Candidate Facts

Name: Berta Hernandez    Campaign Website: bertahernandezforsupervisor2016.com

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city?

No

2. The City has established a goal to at least double the number of bike trips in the next 3 years. Do you support this goal?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

If yes, what would you do as Supervisor to help the city realize it?

As the socialist candidate, I am for free, safe, high-quality bicycles on demand, made to order for all who desire them. In the meantime, the City should implement a bike share program to make more bicycles available to low income San Franciscans. Not only that, the City should sponsor public facilities to repair bikes and teach people how to repair bikes. In my case, I would even benefit from a bicycle repair specialist who made house calls. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

3. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant process since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as Supervisor to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

Most of the fatalities happen on street corners when drivers turn corners too fast to react to pedestrians in crosswalks. I want to slow down traffic on Mission Street. We need a transit plan that designates certain streets for public transit, pedestrians, and non-motorized vehicles only and diverts private autos to freeways and parallel streets, with perhaps certain times designated for deliveries. There is lots of room for creativity, compassion, and applied science on this issue. This is the kind of expertise I hope to access with the creation of a democratically elected council of District 11 residents. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

4. Research and data has shown that building high-quality protected bike infrastructure is the most effective way to increase the number of people who bike. Despite this, there remain very few streets and corridors in San Francisco with protected bike lanes. Do you support the significant expansion of protected bike infrastructure, recognizing that this is often achieved by reallocating space on our streets that may decrease on-street car parking or vehicle travel lanes?

Yes

If “Yes,” what is at least one street or corridor in your District that you think would most benefit from a protected bike facility and why?

The determination of where and how to improve bike infrastructure needs to be done in coordination with transportation experts (like the SF Bicycle Coalition, among others) and the residents of the District. It is of critical importance that something that will have such a profound effect on transit in the District not be imposed from the outside; otherwise it is bound to fail. There is lots of room for creativity, compassion, and applied science on this issue. This is the kind of expertise I hope to access with the creation of a democratically elected council of District 11 residents. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

5. The SF Bicycle Coalition participated in the Mayor’s Transportation 2030 Task Force, which identified significant funding gaps for a safe, reliable transportation system. To continue building out the bike network, the original need until 2030 was $360 million, which has now increased to $660 million, by City estimates. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects to at least match the percentage of San Franciscans who bike?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

6. The Department of Public Health has used data to develop the “high-injury network” to show the 12% of city streets where over 70% of the collisions occur. This map has also shown that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by traffic collisions. If Supervisor, what would you do to prevent collisions in your District at these known locations?

I think we already said that creating dedicated corridors for pedestrians, bikes, and public transit and diverting private automobiles away from these corridors (as well as problem intersections) are critical measures that we can and should take to reduce collisions. We also need to come up with ways to enforce speed limits and protect pedestrians and cyclists that do not rely on police, like more civilian crossing guards, for instance. I am interested to look at this map and talk to concerned citizens, like you, as well as other transit experts to consider other ways to reduce collisions. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

7. Market Street is San Francisco’s most-biked street, with nearly 7,000 trips by bike counted here every day. The City is working on the Better Market Street project, which calls for limiting private automobiles, creating a continuous, protected bike lane for the full length of the project from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard and significantly advancing transit and pedestrian-friendly street design. Do you support this plan?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED] 

8. Data has shown that the five most dangerous behaviors are all driver-related offenses: speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, improper right-hand turns, running red lights and failure to stop at stop signs. The San Francisco Police Department has committed to maintaining 50% of their traffic citations to “Focus on the Five,” a goal they have yet to meet citywide. Do you support Focus on the Five and smart, data-driven enforcement?

 Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

9. As Supervisor, what will you do to ensure SFPD focuses enforcement on Focus on the Five or other known issues that make our streets unwelcome to bike on, such as double-parking in bike lanes, rather than ad hoc, complaint-driven enforcement?

We support “Focusing on the Five,” and it is hard in principle to oppose smart data-driven enforcement. However, given the relationship of police with communities of color, we think that giving police the opportunity and the excuse to make more traffic stops is bad for public health. We need to find a different agency to guarantee that people understand and follow traffic regulations. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

10. Bay Area Bike Share is in the middle of a game-changing, tenfold expansion of its system to become one of the densest bike share networks in the United States. Do you support the expansion and placement of bike share stations in your District, even if this may mean repurposing of on-street vehicle parking?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

 

District-Specific Questions

1. The Planning Department led the Ocean Avenue Corridor Design Study, which was completed in 2015 after extensive public outreach. Recommendations in the study included a redesign and plaza treatment for the intersection of Ocean, Phelan and Geneva Avenues as well as the inclusion of a westbound bike lane between I-280 and Phelan Avenue. Do you support the study’s findings?

[NO RESPONSE GIVEN]

2. As San Francisco becomes a more expensive city to live in, we know that biking provides an affordable and sustainable way to get around. To increase access to bikes, the SF Bicycle Coalition organizes and leads the Bike it Forward program. We reclaim unclaimed and abandoned bikes from the SFMTA, BART, the SFPD and other agencies, which are then repaired with the help of our volunteers. Neighborhood residents sign up with our partner organizations in advance to participate and receive a bike. As Supervisor, do you support this program and its expansion?

Yes

3. Do you agree that biking is an affordable mode of transportation?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

If “Yes,” what would you do as Supervisor to increase biking in your District?

As the socialist candidate, I am for free, safe, high-quality bicycles on demand, made to order for all who desire them. In the meantime, I think the City can provide subsidies and incentives to increase the bike share program. We can also invest in bike repair shops where kids and youth can learn how to fix bikes. All youth and children should have access to a bike. If they can’t pay for them, the City should pay for them. More bikes, more spaces for bikes, and more bike lanes will encourage people to bike more. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Sherman D’Silva    Campaign Website: www.dsilva2016.com

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city?

