Sitting members and candidates respond to Squeaky Wheels questions
Squeaky Wheels invited all contenders for the Bainbridge Island City Council races, as well as sitting council members whose terms continue, to answer a series of questions related to bicycling, funding for bike infrastructure and related issues. We reproduce here in full their responses, organized by ward. Bainbridge Island is divided into four council wards – South, Central, North and At-large, with two members from each of three wards and one at-large position. Note: the term “Core 40” is used to describe the 40 miles of key safety improvements identified in the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan.
South Ward
Kim Brackett is not seeking re-election. Candidates Sarah Blossom (SB) and Robert Dashiell (RD) are competing to fill Brackett’s position.
1. When did you last ride a bike? Tell us about your experience riding bicycles. Do you and your family use island roads other than for driving? Do you use them for walking, running or cycling?
SB: When I ride a bike it is for fun. The last time I rode a bike was June 25, 2011. The reason I can remember the exact date is that it was the day before we headed home from a family vacation. This was an annual vacation and it is really the only time I ride a bike. The reason is that the place we go to has 18 miles of bike paths, there’s not a lot of traffic and the 25 mile per hour speed limit that is well adhered to. These things make me feel safe.
RD: I sometimes jog on the roads, but not frequently now. Jog (now infrequently ) at Battle Point Park.
2. How familiar are you with the city’s 2003 Non-Motorized Transportation Plan (NMTP)?
SB: I would say I’m fairly familiar with it.
RD: Read the 2003 NMTP.
3. Squeaky Wheels and the city’s Non-motorized Transportation Committee have identified roads that require safety improvements for bicyclists and other non-motorized users. What actions would you take to implement the NMTP to create safer roads for cyclists and other non-motorized users? How would you fund it?
SB: If our NMTP is going to be implemented then it’s critical that our NMT committee continues to be consulted with when capital improvements and development plans are proposed. In addition, our City needs to continue its cooperative effort with the Park District. That’s the coordination piece.
Funding the plan is the other piece. Some of the improvements will occur in the normal course of development through developer improvements, some with grants, but the majority of the plan will most likely be funded with taxpayer money.
My preference would be to fund the improvements with the general fund rather than a voter-approved bond even though this means it will likely take longer to implement the plan. If our City better manages our resources and staff then we will have funds that can be redirected towards capital projects, like the NMTP. I do not believe that voter-approved bonds should be the go-to solution.
RD: The NMT projects have to be (1) prioritized and (2) costed out. Fiscal reality is such that the City will not have the general funds to accomplish much more than piece-meal improvements as some roads are rebuilt, such as Rockaway and a section of Wing Point Way. Grant funding is likely to be much more difficult as both the State and Federal Governments try to contain expenditures.
A roads bond measure that would incorporate some elements of the higher priority NMT projects is the only viable option, and that should not be put before the public until the remaining financial problems of the City are fixed. The ratepayer's lawsuit has to be resolved, and the three utilities have to be run in the interest of utility ratepayers, not as a cash augment business to benefit the general fund. That will take a minimum of one year to correct, maybe longer. A public vote on a roads bond measure in 2013 would likely be the earliest possible, with implementations beginning in 2014 if the public approves the bond issuance.
4. What are your thoughts, concerns and visions about students bicycling to school on Bainbridge Island?
SB: I don’t think it’s safe and if I had children I would not let them ride their bike to school without being accompanied by an adult. I would feel this way even if there were bike paths the entire route to school. Separated bike paths might begin to change my mind – but in some areas that would be nearly impossible to achieve.
For me, not having non-motorized improvements are not the only concern. Most of our schools our located on highly traveled roads, and while the speed limit is reduced in the school zone, to reach that zone most students will have to travel through areas that still have 35 mph speed limits, not a lot of shoulder and a lot of vehicles that may be rushing to get to the ferry, work, or to drop a student off at school.
RD: Schools and families should encourage walking or riding bikes to school. But safe pathways have to be in place for that to happen. A bike path just across a fog line without any tire noise or physical barrier just isn't that safe ... cars do not always stay where they belong, nor do bike riders.
