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.

Keith Christensen: Absolutely. Cycling will be featured prominently as a part of my campaign. To and from work, I generally take a car. However, as part of my day to day routine on the job, I often walk to appointments. I also cycle for leisure. Yes.

J.P. Hughes: Nothing in my life except swimming has helped in the promotion of good health and quality of my life. I work at St Marks Hospital and live in Central City. I have not biked to work. I have to go to Cottonwood Hospital as well and biking would not work. I bike the city at 11pm. My route is down Main Street right on 3ed South to West Temple another Right and then to Wasatch Hot Spring Park and back along 3ed West to our home. I do not do much shopping in a car or on a bike.

Jenny Wilson: Yes. Cycling as a means of transportation is crucial in our efforts to improve our community. It is clean, efficient, and good for personal health, and as mayor I will do everything I can to promote the use of bicycles as a mode of personal transportation. On occasion, I utilize TRAX to get to and from work. It’s difficult to take my kids to and from school on TRAX but with an expansion of TRAX and public transportation, even this could be possible. Our family regularly takes TRAX downtown from our home.

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.

Christensen: I am certain the MBAC members are familiar with the safety issues surrounding riding in Salt Lake. Just two weeks ago, I was riding around downtown on a Saturday, and was brushed by a car whose driver had two full lanes open to her left. It was scary, but certainly was not the first time. Safety deserves a great deal of attention. I like the way Tim Harpst, the City's Transportation Engineer has been realistically presenting mobility options in the new transportation masterplan. As mayor I will provide his division with more resources to explore and implement more opportunities to make bicycles a greater part of our transportation options and push bikes beyond a means of "recreation" and into the mainstream of transportation. I would like to see SLC emerge as the U.S. city where bicycles make up a greater percentage of our daily travel options by designing our streets and bikeways as a state-of-the-art, integrated system that attracts, rather than just accommodates safe bicycle ridership.

Hughes: I love the idea of improving the biking infrastructure of the city. I would support funding and direct money to the safety of bike lanes and the use of more bikes in the city.

Wilson: Our bicycle infrastructure certainly could use some attention. First and foremost I would support the addition of more bike lanes on our streets; far too often in Salt Lake City our streets are dominated by vehicle lanes only, leaving no room for cyclists. By adding additional bike lanes to as many streets as possible (and most of our streets are already plenty wide to accommodate such lanes), we can make it safer and easier for people using their bikes and pedistrians to get around town. Coupled with this we will need to add more bike racks and other infrastructure, but I am confident that Salt Lake City is ready and able to accommodate these improvements. I would absolutely consider any viable means to increase bicycle and pedestrian safety in our city. If more funds for such endeavors would be useful and could be provided at the city level, I’d be open to any and all methods of securing that funding.

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.

Christensen: Yes, I support the Complete Streets concept but think we should go further than that. By further I mean we should look more closely at the work of Alan Jacobs, a Berkeley-based pioneer in this work and author of the book Great Streets. Complete streets is built largely on his work, but we need great streets, streets that don't just accommodate but attract a diversity of mobility options for a diverse population. To ensure that this is implemented in our transportation planning process it must be part of an overall philosophy of urban design, one that integrates high-performance infrastructure development at every turn. So, for example, when we are designing a bikeway system, we make sure that its lighting is appropriate, adequate and off the grid as much as possible. And when we look at paving materials we look at porous materials that allow water to percolate back into the aquifers. Even more importantly to bicyclists, these porous paving materials reduce puddling on the road and bikeways, increasing safety and keeping mud-stripes off the backs of riders. I will be taking a holistic approach to all planning processes, making sure they are integrated and connected from department to department.

Hughes: I like the idea of complete streets for the traveling of pedestrian, bike, and handicapped travel. I think the implementation would come from the leadership of the Mayor and the City Council and not as an executive order.

Wilson: Yes, I am familiar with and fully support the concept of “Complete Streets.” As Mayor, I would require that any street improvement be assessed for its ability to add lanes. Salt Lake City has obviously made mistakes in the past by building many of our roads only for vehicles, often to the detriment of pedestrians and cyclists. Certain East-West and North-South thoroughfares for vehicles are indeed necessary (500 and 600 South, 1300 South, State Street, 300 West, etc.), but other instances abound where so many lanes for cars are not required (think 200 South, for example). By embracing Complete Streets we can turn many of our city’s roads into more friendly thoroughfares for pedestrians and cyclists; this would improve the safety and usability of these streets for those who choose not to drive, and in turn (hopefully) would encourage people to walk or ride their bikes more often. The upcoming North Temple project, for example, will make an excellent opportunity to implement this concept. We should have practiced Complete Streets when we re-built 400 South with the TRAX line, and I intend to learn that lesson when we similarly re-build North Temple. Bike lanes, wider pedestrian thoroughfares, and a little extra green space will go a long way toward beautifying the street and making it safer and easier for people to leave their cars at home and walk or bike on an daily basis. I support Mayor Anderson’s executive order regarding Complete Streets, and I will continue it in office. I would also work with the city’s transportation and planning directors, as well as city engineers, to incorporate this concept into current and future traffic plans for our city and streets. I also support the existing Salt Lake City Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan and will work to continue its implementation.