No

2. The City has established a goal to at least double the number of bike trips in the next 3 years. Do you support this goal?

Yes

If yes, what would you do as Supervisor to help the city realize it?

I think we should designate certain streets as bicycle only (in my district Cabrillo). this allows for a safe transit of bicycles and keeps busy corridors available for automobiles busses and parking

3. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant progress since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as Supervisor to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

I would focus on installing traffic lights on all busy corridors (in my district-Balboa, Fulton, Clement, California). Without installation of Traffic lights and enforcement of laws relating to autos, pedestrians and yes bicycles also the goal will never be attained.

4. Research and data has shown that building high-quality protected bike infrastructure is the most effective way to increase the number of people who bike. Despite this, there remain very few streets and corridors in San Francisco with protected bike lanes. Do you support the significant expansion of protected bike infrastructure, recognizing that this is often achieved by reallocating space on our streets that may decrease on-street car parking or vehicle travel lanes?

No [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

5. The SF Bicycle Coalition participated in the Mayor’s Transportation 2030 Task Force, which identified significant funding gaps for a safe, reliable transportation system. To continue building out the bike network, the original need until 2030 was $360 million, which has now increased to $660 million, by City estimates. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects to at least match the percentage of San Franciscans who bike?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

6. The Department of Public Health has used data to develop the “high-injury network” to show the 12% of city streets where over 70% of the collisions occur. This map has also shown that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by traffic collisions. If Supervisor, what would you do to prevent collisions in your District at these known locations?

Some of these collisions are unavoidable due to the reckless actions of pedestrians and automobiles. To cut down on these incidents a higher police presence will be needed to enforce the traffic laws with respect to all parties using the street.

7. Market Street is San Francisco’s most-biked street, with nearly 7,000 trips by bike counted here every day. The City is working on the Better Market Street project, which calls for limiting private automobiles, creating a continuous, protected bike lane for the full length of the project from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard and significantly advancing transit and pedestrian-friendly street design. Do you support this plan?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

8. Data has shown that the five most dangerous behaviors are all driver-related offenses: speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, improper right-hand turns, running red lights and failure to stop at stop signs. The San Francisco Police Department has committed to maintaining 50% of their traffic citations to “Focus on the Five,” a goal they have yet to meet citywide. Do you support Focus on the Five and smart, data-driven enforcement?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

9. As Supervisor, what will you do to ensure SFPD focuses enforcement on Focus on the Five or other known issues that make our streets unwelcome to bike on, such as double-parking in bike lanes, rather than ad hoc, complaint-driven enforcement?

I would ask that ALL traffic laws be enforced EQUALLY.

10. Bay Area Bike Share is in the middle of a game-changing, tenfold expansion of its system to become one of the densest bike share networks in the United States. Do you support the expansion and placement of bike share stations in your District, even if this may mean repurposing of on-street vehicle parking?

Yes 

District-Specific Questions

1. A recent tragedy occurred on June 22, where a person biking was hit and killed by a driver on JFK Drive near 30th Avenue, which is located in District 1. The SF Bicycle Coalition is advocating for protected bike lanes for the western half of JFK Drive to make Golden Gate Park a place for people rather than vehicle through traffic or on-street parking. As Supervisor, would you support our ask, and what would you do to prevent such crashes on JFK Drive?

My understanding is that both cases were hit and run incidents. These people were not following the law so any changes would not have an effect on the tragic outcome. I do not think the realignment of JFK around the conservatory of flowers is an improvement and think it adds a bike lane at the expense of pedestrian safety. If a protected bike lane is a goal then let’s widen the pedestrian pathways to accommodate both bikes and pedestrians. This truly makes bike riders safe since they are not in the direct roadway and away from cars.

2. In addition to improved infrastructure, we are advocating for an expansion of car-free, open streets space in Golden Gate Park, similar to Car-Free Sundays or Healthy Saturdays. As Supervisor, would you support this ask?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

3. We support a recommendation from the Ocean Beach Master Plan, which calls for a road diet of Great Highway, given the high levels of sand erosion. The result would be to repurpose two lanes of travel to become open streets for people biking and walking. Do you support this recommendation?

Yes 

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

Candidate Facts

Name: London Breed    Campaign Website:www.londonforsupervisor.com

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city?

Yes

If “Yes,” how often do you ride and for what purpose(s)?

I enjoy riding my bicycle around the City for leisure and I am especially fond of taking it through the Wiggle, which goes through my neighborhood. I’m also proud to have supported the SF Bicycle Coalition and all cyclists in the City by participating in Bike to Work each year.

2. The City has established a goal to at least double the number of bike trips in the next 3 years. Do you support this goal?

Yes

If yes, what would you do as Supervisor to help the city realize it?

I’m proud to say that my district is already well on its way towards meeting that goal, as District 5 boasts a rate of 7% of our population for bicycle ridership. As Supervisor, I’ve supported funding transportation improvements that specifically address bicycle safety and improvements. With your help, I got the Oak and Fell bike lanes completed well ahead of schedule (Streetsblog called me a “bicycling champion”). Right now we are heading into construction for the Masonic Plan, which I led the effort to fund in 2014, and will shorten street crossings, improve visibility, and provide a separated bike lane.

3. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant progress since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as Supervisor to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

I was one of the first elected officials to embrace Vision Zero and have consistently pushed for the implementation of street safety projects. Last week I helped place a half-cent sales tax on the November ballot providing $100M per year in transportation improvements, including street safety. In 2014 I was the deciding vote to put Prop B on the ballot, which tied SFMTA funding to increases in population. I was a strong supporter of the $500M transportation bond and as a member of the Transportation Authority I have consistently fought for federal and regional funding for street safety improvement projects.

4. Research and data has shown that building high-quality protected bike infrastructure is the most effective way to increase the number of people who bike. Despite this, there remain very few streets and corridors in San Francisco with protected bike lanes. Do you support the significant expansion of protected bike infrastructure, recognizing that this is often achieved by reallocating space on our streets that may decrease on-street car parking or vehicle travel lanes?

Yes 

If “Yes,” what is at least one street or corridor in your District that you think would most benefit from a protected bike facility and why?

Masonic, and I helped make it happen. It’s one of the most dangerous corridors in the City. We’re also looking at ideas for making Turk and Golden Gate safer.

5. The SF Bicycle Coalition participated in the Mayor’s Transportation 2030 Task Force, which identified significant funding gaps for a safe, reliable transportation system. To continue building out the bike network, the original need until 2030 was $360 million, which has now increased to $660 million, by City estimates. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects to at least match the percentage of San Franciscans who bike?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

6. The Department of Public Health has used data to develop the “high-injury network” to show the 12% of city streets where over 70% of the collisions occur. This map has also shown that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by traffic collisions. If Supervisor, what would you do to prevent collisions in your District at these known locations?

It’s absolutely true and something we experience in the Western Addition where I grew up. That’s why I’m looking at ways to make Turk and Golden Gate safer, why I helped fund the ongoing Western Addition Community Based Transportation Plan (including Turk and Golden Gate), why I just successfully pushed for safer crossings near Kimbell Park, why I’ve fought so hard for the safety improvements along Geary coming with BRT, and why I successfully fought for safer conditions along Fulton and McAllister, especially near Buchanan Mall and the African American Art + Cultural Complex.

7. Market Street is San Francisco’s most-biked street, with nearly 7,000 trips by bike counted here every day. The City is working on the Better Market Street project, which calls for limiting private automobiles, creating a continuous, protected bike lane for the full length of the project from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard and significantly advancing transit and pedestrian-friendly street design. Do you support this plan?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

8. Data has shown that the five most dangerous behaviors are all driver-related offenses: speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, improper right-hand turns, running red lights and failure to stop at stop signs. The San Francisco Police Department has committed to maintaining 50% of their traffic citations to “Focus on the Five,” a goal they have yet to meet citywide. Do you support Focus on the Five and smart, data-driven enforcement?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

9. As Supervisor, what will you do to ensure SFPD focuses enforcement on Focus on the Five or other known issues that make our streets unwelcome to bike on, such as double-parking in bike lanes, rather than ad hoc, complaint-driven enforcement?

I actually think your organization and my office have demonstrated a successful example making of this happen. You and I worked with SFPD, and specifically Captain Sanford at Park Station, to address our concerns about enforcement against cyclists on the Wiggle. I am in almost-daily communication with the Captains in my district, have excellent relationships with them, and look forward to continue working with you and them on putting safety first.

10. Bay Area Bike Share is in the middle of a game-changing, tenfold expansion of its system to become one of the densest bike share networks in the United States. Do you support the expansion and placement of bike share stations in your District, even if this may mean repurposing of on-street vehicle parking?

Yes

District-Specific Questions

1. Last year, District 5 was home to a bike crackdown along the Wiggle, a popular bike route through the Lower Haight. This targeting of people biking was antithetical to SFPD’s commitment to smart, data-driven enforcement through Focus on the Five. As Supervisor, what would you do to ensure SFPD uses their limited resources wisely to enforce the known, dangerous behaviors on streets in your District?

As mentioned earlier, I was proud to be the first elected official in the City to support the Idaho stop law, and to partner with you and Supervisor Avalos on trying to make it happen. We must prioritize limited enforcement resources on the things that will actually improve safety. We’ve worked with SFPD to address our concerns about enforcement against cyclists on the Wiggle. I am in constant communication with the Captains in my district, have excellent relationships with them, and look forward to continue working with you and them on putting safety first.

2. In the last few years, there has been a significant desire from the community and our SF Bicycle Coalition members to see protected bike lanes continue on Fell and Oak Street to connect alongside the Panhandle all the way to Golden Gate Park. This would create a comfortable and welcoming bike route in the area while relieving the Panhandle path of the large volumes of people biking. Do you support the advancement of this proposal?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

3. The Masonic Streetscape Project was approved in 2012 but is only just now beginning construction, over a year from its original start date. What would you do as Supervisor to ensure the timely delivery of critical projects such as this?

We need local pressure on the implementing departments and legislative/structural improvements. I’m working on both. If not for the effort I led to secure funding for Masonic, I worry it could have been even more delayed. We had a similar situation with Oak and Fell, which I pushed to get completed ahead of schedule. The City and state’s move from LoS to VMT environmental analysis cannot be overstated. It’s a monumental improvement for delivering street safety projects, and something I pushed for on the City’s State Legislative Committee, where I sit as Board President.

4. In the coming year, the City will be launching a bike project for Page Street to prioritize biking along this popular route that connects Golden Gate Park all the way to Market Street. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition will be making recommendations based on member input, which may include traffic circles, traffic diversion for drivers and reallocation of space to provide a high-quality and welcoming bike experience here. As Supervisor, would you support these recommendations?

I have to see specific plans before committing to anything but those are things I have consistently supported before, e.g. traffic circles on McAllister, protected bike lanes on Masonic, etc. With the Wiggle route, in many ways the backbone of our City’s bike routes, such improvements are particularly worthy of support.