5. What is your impression of the safety of our public rights-of-ways for non-motorized users? What would you do to create a safer environment in the public rights-of-ways for non-motorists?
SB: I support creating a safer environment for everyone. Biking and pedestrian travel is very popular in our community. But our traffic volume has increased over the years and there are a lot more distractions for drivers.
I would like to help our community continue to establish trail systems that connect our neighborhoods. Growing up I had a horse that I kept at home but I rode at a stable two blocks away. Thanks to the kindness of several people in my neighborhood I had a trail I used so that I could get there without having to use more than a small stretch of roadway. That trail no longer exists and now I know how fortunate I was to have it and I hope that we can continue to establish trail systems that can connect us.
RD: Well, narrow roads and family biking don't work very well together. Bottom line is many roads on Bainbridge are not family bike friendly, and many are going to be VERY expensive to make safe.
I like separated bike paths, and that's a mix between the City and the Park District.
It should be the NMT committee's task to come up with a realistic priorities recommendation for a Roads Bond Measure that would include some NMT key projects.
Central Ward:
Joe Levan (JL) and David Ward (DW) will face off in the election for the position being vacated by outgoing council member Bill Knobloch. Incumbent Debbie Lester’s (DL) position is up for re-election in 2013.
Questions here are abbreviated. See South Ward for full text of questions.
1. When did you last ride a bike?
DL: The last bike ride I took was to the Senior Community Center Fashion Show and Tea. Biking is my main mode of transportation around town. I bike to meetings, run errands, and to work in Seattle. Currently I bike primarily by myself even though I purchased a bike for my husband when I got my bike. Regrettably right now, our schedules are such, that we don’t bike on the island together. We are discussing for our next local vacation to do a Bike the Rails trip. I use the public right of ways frequently, roads for biking, sidewalks for walking, and roads/sidewalks for running. My typical destinations are to downtown parks – Waterfront Park, Strawberry Plant Park, and Ericksen Park.
DW: I ride a bike frequently. Most of the time it is to and from Waterfront Park or T&C. I am teaching my 9 year old granddaughter to ride safely and use hand signals. She and I enjoy riding together and did half of the Chilly Hilly last year. We also frequently walk. I have an early morning 3 mile route known in our neighborhood as the Huffy Puffy. It is a combination of roads and public trails.
JL: I last rode a bike a few days ago. I bike primarily with my wife and seven year old daughter for recreation. We enjoy biking as a family and we often bike from our home on Brookcliff Lane to Winslow.
Me and my family use public rights-of-way other than for driving. I walk to the ferry several times a week along Ferncliff for my commute to work in Seattle and for other reasons, and I run several times a week on city streets, generally along Ferncliff and a loop around Wing Point. We walk and bike together as a family on city sidewalks, bike paths, and streets, primarily to Winslow along Ferncliff and Winslow Way. We also bike on bike paths, streets, and trails that are safe for children, such as Battle Point Park and Ford Ward.
2. How familiar are you with the city’s 2003 Non-Motorized Transportation Plan (NMTP)?
DL: I am somewhat familiar with the plan. I understand that the “Core 40” was identified and that most recently Squeaky Wheels prioritized the top 5 roadways of the Core 40 in need of improvement. Let’s also include in this discussion that the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Parks & Recreation District’s trail plan is adopted into the City’s Comprehensive Plan. We need to start working in a more coordinated manner with the Park District, School District, the City, and Kitsap County looking for opportunities to share cost, knowledge, and staff as well as apply for possible funding together—road improvements, Non Motorized, Complete Streets, and Transportation Improvement Board grants.
DW: I am familiar with the NMTP. All one has to do is compare the planned map with the existing map to see we have a long way to go.
JL: I have reviewed the NMTP and have found it to be quite thorough and thoughtful. It is obvious that many people spent a great deal of time, effort, and thought developing the plan. I presume the plan needs some updating based on current circumstances.
3. What actions would you take to implement the NMTP to create safer roads for cyclists and other non-motorized users? How would you fund it?
