Works to be as up to date as possible in order to provide the best possible options for paving roads. Wear and tear on our roads can be diminished by supporting shifts in transportation usage, promoting bicycling, walking and mass transit.
It has been estimated that poor road surfaces cost the average US driver $324 per year in vehicle repairs. Also, it has been estimated that small improvements in road surface conditions can decrease fuel consumption between 1.8% and 4.7%. There are reasonable prospects for economically viable, long life surfaces on heavily travelled roads. The city is currently on a 25-year transportation schedule that shifts the travel burden from cars to mass transit and focuses increasing population density on transit-oriented development. In the short run, Measure BB on the November ballot proposes to spend unprecedented investments for pedestrian and bicycle safety and infrastructure as well as for transit-oriented development. Thirty percent of the proposed sales tax revenue will also go towards roadway improvement. Oakland has representatives on the ACTC and I would do my level best to encourage the Commission’s time be spent promoting the needs of Oakland.
4. Please tell us about how you walk and bike, and/or why you support better walking and biking.
I was raised in an automobile/fossil fuel culture, but I clearly see the need for a major culture shift, which is one reason why I believe there is a large educational component at stake if we are truly going to make this happen. I enjoy walking although, for transporting myself from one place to another, I prefer bicycling over walking. I’ve never had the luxury of living close enough to ride a bicycle to work, but when I am elected, that is exactly what I plan to do – ride a bicycle. A positive role model is important and through bicycling, I will encourage others to get out of their cars and it will give me a bird’s eye view (so to speak) of the problems both pedestrians and bicyclists face on a day-to-day basis. My bicycle was stolen and I’ve been looking to replace it, which leads me to work to promote Bike share programs in every community of Oakland. It’s important to encourage a system of shared profit to offset bike shares in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods that will be utilized but might not turn a profit. Mainly I support better walking and biking as a pathway to better health, a cleaner environment, and a more social atmosphere that fosters people to get out and meet their neighbors.
Kevin Blackburn
1. As a City Council Member, how would you improve safety and access for biking and walking in your district?
I believe we must invest in our community and people in order to make Oakland better for everyone. One way to promote safe neighborhoods is by building communities block by block. As we walk in our neighborhoods and meet our neighbors we promote safety by activating streets. As we bike in our neighborhoods, we show that we care about lowering our carbon imprint, exercise, and of course alternative methods for traveling short and medium distances. Finally, we must develop transportation corridors close enough to commercial areas so we can solve the “first and last mile” problem that plagues so many cities. Oakland can be a national model for a “livable” city- and as a member of the City Council, I will make it a priority to capitalize on the innovation and creative ideas from members of the community. For example, I would consult organizations like TransForm and SPUR that have been actively working to improve biking and walking in Bay Area. We need to build out protected bikeways and walkways, to ensure bikers and walkers do not feel endangered by nearby cars and other motorized vehicles. We need to pay for lighting, signage and other public safety measures to make biking and walking possible day and night. As a councilmember, I will bring these issues before City Council as a priority not an afterthought.
2. What transportation projects and policies will you work on?
I am a big supporter of Measure BB because it will support affordable, local transportation and would like to see some of that money allocated to a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor along International Boulevard until San Leandro. As a main thoroughfare in District 2 and throughout Oakland, we can promote Transit Oriented Development (TODs) to provide another economic base and accessible zone for Oaklanders in this area. Our city is expected to grow exponentially in the next ten years and we want to ensure that everyone in Oakland has the opportunity to live, work, and play using public transit, bike lands, and walk destinations rather than getting behind the wheel only to sit in traffic. For this reason, I support the “Complete Streets” initiative in Oakland. We must follow an inclusive approach to “Complete Streets” that engages residents in conversations about bus lines and bike paths, roads and trails. This starts with the City Council working closely with the Alameda County Transportation Commission to ensure we are creating safe, reliable, and eco-friendly ways to commute.
3. How would you improve Oakland’s pavement conditions?
The Oakland Public Works Agency estimates it will take $28 million annually to maintain existing pavement conditions. Unfortunately, the City’s budget is a fraction of that cost- $4.3 million in county/state/federal funds in the 2012-2013 FY. The City relies on a Gas Tax of $0.18 that is insufficient to provide for renovating our streets. As a councilmember, I will lead a coalition of likeminded allies to increase that tax to at minimum $0.20, as well as consider other tax revenue we can allocate to improving pavement conditions. Additionally, I think the City needs to take a hard look at how it preserves streets. We know it is cheaper to preserve a street by resurfacing it than rebuilding (estimated by $20 per square yard to resurface vs. $14 per square yard to reconstruct according to the Public Works Agency). We spend 80% of funds on Fair streets, and only 20% on Poor streets. I think we should re-allocate these breakdowns to 70% Fair, 30% Poor. With these and other efforts, Oakland can move away from an 85 year re-pavement schedule to ensure all residents have access to safe, attractive streets.
4. Please tell us about how you walk and bike, and/or why you support better walking and biking.
I walk and bike every chance I get, and use public transit like BART to get to and from work in San Francisco. I love to walk to Lakeshore Ave. and Grand Ave. on a regular basis for shopping and dining. I also enjoy walking in my neighborhood, engaging with my neighbors and exhibiting the actions I hope more Oaklanders will continue to engage in. I am also a big supporter for organizations like the Bike East Bay coalition, and hope to engage that group in conversations about creating more protected bikeways in Oakland.