 

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Hilary Ronen    Campaign Website: www.hillaryronen.com

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city?

No

2. The City has established a goal to at least double the number of bike trips in the next 3 years. Do you support this goal?

Yes

If yes, what would you do as Supervisor to help the city realize it?

Unfortunately, most San Franciscans are afraid of biking in our City. We must make our streets safer to achieve our goal of 8% of trips by bicycle. I believe the best way to achieve this goal is to hold the SFMTA and other city agencies accountable to what should be their number one priority: public safety. As Supervisor, I will work to ensure transparency between City agencies responsible for implementing safety initiatives like Vision Zero. I will fight to make our streets safer by improving our infrastructure through road redesign like protected bike lanes, raised bikeways, and modernized traffic signs. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

3. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant progress since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as Supervisor to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

The Bike Coalition has done the work to identify our City’s desperately needed infrastructure improvements, but the City has been slow to implement most of these projects. As Supervisor, I will work with the Vision Zero Committee to closely monitor the progress of the MTA and other agencies to ensure implementation timelines are being met and that barriers to progress are eliminated. I was successful pressuring the Mayor to dedicate $50 million of the housing bond for D9 and getting the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to promise funding for affordable housing projects in D9. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

4. Research and data has shown that building high-quality protected bike infrastructure is the most effective way to increase the number of people who bike. Despite this, there remain very few streets and corridors in San Francisco with protected bike lanes. Do you support the significant expansion of protected bike infrastructure, recognizing that this is often achieved by reallocating space on our streets that may decrease on-street car parking or vehicle travel lanes?

Yes

If “Yes,” what is at least one street or corridor in your District that you think would most benefit from a protected bike facility and why?

Valencia Street is the principal bicycle corridor in D9 and in dire need of improvements, as evidenced by the disproportionate number of collisions on this street. We must create more protected bike lanes that physically separate car traffic from cyclists and pedestrians, and as Supervisor I will fight to identify funding for these projects and ensure full implementation. If elected, I will work hand-in-hand with the community, the Vision Zero Committee, and the MTA to ensure Valencia Street safety improvements at least match the improvements Supervisor Campos supported on Potrero Avenue.

5. The SF Bicycle Coalition participated in the Mayor’s Transportation 2030 Task Force, which identified significant funding gaps for a safe, reliable transportation system. To continue building out the bike network, the original need until 2030 was $360 million, which has now increased to $660 million, by City estimates. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects to at least match the percentage of San Franciscans who bike?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

6. The Department of Public Health has used data to develop the “high-injury network” to show the 12% of city streets where over 70% of the collisions occur. This map has also shown that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by traffic collisions. If Supervisor, what would you do to prevent collisions in your District at these known locations?

When pedestrians faced unsafe conditions crossing and biking Cesar Chavez, I worked with day laborers in the Mission to win the Si Se Puede safety improvements. As Supervisor, I will continue mounting and supporting community-driven campaigns to make our streets safer by fighting for protected bike lanes, raised bikeways and subgrading, more lighting, modernized street signs and signals, and more traffic enforcement. If elected, I also want to improve how the City handles traffic accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians. The time between when collisions occur and when they are investigated is insufficient. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

7. Market Street is San Francisco’s most-biked street, with nearly 7,000 trips by bike counted here every day. The City is working on the Better Market Street project, which calls for limiting private automobiles, creating a continuous, protected bike lane for the full length of the project from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard and significantly advancing transit and pedestrian-friendly street design. Do you support this plan?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED] 

8. Data has shown that the five most dangerous behaviors are all driver-related offenses: speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, improper right-hand turns, running red lights and failure to stop at stop signs. The San Francisco Police Department has committed to maintaining 50% of their traffic citations to “Focus on the Five,” a goal they have yet to meet citywide. Do you support Focus on the Five and smart, data-driven enforcement?

 Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

9. As Supervisor, what will you do to ensure SFPD focuses enforcement on Focus on the Five or other known issues that make our streets unwelcome to bike on, such as double-parking in bike lanes, rather than ad hoc, complaint-driven enforcement?

If elected, I will request transparency from SFPD to ensure our police are being held accountable to their pledge. Police precincts should regularly report on what they’re citing for and where they’re citing drivers. The biggest impediment to full implementation of Focus on the Five has been SFPD’s failure to utilize the Vision Zero Committee, as well as the MTA’s slow progress to implement the program. If elected, I will work to designate divisions within each D9 station to regularly report directly to the D9 office and the Vision Zero Committee on traffic enforcement activities

10. Bay Area Bike Share is in the middle of a game-changing, tenfold expansion of its system to become one of the densest bike share networks in the United States. Do you support the expansion and placement of bike share stations in your District, even if this may mean repurposing of on-street vehicle parking?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

 

District-Specific Questions

1. In December 2015, Franklin Ling was hit and killed while biking at Woolsey and Goettingen Streets, an area that was known for high vehicle speeds through a residential neighborhood. What would you do as Supervisor to prevent such tragedies and ensure people driving through your District slow down in residential neighborhoods?

I was incredibly saddened to hear of Franklin Ling’s tragic passing just a few blocks from where I live. Unfortunately residents rarely get action on traffic calming requests. When MTA refused to put a stop sign on 24th Street, Supervisor Campos and I called a meeting with Department Heads and threatened to take the traffic-calming program away from the MTA. This led to a policy change within the department, where the MTA reviews not just police reports of accidents but also 911 calls from a particular location, resulting in the MTA installing the stop sign. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

2. District 9 is home to Valencia Street. Despite being one of the city’s most-biked streets with a dedicated bike lane, it remains as one of the most complained about streets given the non-stop issue of double-parking in bike lanes. Do you support the next generation of biking on Valencia Street to plan and design protected bike lanes here?