DL: The City should coordinate and budget the Core 40 identified roads within the City’s Capital Improvement Plan. The City administration should also identify and apply for State and Federal grant opportunities. As mentioned above, these roadways should be looked in concert with the various districts to see where are the opportunities for collaboration, co-funding, or co-application for funding. There are old county roads on the island that would make great off road trails that should be looked into further to see if they are available or what needs to be done to put them to use as part of a trail/biking system. Non Motorized Transportation Committee and City staff should be looking for trail/pathway opportunities as parcels are developed or neighbors offer easements either through donation, conservation, or for sale. Finally, I would first look to our available funding to see if it is necessary to go to the voters for a bond to support a larger Non Motorized Transportation Plan. First priority should be to make sure we are spending our current funding as efficiently as possible. There could also be consideration for doing a $20 car tab tax to support a combination of Non Motorized Transportation and road improvements. Another City action needed immediately to position us for funding opportunity is to make sure we have a “Complete Street” ordinance. Just this past legislative session a Complete Streets program and funding account were established. “Complete Streets are designed and operated so they work for all users—pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.” (Completestreets.org). House Bill 1071 calls on the Department of Transportation to issue grants to local jurisdictions that use design standards on arterial street retrofits that provide safe access to bicyclists and pedestrians. This new granting opportunity is given only to cities/counties that have adopted a Complete Streets ordinance. So as soon as possible we need to have a Complete Street ordinance in place. For detailed information about Complete Streets, please see http://www.completestreets.org/webdocs/factsheets/cs-safety.pdf
DW: There are two parts to this answer. The first part deals with identifying roads that require maintenance and safety improvements. The city does not appear to have a well documented inventory and priority list. This needs to be resolved and is easily accomplished. We only have 142 miles of roads. The second part is paying for road maintenance and safety improvements. The Road Fund is a dedicated fund that received 2.8 million dollars annually. Last year we repaired 4 miles of roads with this money. We can do much better. With this amount of money we could do 4-5 times as much road repair and related safety improvements. I know how to accomplish this task. Both things I have mentioned are very doable and will be a high priority for me if elected. I do not believe we need to add an additional tax to Bainbridge Islanders for road maintenance.
JL: Given that a much different budgetary environment exists today than existed in 2003 when the plan was adopted, and in 2007 when the plan was updated by Ordinance 2007-27, I will continue to consult with those with expertise on these issues about what recommendations they have based on current conditions. I presume that some of the specific actions recommended in the plan may have changed, at least in order of priority, and other priorities may have been raised. I support having the city council take a good hard look at the plan and making a plan of action for the next several years that will move forward the goals of the NMTP.
In terms of funding, the NMTP refers to several possible sources, including general funds, general obligation bonds, developer improvements, state and federal grants, and local improvement districts. Given today’s tough economic and budget climate, we need to think very creatively about how best to use and leverage city and other resources but I think we have enough innovative thinkers on the island to find a way to move the goals of the NMTP forward in a real and sustainable manner. I think that having a variety of non-motorized options for island residents and workers is a necessity, not an option.
4. What are your thoughts, concerns and visions about students bicycling to school on Bainbridge Island?
DL: Having personally done the tallies for how kids were getting to school last year to provide data for a grant, I was quite surprised by the number of kids that were dropped off and picked up by their parents—regrettably even kids who were within a mile of the school! This dramatically brought home the need for safe walking/biking paths to school. Currently parents are not letting their kids walk or bike to school as without sidewalks or pathways it is not safe. We have seen as with the recently volunteered built pathway on the City-owned Suzuki property, providing a safe pathway encourages active transportation. Quite a few kids are now using this new pathway.
DW: I see students riding bikes to school as a good thing. Unfortunately it is not always possible for them to safely accomplish this considering the current state of bike lanes on many of our roads. Each school will need to be examined to see what improvements can be made. It will be important to engage the Parent Teacher Organizations to determine their position and involve them in any plan.
JL: We should continue to pursue the goals set in the NMTP regarding school routes and making improvements near school sites to allow for pedestrian and bicyclist travel corridors along key roadways and make such corridors part of a broader school route overlay system. I biked to school all through grade school and I would like biking to school to be a safe option for many more of our island students than is the case currently. Safety is paramount. I would like the city to partner with the school district, private schools, and other community partners to make specific plans in this regard, including identifying viable funding options. I also support organized efforts to encourage students to exercise by walking and biking to school.
