2007 Salt Lake Mayoral Candidates' Views on Bicycling and a Bike Friendly Salt Lake City

Compiled by Polly Hart and Lou Melini

The Salt Lake City Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee (MBAC) and Cycling Utah asked the 2007 Mayoral Election Candidates about their views on cycling and on making Salt Lake City more bicycle friendly. Their unedited answers are below.

1. Do you support cycling as a means to reduce energy consumption, ambient noise, improve air quality and promote good health, and how many times a week do you ride a bike, walk or take public transportation to work? Have you in the past month used a bicycle for an errand or shopping instead of your car?

Ralph Becker: Absolutely. Salt Lake City should become an urban cycling mecca. Mayor Anderson has taken some steps toward that goal. As a cyclist who bikes both recreationally and as a commuter, I will build on that foundation. We can have a bike culture like other cities in the world and some U.S. cities (e.g., Madison WI), and the City can do much to make that happen. I purposefully live close to where I work (and have done so throughout my adult life, so I am able to walk or bike to work many days when I don’t have to drive to get to work appointments that are too distant from transit or non-vehicle transportation. I average walking or biking to work once or twice a week. Sometimes I will leave my vehicle at work and walk home, returning in the a.m. I frequently walk to meetings and gatherings downtown.

Dave Buhler: Yes. Unfortunately, my current schedule does not allow me to do this on a regular basis; however, I do take Trax between my office and other downtown locations quite regularly (or walk). No.

2. How do you propose to improve the bicycling infrastructure within the city limits? Would you consider a line item increase in funds to improve the safety of bicycling within the city during your first term as Mayor?

Becker: As Mayor, my objective will be dedicated, segregated bikeways across the City. I would push to increase the amount of designated and striped bike lanes on roads. I will increase signage that indicates that bikes are both welcome and encouraged to be on the streets of Salt Lake City. I will request additional funding for bike safety and awareness, both from the perspective of the cyclist and the automobile driver.

Buhler: We need more truly dedicated bike paths---separated from auto traffic, such as the Parely’s Creek Trail and a completed Jordan River Trail. We also need to continue to prioritize bike lanes on city streets. I will support these as city finances permit. I would also seek to encourage, through greater funding and policy change, the construction of more bike racks around the city. Likewise, businesses, including city government need shower facilities to allow professionals to commute via bike.

3. The current Mayor has signed an executive order for Salt Lake City to endorse the concept of Complete Streets which looks at all streets to be pedestrian, bicycle and handicapped friendly. Are you familiar with the concept of Complete Streets? Do you support this, and how would you ensure that it be implemented in the traffic planning process?

Becker: I am familiar with the Complete Streets concept and fully endorse the philosophy and objectives of it. As Mayor, I will instruct the planning department to integrate the principles of Complete Streets into all levels of their planning and permitting process; as importantly, I will do the same with the public facilities department. I want every city employee to understand and embrace my objective of creating an urban bicycle mecca in Salt Lake City.

Buhler: I read a press release on it [Complete Streets] emailed by the Mayor’s press person. He has never, nor has any senior member of the administration during the past 7 years, ever requested time before the City Council to discuss this. I would take a different approach. I would actually work with the City Council to develop a shared vision—particularly since they must approve any funding initiatives. This would be more effective than an executive order, although I would use that as a starting point. Working with the MBAC and the City Council, I would develop either a City ordinance or joint resolution of the Council and the Mayor instituting such a plan and requiring its integration in transportation planning.

4. Are you familiar with the Downtown Transportation Master Plan, and how soon would you push for the completion of the plan? What do you think are the long-term economic consequences of investments to improve pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the downtown business district? Furthermore, what should the percentage of the transportation mix (cars; bikes/pedestrians; bus/TRAX) be in the downtown business district when economic vitality, air quality and traffic congestion are considered?

Becker: I am familiar with the Draft Downtown Transportation Master Plan and have been discussing it on the campaign trail for months now. I believe that it is the most comprehensive and forward-thinking transportation plan this City has seen. I’m looking forward to public comment to see how it can be improved. I'd push for immediate action to implement the Plan; a bustling, thriving downtown requires easy access to transit and a range of transportation options. I believe that investment in infrastructure to create a walkable, bikable downtown that is also served by TRAX and frequent bus service will serve the City best. Money spent on transportation options beyond roads for cars is crucial to a healthy city in terms of both economics and quality of life.

Buhler: I am familiar with it and have supported its funding. It is a collaborative effort between multiple agencies and very important to the future of downtown. It needs to be completed as quickly as possible and then implemented cooperatively between levels of government. I see investment in pedestrian and bicycle improvements as directly benefiting the downtown economy. Obviously, the more people who walk or bike to downtown, the more parking spaces are available for those who need to drive. Likewise, less auto traffic on streets decreases the false perception that downtown is too congested to visit. Interesting question [percentage of transportation mix], and one that would require more than a “guestimate” answer. Suffice it to say that increasing transit and bike/ped access for downtown is a high priority. The important thing is that the City does what it can to provide a variety of transportation options and encourage their viability as much as possible. Once we’ve increased those options, it’s up to residents to choose wisely. I believe strongly that SLC residents, when given good options, make wise decisions.

5. How does bicycling, pedestrian, bus and Trax fit into your platform on air quality, healthy lifestyles, and traffic mitigation?

Becker: Mass transit and nonmotorized transportation options are critical parts of the solution to our air quality woes in particular. I see transit and cycling not as options but as necessary components of future development in Salt Lake City. The easier it is for people to not use their cars, the cleaner our air will be; when people can walk and bike instead of driving, they spend less on fuel and they get more exercise. And leaving the driving to UTA, particularly during rush hour, can mean much less daily stress and more time to read or study or just have a quiet moment.

Buhler: One doesn’t need to look far around the world to see that other cities that focus on these transportation modes have increased quality of life. I see quality of life as a primary responsibility of City government, and therefore we ought to do what we can to encourage people to utilize these modes.

6. The current bicycle advisory committee has been in existence for over 20 years. What do you see as the role of the committee, and how can the Bicycle Advisory Committee best serve you to make bicycling a safer and more viable form of transportation in Salt Lake City?

Becker: The Bicycle Advisory Committee has been valuable as a source of policy recommendations to improve bicycle use and safety in Salt Lake City, and I see the Committee as the eyes and ears of the cycling community in our city. As mayor, I would retain the Bicycle Advisory Committee and look for ways to improve its effectiveness. I will look to the Bicycle Advisory Committee to develop and review proposals to make Salt Lake City a bicycling mecca; my goal is nothing less than to have Salt Lake City be known around the country as a City that is not only bicycle-friendly but a place where cycling is a great way to get around for both residents and visitors. The Bicycle Advisory Committee should be a primary source of proposals to achieve that goal.

Buhler: I would like to meet with the current committee members and ask them for their advise and input on what their continuing role should be, and what I could do as Mayor to make it more effective. My initial intention is to keep it and do more to empower the committee to bring about changes that will benefit the City. First, I would look to the committee to be my “eyes and ears” into the community on this subject. And, importantly, I am eager to listen to your advice as to what needs to be done. Beyond this, I want to work with City committees, like the MBAC, to encourage greater community and citizen participation in policy and deciion making.

Editor's Note: All answers are printed as they were sent to us.