Yes

What would you do as Supervisor to enforce this known issue of vehicles double-parking and dropping passengers off in the bike lane?

DPH analysis has shown that Valencia is one of the most dangerous streets in SF. While the Bike Coalition has requested that Mission Station enforce double-parking more regularly, we know that enforcement itself just isn’t enough. As Supervisor, I will work with the Bike Coalition and the Vision Zero Committee to implement more white loading zones for passenger drop offs. I would also like to undertake a more long-term project, implementing protected bike lanes with curbed subgrading to protect bikers from car traffic. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

3. As San Francisco becomes a more expensive city to live in, we know that biking provides an affordable and sustainable way to get around. To increase access to bikes, the SF Bicycle Coalition organizes and leads the Bike it Forward program. We reclaim unclaimed and abandoned bikes from the SFMTA, BART, the SFPD and other agencies, which are then repaired with the help of our volunteers. Neighborhood residents sign up with our partner organizations in advance to participate and receive a bike. As Supervisor, do you support this program and its expansion?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

4. Do you agree that biking is an affordable mode of transportation?

Yes

If “Yes,” what would you do as Supervisor to increase biking in your District?

As Supervisor, I will look to the Bike Coalition and existing programs like Bicis del Pueblo and the Affordable Bike Share to connect working class communities with bikes. If we remove barriers to access, we can ensure more San Franciscans are biking and achieve our mode share goal of 8%. If elected I will fight to keep these programs fully funded. Partnering with the community on projects like the Si Se Puede improvements will increase safety and incentivize biking, and as Supervisor I will continue mounting and supporting campaigns to hold the MTA accountable. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Dean Preston    Campaign Website: www.votedean.com

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city?

Yes

If “Yes,” how often do you ride and for what purpose(s)?

I ride a few times a month, mostly on the weekends. For me, nothing beats a bike ride through Golden Gate Park with my daughters. I joined the Bike Coalition with a family membership when my kids started riding, mainly to support efforts to make San Francisco a safer place for families and riders of all ages.

2. The City has established a goal to at least double the number of bike trips in the next 3 years. Do you support this goal?

Yes

If yes, what would you do as Supervisor to help the city realize it?

Almost two thirds of San Franciscans say they want to bike more, but choose not to because of safety concerns, according to the SFMTA. That’s why I believe we must focus first on making our streets safer with infrastructure improvements, such as adding raised bikeways and installing better lighting, and making sure existing plans like the Masonic Avenue Streetscape Project are completed on schedule. We must also improve access to cycling by expanding Bay Area Bike Share to new neighborhoods, such as Hayes Valley and the Haight Ashbury.

3. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant progress since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as Supervisor to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

To achieve the goal of Vision Zero, we need serious improvements to our City’s infrastructure. Separated bikeways, wider sidewalks, bigger medians, improved paving, and better lighting are all concrete steps we can take to make streets safer. Additionally, a recent study by the National Association of City Transportation Officials showed that the more bike riders we have in San Francisco, the less likely they are to be involved in an accident. I will fight to expand access to cycling so that we can continue making progress toward Vision Zero.

4. Research and data has shown that building high-quality protected bike infrastructure is the most effective way to increase the number of people who bike. Despite this, there remain very few streets and corridors in San Francisco with protected bike lanes. Do you support the significant expansion of protected bike infrastructure, recognizing that this is often achieved by reallocating space on our streets that may decrease on-street car parking or vehicle travel lanes?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

If “Yes,” what is at least one street or corridor in your District that you think would most benefit from a protected bike facility and why?

I fully support efforts to add protected lanes to Masonic Avenue, and as Supervisor I will do everything in my power to see the Masonic Avenue Streetscape Project to completion. In addition, I believe Golden Gate Avenue and Turk Street from Divisadero to Polk, both of which are highinjury corridors, are excellent candidates for protected bikeways. Not only would this improve safety, it would also connect a number of neighborhoods and routes: the Tenderloin and Downtown (via Market and the Polk Street bike lane) to the Western Addition, Japantown, Hayes Valley (via the Webster lane) and out to the Richmond. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

5. The SF Bicycle Coalition participated in the Mayor’s Transportation 2030 Task Force, which identified significant funding gaps for a safe, reliable transportation system. To continue building out the bike network, the original need until 2030 was $360 million, which has now increased to $660 million, by City estimates. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects to at least match the percentage of San Franciscans who bike?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

6. The Department of Public Health has used data to develop the “high-injury network” to show the 12% of city streets where over 70% of the collisions occur. This map has also shown that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by traffic collisions. If Supervisor, what would you do to prevent collisions in your District at these known locations?

The unfortunate reality is that some of the most dangerous streets cut through the heart of District 5. We need to do more to make sure safety is the number one priority as we plan for the future. As Supervisor I will advocate for the following: 

• More bike lanes and improved bike lane visibility 
• Added buffer zones between bikes and car traffic 
• Protected curb extensions for bicycles 
• Increased green bike boxes at intersections

7. Market Street is San Francisco’s most-biked street, with nearly 7,000 trips by bike counted here every day. The City is working on the Better Market Street project, which calls for limiting private automobiles, creating a continuous, protected bike lane for the full length of the project from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard and significantly advancing transit and pedestrian-friendly street design. Do you support this plan?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

8. Data has shown that the five most dangerous behaviors are all driver-related offenses: speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, improper right-hand turns, running red lights and failure to stop at stop signs. The San Francisco Police Department has committed to maintaining 50% of their traffic citations to “Focus on the Five,” a goal they have yet to meet citywide. Do you support Focus on the Five and smart, data-driven enforcement?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

9. As Supervisor, what will you do to ensure SFPD focuses enforcement on Focus on the Five or other known issues that make our streets unwelcome to bike on, such as double-parking in bike lanes, rather than ad hoc, complaint-driven enforcement?