5. What would you do to create a safer environment in the public rights-of-ways for non-motorists?
DL: Many of the roads need simply to have shoulders extended to improve safety. As well, possibly the City could consider an island speed of 30 mph which by lowering the speed limit would greatly increase the safety for walkers and pedestrians on the island. Ideally, I would like to see a network of separated bike/pedestrian paths. Creating a safer environment for walkers, runners, and cyclists is important for the health of individuals, families, and groups. It is also healthier for the environment. Safer environments for active transportation would include clearing roadways of overgrown vegetation as the City did on Manitou Beach Road, extending shoulders as was done on North Madison, and creating off road pathways as was done by volunteers on Sportsman Club Road through the City-owned Suzuki property and soon a similar volunteer created separated pathway along Bethany Lutheran Church on a City-owned easement. There are great opportunities out there. Getting the districts, volunteers, and the City to work in concert is the next step.
DW: We have generally done a poor job of making our roads safe for non-motorized users. We have a few bike paths and a few trails but not nearly enough. I strongly support making this a priority as we improve our system of road maintenance. The responsibility for safety is shared between drivers and the biking community. While many bike riders wear high visibility clothing, too many do not. While many bike riders follow the rules of the road, many do not. I am particularly frustrated by bike riders who feel they can instantly shift from being a vehicle to being a pedestrian and back again. I am supposed to guess what their next move may be….. Conversely drivers frequently do not give bikes enough room as they pass and create a very dangerous situation. There is lots of room for improvement on both sides.
JL: I think we can do much better as a city government and a community to make the safety of our rights-of-way a greater priority. Having non-motorized options is an essential value to the character of this community. Although we have some areas that allow for safe and reasonable non-motorized options, those areas are limited. I am fortunate because I live on Brookcliff Lane which is just off of Ferncliff so I can travel to Winslow by foot or bike on nice sidewalks and bike lanes. I would like many more of us on the island to have similar options.
I generally like the improvements for pedestrians on Winslow Way in the downtown business core. The much wider and more attractive sidewalks provide for far greater accessibility for families with strollers, the elderly, and pedestrians more broadly. Not surprisingly, such improvements to streetscapes serve as gathering places in the community. I think the Winslow Way improvements demonstrate how common sense investments in our infrastructure can make an area much more friendly and attractive for walkers, bikers, runners, and the broad array of users who are looking for greater non-motorized options.
I think the top priority with limited resources is to closely scrutinize the priorities in the NMTP and make sure they are updated based on community input. Once we have that up-to-date list of priorities, we need to determine the most appropriate and creative funding options to pursue those priorities. I look forward to working with those with expertise on the island on these issues to ensure the NMTP gets the attention it deserves from the city council.
North Ward
The term of incumbent Bob Scales ends in 2013. His responses are listed first, followed by those of Anne Blair and Melanie Keenan, who are competing for the position that will be vacated by incumbent Hilary Franz, who is not seeking re-election. Questions here are abbreviated.
1. When did you last ride a bike?
BS: I ride my bike 5 days a week between my home on North Madison to the ferry for my commute to Seattle. It’s about 10 miles round trip door to door. I will sometimes walk with my wife on the roads around our home or other parts of the island. I have been commuting by bike for 12 years and I have had several close calls with cars due to inadequate facilities. I was hit and knocked into a ditch by a SUV on North Madison about 6 years ago. This year the City put in a bike lane in the same area that I was hit and it is much safer.
AB: My most recent bike-riding experience was late this spring in Denver, Colorado. During that visit with family, I was challenged to compare the advantages/disadvantages and then “choose” the best among my grandchildren’s and their mother’s bikes. As someone who has not owned a bicycle for more than twenty years and has simply rented a bike when touring a new-to-me city or park during vacation trips, I was delighted to learn that one really never forgets how to ride a bike! Even more to the point for this questionnaire, I was astonished and, frankly, nearly persuaded that, could I use any one of these newer model bikes, I could/would LOVE to begin riding again!