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.

Christensen: Yes. I will make mobility options a fundamental focus of my administration and will push from day one to move these opportunities forward. As stated above, I want SLC to emerge as the most bicycle friendly cities in the U.S. for a city of our size. This is important not just for the obvious environmental impacts, but it is a quality of life issue. A robust, safe and attractive bikeway system in a climate like ours is part of a broader economic development strategy, a strategy that is informed by quality of life issues including public health and safety, air quality and what should be a joyful part of our lives; getting around our beautiful city safely. I want to reduce our reliance on automobiles and increase the other mobility options and I'm less concerned with formulaic theories of how to do this. Change in cities occurs incrementally, and I will work with interested citizens to find ways to make other options so inviting that they want out of their automobiles and into great, inviting streets. For me the fundamental issue is creating a system that is so inviting that people want to walk and ride for as many of their daily trips as possible.

Hughes: The Downtown Master Plan is a great plan as I understand it. I would work as hard as possible to implement it as soon as possible. The use of pedestrian and bicycle traffic has great potential of long term economic consequences. The percentage of transportation mix for the downtown business district would be hard to determine.

Wilson: Yes, I am familiar with the draft of “Downtown In Motion,” and overall I like the vision and direction it spells out for Salt Lake City. I would push for the implementation of each component according to the timelines laid out in each section. sIn terms of the long-term consequences of investment in making downtown more friendly to bicycles and pedestrians, obviously we will have to make trade-offs in the city budget if we are to find new funding for infrastructure improvements. But I do believe that if we are to build a better, more attractive city for residents and visitors alike, we must invest in an infrastructure that is friendly to cyclists and pedestrians alike – and the better off we are in that respect, the easier it will be to attract increased economic activity and investment to the Downtown Business District. If done properly, we can turn modest short-term investments today into lasting returns in the future, as a more attractive downtown will help attract new businesses and economic opportunity (and therefore increased tax returns for the city).

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.

Christensen: I take an integrated approach to these issues, they are interconnected and not discreet, stand-alone issues. Each affects the other, which is why I take a holistic approach to all planning matters.

Hughes: The air quality, healthy lifestyle, and traffic congestion would all benefit the community and fits well into my CPR Platform on my website.

Wilson: These solutions are a big part of my platform on improving air quality and public health and will have to be a central element in any traffic mitigation plan for Salt Lake City. Evidence has shown time and time again that people who walk or bike on a regular basis live healthier lifestyles, and improving our mass transportation system has to be a primary goal is we wish to reduce the number of cars on our streets. The streets in downtown Salt Lake City are not going to grow wider anytime soon, and many of them are already at or above capacity during peak hours. We must therefore give our residents an alternative to driving if we are ever going to address our increasing traffic congestion, and all of the above-mentioned solutions play an important role in my vision for Salt Lake City’s transportation infrastructure.

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.

Christensen: The committee's advisory role has several functions. One is to be visionary as we work together to reshape mobility options that invite increased bicycle ridership for daily transportation needs. A second role is advocacy as we work together to make sure that our mobility investments are paying dividends to the citizens. And third role is as watchdog to help us discover problems and fix them quickly--more eyes on the street for the safety of our citizens. The Committee's role is vital. I know we can find ways to make getting around our city a joyful, safe experience for more of our citizens. When I look at European cities, and see how bicycling contributes to public health and better air quality, I also see how robust bicycle networks are part of the social life of a city. Coffee shops and neighborhood retail that provide much of a citizens daily consumer needs also are places that promote conversation and active participation in community life. The long-term quality of life issues that a safe, inviting, robust bicycle network creates in cities is fundamental to helping Salt Lake City reach its potential as a world class city. For us to make this happen, I'll need an active Bicycle Advisory Committee that represents the diverse users of our emerging system. Young and old, men and woman, mom's and grandparents, students, bicycle couriers and delivery people, all of these voices together will help see these visions come into reality during my term as mayor. Vision, advocacy and watchdogs--a committed commitee that understands it is fundamental in creating an integrated approach to city building.

Hughes: The Bicycle Advisory Committee has a role of involvement, encouragement, and education to the rest of the City for the increased use of safe and useful biking.

Wilson: In my opinion, advisory committees like this one are extremely valuable as a source of research, information, and grassroots community involvement. I believe in utilizing committees as a way to help organize and mobilize concerned citizens, and any city administration necessarily relies on advisory committees to provide unbiased research and information that can assist with the development of public policy. The bicycle advisory committee is no different, and especially considering the increasing need for Salt Lake City to encourage and facilitate cycling my administration will need the committee’s help more than ever. As mayor, I would not support posing requirements on bicycle riders, such as mandatory helmets and other personal choice requirements. The committee can best help my administration by working toward the goals I set forth above. Helping the cycling community get and stay organized and being a source for unbiased information on what we can do to make Salt Lake City more friendly to cyclists will be crucial to my administration’s efforts to move quickly and efficiently in addressing our city’s needs. If the committee is there to help my administration in these respects, it will greatly improve my ability to administer the city and make it friendlier to those who want to experience our beautiful city on two wheels, not four.

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