The SFPD has been talking a good game about Focus on the Five, but we’ve seen their results are mixed. We need oversight to make sure they provide fully detailed reports, and we must monitor their progress and create measures for accountability if goals are not met.

10. Bay Area Bike Share is in the middle of a game-changing, tenfold expansion of its system to become one of the densest bike share networks in the United States. Do you support the expansion and placement of bike share stations in your District, even if this may mean repurposing of on-street vehicle parking?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

District-Specific Questions

1. Last year, District 5 was home to a bike crackdown along the Wiggle, a popular bike route through the Lower Haight. This targeting of people biking was antithetical to SFPD’s commitment to smart, data-driven enforcement through Focus on the Five. As Supervisor, what would you do to ensure SFPD uses their limited resources wisely to enforce the known, dangerous behaviors on streets in your District?

I opposed the crackdown on rolling stops and minor cyclist infractions, and fully supported commonsense legislation to legalize the Idaho Stop. Police need to focus on the dangerous conduct of drivers, the primary cause of injury and death for cyclists and pedestrians. I would schedule regular meetings with SFPD to make sure we do not unnecessarily target safe bike riders on the Wiggle and that SFPD maintains Focus on the Five. I would also work on passing an ordinance to create a twoyear pilot program for the Bike Yield ordinance. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

2. In the last few years, there has been a significant desire from the community and our SF Bicycle Coalition members to see protected bike lanes continue on Fell and Oak Street to connect alongside the Panhandle all the way to Golden Gate Park. This would create a comfortable and welcoming bike route in the area while relieving the Panhandle path of the large volumes of people biking. Do you support the advancement of this proposal?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

3. The Masonic Streetscape Project was approved in 2012 but is only just now beginning construction, over a year from its original start date. What would you do as Supervisor to ensure the timely delivery of critical projects such as this?

Delays on critical projects like the Masonic Avenue Streetscape Project are extremely frustrating. As Supervisor, I will bring together all parties involved in improvement projects like these, develop a comprehensive plan to make sure they’re finished on schedule, and quickly remedy problem areas that cause delay. We’ve known for years how dangerous the corridor is for cyclists, and there’s no excuse for not having made improvements sooner.

4. In the coming year, the City will be launching a bike project for Page Street to prioritize biking along this popular route that connects Golden Gate Park all the way to Market Street. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition will be making recommendations based on member input, which may include traffic circles, traffic diversion for drivers and reallocation of space to provide a high-quality and welcoming bike experience here. As Supervisor, would you support these recommendations?

I support these commonsense improvements for biking on Page Street, as I believe they would significantly increase those who commute to work by bike, and get us much closer to our mode share goal of 8%. When it comes to projects like improving Page Street, as Supervisor I will look to the Bike Coalition and its members for ways to make sure we do everything we can to encourage more cycling in our City.

 

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Melissa San Miguel    Campaign Website: www.melissasanmiguel.com

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city?

Yes

If “Yes,” how often do you ride and for what purpose(s)?

I’ve been riding a bicycle in this city since back when I spent my youth borrowing my sister’s banana seat bike. Since then, I have upgraded to a trusty Novara bike, which I use to ride the Wiggle to enjoy Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach. I would like to go on longer rides more often than I do nowadays, but I have contented myself with taking my niece and nephew bike riding to the park in our neighborhood.

2. The City has established a goal to at least double the number of bike trips in the next 3 years. Do you support this goal?

Yes

If yes, what would you do as Supervisor to help the city realize it?

I would support efforts to improve bike safety, which means adding protected bike lanes and intersections. I would also work to increase affordable bike-share stations and support the expansion of efforts like Community Bike Builds, which make bicycles affordable and accessible. I would also work to increase bicycling education in our schools so our young people are encouraged to utilize bikes to get around the city.

3. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant progress since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as Supervisor to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

I will support enforcement of our laws to focus on the unsafe driving practices that are the main causes of death and injury. I will support citywide and community efforts to educate drivers on safer driving practices, and I will support increases in funding to improve our streets’ infrastructure so they are safer for cyclists and pedestrians to utilize. Holding city agencies accountable for their role in reducing fatalities is important, as well as having the data and evaluation components available to measure our efforts.

4. Research and data has shown that building high-quality protected bike infrastructure is the most effective way to increase the number of people who bike. Despite this, there remain very few streets and corridors in San Francisco with protected bike lanes. Do you support the significant expansion of protected bike infrastructure, recognizing that this is often achieved by reallocating space on our streets that may decrease on-street car parking or vehicle travel lanes?

Yes

If “Yes,” what is at least one street or corridor in your District that you think would most benefit from a protected bike facility and why?

The area including and surrounding Alemany Boulevard and San Bruno Avenue needs additional bike infrastructure to increase bike safety. This is an area where there are lots of cars hopping on and off the freeways, but where there is also foot and bicycle traffic. This area connects Portola residents to Bernal Heights and Bayshore Boulevard. If we make these improvements, we could increase the use of bicycles in this region and make it safer to travel between neighborhoods.