My three adult-children and their families are all avid cyclists. Most probably grounded in their own childhood experiences taking frequent and way-too-hilly “bike hikes” all around Bainbridge, they use their bikes regularly for recreation (serious trail riding, touring and fitness work-outs and, in the case of my daughter, triathlon competition), commuting to and from school, to/from the ferry and to/from business appointments, and less frequently as transportation to/from grocery shopping.
I am a regular walker along the Bainbridge trails and streets. My daily routine (five or six days each week) includes walking at least three miles, often twice a day on or near a public right-of-way close to my home. For me, the most gratifying (and productive!) “meeting” I attend is one that occurs while walking with committee members along the Grand Forest trails, the sidewalks and trails in Winslow, or wandering the streets around Port Madison and Seabold. Many of my committee-member friends know that getting together with me often includes some any-weather trekking on Bainbridge. Some of my walking buddies and I have an annual tradition to walk from the far-northern tip of Bainbridge into Winslow avoiding the state highway and using as many soft trails as possible for that seven-plus mile walk.
MK: I just returned from a spin around the neighborhood, thank you. We frequently bike to variouslocations on the Island primarily for exercise and enjoyment. We have even cranked through theChilly Hilly a couple of times. We walk and bike almost daily around where we live and otherparts of the Island. Our family also relies on public transportation and we catch the various busesdown the hill to commute to school and work.
2. How familiar are you with the city’s 2003 Non-Motorized Transportation Plan (NMTP)?
BS: Yes. Very familiar. One of the first things I did when I got on the Council in 2004 was to work with the Nonmotorized Committee to prioritize the improvements listed in the plan so that we could improve the most important sections of road first. The plan itself did not do that.
AB: I am familiar with the NMTP as, over the years and in various situations, I used it as a reference and “model” approach while working with other jurisdictions around Puget Sound during their development of sub-area plans for the GMA. It also was a useful tool during early-days meetings with proponents of the String of Pearls/North Kitsap Trails Plan. In preparation for this City Council campaign, this summer I re-read and again appreciated the thoughtfulness and thoroughness of the NMTP.
MK: I have reviewed this plan several times, the goals and policies for non-motorized transportation facilities are well outlined and represent the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians, and trail users of differing levels of experience and abilities. The overall stated goal and policies are sound.“To provide the citizens of Bainbridge Island with a non-motorized transportation system that is a planned and coordinated network of sidewalks, trails, footpaths, bikeways, and multi-purpose trails that connects neighborhoods with parks, schools, the shoreline, the ferry terminal, and commercial areas in a way that maximizes mobility, provides a sense of safety and comfort for pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians, while respecting property owner’s rights, the natural environment and character of existing neighborhoods. Develop a non-motorized transportation system that effectively serves the needs of pedestrian,bicycle, and equestrian users and encourages non-motorized travel and provides a continuous network of attractive sidewalks, footpaths, multi-purpose trails, and bikeways throughout the Island that are also connected to regional systems.”
3. What actions would you take to implement the NMTP to create safer roads for cyclists and other non-motorized users? How would you fund it?
BS: There are two possible sources of funding for NMT projects. I would like to use $1 million of the settlement we received from Washington State Ferries for non-motorized improvements particularly around road ends. Next I would like the City to propose about a $15 million voter levy for transportation improvements with one third of that amount dedicated for non-motorized transportation.
AB: As a member of City Council, I would advocate for a policy that prioritizes and stipulates inclusion/implementation of at least one NMTP concept in all COBI road repair /improvement project contracts. This preemptory approach would insure that, at the very least, the NMTP becomes a well-understood and thoroughly used document by city staff and its contractors. At best, requiring inclusion of a NMTP element in an institutionalized and systematic way, we could assure that as more and more of the island’s roads are repaired and/or improved, more and more of our roads would be safer for non-motorized users. This approach would, necessarily, mean that the costs would be an integral part of evaluating the cost-effectiveness and affordability of every City road project.
I support the NMTP approach to “spending” (i.e. allocating) $1/year/capita with the caveat that a local nonprofit be challenged to match dollar-for-dollar to be used for bicycle/pedestrian safety education and promotion. This community education partnership effort could include installation of improved signage for non-motorized trails, publicly posted safety alerts, purchasing full-page ads in the local papers detailing road-safety laws and tips for safe travel on our shared-use roads by cars, non-motorized transports (bikes and horses), as well as pedestrians.
In addition, I would like at least a portion of the COBI NMTP-allocation be identified for community and police department trainings that establish Bainbridge as a bicycle friendly community. These trainings could range from professional certification coursework for our police officers to Saturday morning bike-rodeos for the community – all with a goal of safer roads for non-motorized users and those drivers with whom they share our streets and roads.
Bainbridge is already a popular tourist destination. I believe that Squeaky Wheels or a similar non-motorized vehicle promoting organization could partner with private business interests, offer donated funds to match (some granting agencies permit “reuse” of matching funds) and obtain LTAC grants that would make Bainbridge-based bike rentals and Kitsap County-wide non-motorized (i.e. biking, walking, horse-back riding) trip information available (and marketed!) through Seattle concierge services, the Chamber of Commerce and the Kitsap Visitors and Convention Bureau.
MK: The plan outlines 5 million in “high priority facility improvements’ with assigned estimates (2002) which do not include right of way acquisition, design, administrative overhead or other project related costs. Currently our city is facing serious financial concerns, the mid year budget reporting shows howwe have improved our city’s financial outlook, yet like other municipalities we have a great dealof work ahead to steward our finances and resources on Bainbridge. In an effort to reclaim thecity budget and work our way off credit watch, the city was forced to put off our infrastructureneeds, including the basics such as Island transportation and roads. We were forced to cut wayback into 2012, and we are not alone in facing difficult economic times. However, through careful project management and planning, we can incrementally implement some improvements for bicyclists and other NM users as we fund the maintenance of our roads.
Our city needs to address the basics and fix our roads so they are safe for both cars and bikers and walkers alike. In updating the 2012 budget we should increase funding for our roads to match basic maintenance requirements. This will go a long way towards opportunities to incrementally improve NM transportation when possible. In keeping with citizen identified priorities, our city needs to ensure that non-motorized connections are properly considered for new commercial and housing developments and are presented as part of the approved site plan as outlined in the NMP.
As stated, implementation of the plan requires prioritizing and identifying goals and policies for a workable improvement program with a realistic financing strategy. As our city realizes financial security and the local economy improves we can increase project goals accordingly.
4. What are your thoughts, concerns and visions about students bicycling to school on Bainbridge Island?
BS: If you live more than a mile from school the geography of the island can be challenging for bicyclists. Also the weather is challenging. I would not want my children to be commuting to school by bicycle unless there were dedicated bicycle lanes separated from vehicle traffic.
AB: Bicycling to school is an alluring vision; I am skeptical that it can or should be realistic community-wide focus on Bainbridge. Generally, young riders, rushing commuters and suddenly rain-soaked pavement, no matter how “bike friendly” the streets and back roads of this island become, are simply not a safe combination. Rather, I support the development of universal access/designed trails or sidewalks to/through/connecting commercial and residential areas all around the island. “Walking to school” is another appealing and health-promoting vision that seems much more realistic for our island.
MK: I support efforts for safe bicycle commuting to our Island schools. Our children have biked and walked to and from school over the years, especially before obtaining a driver’s license. Many students rely on their bikes to commute not only to school, but also to part-time jobs, after-school sports and activities, and to meet with friends. As a necessity many students with working parents rely on bicycles as a form of transportation. Biking also provides our youth with a sense of freedom, and affords developmental opportunities with the added benefits of exercise. As a mom safety is a big concern and priority for students cycling to school. There are several intersections with Highway 305 in need of improvements, including the Sportsman’s/Madison intersection (identified in the plan) to insure safe routes for our children to school. “Intersection safety, particularly concerned with crossing of SR 305, was the main concern of both the bicyclists and pedestrians.” The plan lists intersections that have safety issues for NM travel and these should be given priority for improvements for NM amenities.