5. The SF Bicycle Coalition participated in the Mayor’s Transportation 2030 Task Force, which identified significant funding gaps for a safe, reliable transportation system. To continue building out the bike network, the original need until 2030 was $360 million, which has now increased to $660 million, by City estimates. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects to at least match the percentage of San Franciscans who bike?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

6. The Department of Public Health has used data to develop the “high-injury network” to show the 12% of city streets where over 70% of the collisions occur. This map has also shown that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by traffic collisions. If Supervisor, what would you do to prevent collisions in your District at these known locations?

Protecting cyclists and pedestrians is of the upmost importance to me as there are, unfortunately, many high-injury corridors in District 9. I would work to make the investments in protected/raised bike lanes and protected bike intersections.

7. Market Street is San Francisco’s most-biked street, with nearly 7,000 trips by bike counted here every day. The City is working on the Better Market Street project, which calls for limiting private automobiles, creating a continuous, protected bike lane for the full length of the project from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard and significantly advancing transit and pedestrian-friendly street design. Do you support this plan?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED] 

8. Data has shown that the five most dangerous behaviors are all driver-related offenses: speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, improper right-hand turns, running red lights and failure to stop at stop signs. The San Francisco Police Department has committed to maintaining 50% of their traffic citations to “Focus on the Five,” a goal they have yet to meet citywide. Do you support Focus on the Five and smart, data-driven enforcement?

 Yes 

9. As Supervisor, what will you do to ensure SFPD focuses enforcement on Focus on the Five or other known issues that make our streets unwelcome to bike on, such as double-parking in bike lanes, rather than ad hoc, complaint-driven enforcement?

I would work with SFPD to understand what the challenges have been on-the-ground to the enforcement of these five violations. I would also work with them to support data collection efforts to better enforce these laws in the areas that need them the most.

10. Bay Area Bike Share is in the middle of a game-changing, tenfold expansion of its system to become one of the densest bike share networks in the United States. Do you support the expansion and placement of bike share stations in your District, even if this may mean repurposing of on-street vehicle parking?

Yes 

 

District-Specific Questions

1. In December 2015, Franklin Ling was hit and killed while biking at Woolsey and Goettingen Streets, an area that was known for high vehicle speeds through a residential neighborhood. What would you do as Supervisor to prevent such tragedies and ensure people driving through your District slow down in residential neighborhoods?

Our city must be proactive in making street improvements that make it safer to ride a bicycle. I would utilize the data we already have on high-injury corridors and make investments there so that we prevent collisions and injuries. In other parts of our residential neighborhoods, we will need improvements that slow-down vehicles and increase education/enforcement to remind drivers that they need to slow down in these areas.

2. District 9 is home to Valencia Street. Despite being one of the city’s most-biked streets with a dedicated bike lane, it remains as one of the most complained about streets given the non-stop issue of double-parking in bike lanes. Do you support the next generation of biking on Valencia Street to plan and design protected bike lanes here?

Yes

What would you do as Supervisor to enforce this known issue of vehicles double-parking and dropping passengers off in the bike lane?

I have ridden my bicycle down Valencia Street and know the dangers of a double-parked car in the bike lane. I would work with the Municipal Transit Association on how we can allocate our parking citation officers to this stretch of Valencia and what additional supports they need to curb double-parking on this corridor.

3. As San Francisco becomes a more expensive city to live in, we know that biking provides an affordable and sustainable way to get around. To increase access to bikes, the SF Bicycle Coalition organizes and leads the Bike it Forward program. We reclaim unclaimed and abandoned bikes from the SFMTA, BART, the SFPD and other agencies, which are then repaired with the help of our volunteers. Neighborhood residents sign up with our partner organizations in advance to participate and receive a bike. As Supervisor, do you support this program and its expansion?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

4. Do you agree that biking is an affordable mode of transportation?

Yes

If “Yes,” what would you do as Supervisor to increase biking in your District?

I would make street improvements that make it safer to ride a bicycle in the District and provide the bike facilities that encourage cycling. I would also work to educate our young people in the district schools on bike safety and the positive impact of cycling on their health and the environment to increase their use of bicycles. Expanding affordable bike-share options is important for encouraging people who have lower-incomes to utilize bikes.

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Magdalena de Guzman    Campaign Website: votemagdalena.com

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city?

Yes

If “Yes,” how often do you ride and for what purpose(s)?

Not too often because of age, and it’s for exercising.        

2. The City has established a goal to at least double the number of bike trips in the next 3 years. Do you support this goal?

Yes 

If yes, what would you do as Supervisor to help the city realize it?

There should be a culture of riding bikes like in Japan. Right now, we have a culture of driving. So, it will take time to educate everyone to transform our society into a society of bikers. The industries have to change – from public transportation, to building homes near train stations, to have spacious parkings for bikes. I visited Japan, so I know how the Japanese infrastructure includes bike riding in order to transport people across cities

3. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes 

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant progress since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as Supervisor to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

It seems like there are more aggressive drivers, and there are more people driving on streets. There are more honking, and blocking of the crossings. The city has more people now. As a school teacher, it’s important to educate our residents to take public transportation than to drive their cars. The City has to be very responsible to make sure our public transportation is clean, safe, and on schedule. As a supervisor, I will probably look into this three areas. Today, I took MUNI buses and a street car, and they seemed on schedule. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

4. Research and data has shown that building high-quality protected bike infrastructure is the most effective way to increase the number of people who bike. Despite this, there remain very few streets and corridors in San Francisco with protected bike lanes. Do you support the significant expansion of protected bike infrastructure, recognizing that this is often achieved by reallocating space on our streets that may decrease on-street car parking or vehicle travel lanes?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

If “Yes,” what is at least one street or corridor in your District that you think would most benefit from a protected bike facility and why?