5. What would you do to create a safer environment in the public rights-of-ways for non-motorists?
BS: Ideally we would have dedicated NMT paths that were separated from vehicle traffic. That costs a lot of money and would require the purchase of easements from private property owners. The next best alternative is to create wider shoulders for NMT use.
AB: My impression is that most, if not all, of our public rights-of-ways are from a different era and were not designed for both motorized and non-motorized use, let alone the volume of vehicles – especially the larger, heavier cars and trucks – that now travel these roads. Beyond the out-dated design and construction factors, the posted speed limits, generally, are too high for safe shared use of these roads. It also seems to me that, no matter the posted speed limits, speed limit enforcement is not sufficient to ensure safe travel on our island roads. All that said, with the exception of the state highway and a very few other roads/streets, I do not consider the majority of our island public-rights-of-ways safe for shared use.
Yes, I support creating a safer environment for walkers, runners and cyclists, as well as for individuals, families and groups. In addition to the ideas and approaches described in my answers to other questions on this questionnaire, I believe that a quarterly news article or column (on-line and in print) featuring safety tips, as well as fun and interesting non-motorized experiences also could become an important, so far unused, option to communicate the health, environmental and quality of life benefits of non-motorized transportation.
As a follow up to that idea, I find it intriguing that many bike-friendly communities and cycling enthusiasts find that streets are safer when more cyclists are using them. Bainbridge could use this information to our advantage and encourage more organized group bike rides and regular, well-publicized bike-to-town market days in the late-spring, summer and early-autumn months.
During the coming year, as the City Council develops its strategic plan for the coming years and our new biennial budget, it will be critical that the concepts, as well as the actual NMTP be prioritized and incorporated into that plan, as well as into the budget that will fund elements in the Strategic Plan. Because the COBI revenue forecasts are at-best flat, while expenses are anticipated to rise, if I am elected, I will be especially creative and vigilant and seek opportunities to address non-motorized vehicle concerns within existing and non-discretionary expenditures. I also will advocate for the allocation of even a small amount of new dollars for non-motorized/safer-streets community education trainings and programs as proposed in my response to question number three.
MK: I have attended school functions and presentations for student safety by our police department and community volunteers including the annual bike to school events that promote safety. Additional efforts for providing training and discussions for safe practices community-wide are appropriate: We should coordinate with the police department and the Washington State Patrol to provide officer training and promotion of consistent enforcement of traffic laws, including speed limits, for both motorized and non-motorized travelers. Promoting community awareness about non-motorized safety and the requirements for sharing our Island roads through education and signage is important. Our community can realize the benefits of safety in our NM plan by continually working towards completing identified priority projects.
At-large
Incumbent Barry Peters (BP) faces challenger Stephen Bonkowski (SB) in the race for the at-large seat on the council. Questions here are abbreviated.
1. When did you last ride a bike?
BP: I use my bike for short commuting. For example, I’ve used it to commute from my home at Vineyard Lane to the Aquatic Center, for swimming. When I bought my Cannondale 12 years ago, a chose a 21-speed cruising bike (for hills) with tires that would hold up on gravel surfaces. Those tires have held up well on gravel lanes.
One of my most memorable Bainbridge bike rides was back in 2008, when I was first on City Council, when Squeaky Wheels took several of us elected officials for a ride on Eagle Harbor Drive, so we could experience the curves, hills and difficult sight-lines on that dangerous stretch. That ride enabled me to see road safety problems first hand.
My bicycle rides are almost always on public rights-of-way. Likewise, as a pedestrian I care about improving safety of public rights-of-way because I’m a daily walker. I normally walk to work (from Vineyard Lane to City Hall and back) and walk on many shopping trips to Winslow or the Hildebrand Lane shops and credit union.
SB: My family and I use the public rights-of ways for walking. We live approximately onemile from both Fort Ward park and Lynwood Center and walk there 2-3 times a week weather permitting. When our grand children come to visit, we take them to parks to ride bikes we keep for those occasions. We typically will rent and ride bikes while on vacation in beachcommunities that have bike paths.
2. How familiar are you with the city’s 2003 Non-Motorized Transportation Plan (NMTP)?
BP: I’m very familiar with our City’s Non-Motorized Transportation Plan (NMTP) – a very thoroughly research plan that is one of the chapters of our City’s Comprehensive Plan. As a Council member, we’ve often been briefed on various non-motorized issues – from bikeways to trails.
My favorite supplement to the NMTP is the “COBI Core 40 Program Priority Map” which I believe was prepared in about 2008 or 2009 and which color codes the Core 40 road segments to rank them in 5 priorities, and to show the projects that were then current. I’ve used that supplement to help support putting high-priority Core 40 projects into the City’s Capital Facilities Plan, starting in 2008.
SB: I am familiar with 2003 Non-Motorized Transportation Plan and glad that the Non-
Motorized Transportation Citizen Advisory committee is actively involved with the city council.
3. What actions would you take to implement the NMTP to create safer roads for cyclists and other non-motorized users? How would you fund it?
BP: I have worked to keep Core40 bikeway projects on our Capital Facilities Plan since 2008. Unfortunately, the recession from 2008 onward drove down City revenues and led to deferring the proposed voter bond measure for the past 3 years. I support scheduling a ballot measure for a Voter Bond for Road Safety in November 2012. Last week, Kirsten and I both spoke up for starting planning such a Voter Bond during our budget deliberations this Fall. The Council agreed.
Meanwhile, much more work is needed to update the cost estimates of various road and Core40 projects and perhaps pare back some of those projects to be more cost-effective, but I’m currently prepared to support a combination of road and NM projects that are currently shown in our Capital Facilities Plan as about $8 million. With close attention to cost-effectiveness, I think those projects can be accomplished for less. If bond proceeds are drawn down in phases, as they are needed for project construction, a $6 or $8 million bond would, in early years, cost the average homeowner as little as $15 or $30. Investing in safer roads for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians is a good investment.
SB: I am aware that the NMT committee has identified and prioritized a list of roads in the core 40 that need attention. Funding continues to be an issue. The city needs to make staff time available to apply for grants to supplement city funds.
4. What are your thoughts, concerns and visions about students bicycling to school on Bainbridge Island?
BP: I strongly favor encouraging students to either take the school bus or cycle to school. Riding or driving in a car should be discouraged because of the problems it creates – traffic congestion; air pollution; waste of fossil-fuel; health problems due to lack of an opportunity for good physical exercise and fresh air. Road safety improvements are an important part of the strategy of encouraging more bicycling to schools.
SB: I am concerned about students riding their bikes to school at all ages and support the effort that our residents have made to develop bike paths that are separated from traffic lanes. The city should continue to support the purchase of rights-of ways to add to the network that has already been started.
5. What would you do to create a safer environment in the public rights-of-ways for non-motorists?
BP: Safety of our public rights-of-ways is a top priority for our voters, and a top priority for me. In 2008, my first year on the council, I helped design and administer a Community Values survey that drew more than 900 responses. The #1 highest priority for discretionary capital improvements on our Island was: “Adding bike lanes and walking paths along major roads.” See page 20 of the summary of the 400 telephone responses. The 500+ responses via email were similar. (Survey can be found at: www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us/.../Comp_Plan_Community_Survey.pdf)
In addition to bikeways, some other strategies for achieving greater safety for bicyclists need not cost any significant amount of money. My favorite safety improvement would be to reduce speed limits on segments of roads that are particularly dangerous for cyclists and/or pedestrians. I would advocate for that change, and I think it is likely to be popular with the community and other Council members.
My top priorities therefore are two-fold: (1) Adding bike lanes and walking paths to achieve greater safety along major roads; and (2) Reduce speed limits on segments of roads that are especially dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.
SB: I support creating a safer environment for walkers, runners and cyclists. I believe that funding for safer public rights-of-ways for non-motorized users needs to be a priority within the city. Capital plans for transportation and roads must include a consideration of these uses. All funding sources (state and federal grants, private, existing city revenue,, as well as voter approved bonds) need to be explored to pay for this use to assure public safety.
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