In District 11, there are not many bike lanes. I always think that Geneva Avenue is a wide street and it cuts across the City from the northwest to the southeast. Bike lanes can be easily accommodated there with the understanding that the residents and business owners have a buy in and that they have ownership of the expansion of the bike lanes.

5. The SF Bicycle Coalition participated in the Mayor’s Transportation 2030 Task Force, which identified significant funding gaps for a safe, reliable transportation system. To continue building out the bike network, the original need until 2030 was $360 million, which has now increased to $660 million, by City estimates. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects to at least match the percentage of San Franciscans who bike?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

6. The Department of Public Health has used data to develop the “high-injury network” to show the 12% of city streets where over 70% of the collisions occur. This map has also shown that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by traffic collisions. If elected Supervisor, what would you do to prevent collisions in your District at these known locations?

As Supervisor, I will take a look at these streets with high injuries. I will talk to the stakeholders and find out what their experiences are regarding lack of safety on the streets. From here, I can author a resolution to decrease injuries in these areas. I have seen what a supervisor can do to decrease accidents where I teach as a teacher. She put a stop light in the middle of a long street so that the students and parents can cross from an alley street, and one alley street is closed to the public during school hours. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

7. Market Street is San Francisco’s most-biked street, with nearly 7,000 trips by bike counted here every day. The City is working on the Better Market Street project, which calls for limiting private automobiles, creating a continuous, protected bike lane for the full length of the project from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard and significantly advancing transit and pedestrian-friendly street design. Do you support this plan?

Yes 

8. Data has shown that the five most dangerous behaviors are all driver-related offenses: speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, improper right-hand turns, running red lights and failure to stop at stop signs. The San Francisco Police Department has committed to maintaining 50% of their traffic citations to “Focus on the Five,” a goal they have yet to meet citywide. Do you support Focus on the Five and smart, data-driven enforcement?

 Yes 

9. As Supervisor, what will you do to ensure SFPD focuses enforcement on Focus on the Five or other known issues that make our streets unwelcome to bike on, such as double-parking in bike lanes, rather than ad hoc, complaint-driven enforcement?

I think that there should be an ongoing communication between a supervisor and the SFPD in order to enforce the Focus on the Five. I know that SFPD is very strict with enforcing the law when it comes to driver-related offenses – from using the cellphone to double parking on the street with or without the bike lanes. A resident gets a ticket once, and usually one learns from that experience. I trust that SFPD is doing its job in these areas.

10. Bay Area Bike Share is in the middle of a game-changing, tenfold expansion of its system to become one of the densest bike share networks in the United States. Do you support the expansion and placement of bike share stations in your District, even if this may mean repurposing of on-street vehicle parking?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

 

District-Specific Questions

1. The Planning Department led the Ocean Avenue Corridor Design Study, which was completed in 2015 after extensive public outreach. Recommendations in the study included a redesign and plaza treatment for the intersection of Ocean, Phelan and Geneva Avenues as well as the inclusion of a westbound bike lane between I-280 and Phelan Avenue. Do you support the study’s findings?

Yes

If “Yes,” what would you do as Supervisor to advance the design and implementation of the Ocean Avenue Corridor Design Study?

I live near this area. It can be tricky to drive onto Ocean Ave toward the freeway or drive slightly to the right to get to Geneva, and then there’s the exit onto Ocean from the Geneva side. They are like branches spreading out in different directions. We should support and advance the design and implementation.

2. As San Francisco becomes a more expensive city to live in, we know that biking provides an affordable and sustainable way to get around. To increase access to bikes, the SF Bicycle Coalition organizes and leads the Bike it Forward program. We reclaim unclaimed and abandoned bikes from the SFMTA, BART, the SFPD and other agencies, which are then repaired with the help of our volunteers. Neighborhood residents sign up with our partner organizations in advance to participate and receive a bike. As Supervisor, do you support this program and its expansion?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

3. Do you agree that biking is an affordable mode of transportation?

Yes 

If “Yes,” what would you do as Supervisor to increase biking in your District?

I am a 59 year old woman who exercises a lot – from yoga to aquatic exercises to stationary biking. However, at my age, riding a bike on the street is not the same as when I rode my bike on the street when I was in my 20s, and 30s. To increase biking in my District, we can have a bike tour of parks and have picnic afterwards. We can have a Bike Day when streets are closed so people can ride their bikes on those streets. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Joshua Arce    Campaign Website: joshuaarce.com

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city?

Yes

If “Yes,” how often do you ride and for what purpose(s)?

I regularly ride my bike few times a week, both for leisure and transportation purposes. When I am not riding a bike, I usually travel via public transit. As someone who has used a bike my whole life to get around, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to teach my two young boys (almost 1 and 4) to ride too!

2. The City has established a goal to at least double the number of bike trips in the next 3 years. Do you support this goal?

Yes

If yes, what would you do as Supervisor to help the city realize it?

We need to maximize the percentage of trips made via bicycle and public transit to minimize polluting tail pipe emissions which endanger the public health of our residents. As a city that is under threat from rising sea levels, increasing bicycle travel is an essential strategy to decrease our reliance on dirty fossil fuels. As a bike rider and the father of two young children, I look forward to the day when all riders and walkers in San Francisco have safer access to our roads. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

3. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant progress since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as Supervisor to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

I was hit by a car while riding my bike when I was younger; I know all too well the importance of bicycle and pedestrian safety in promoting wider adoption of bicycles. In fact, it took me several years to overcome the fear of being hit and ride my bicycle again. We must redouble our driver education efforts to improve safety for the tens of thousands of people who ride on our streets every day, and pursue all strategies to minimize the need for vehicle travels, including walking, bicycling, and public transit solutions to ease the congestion on our roads. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

4. Research and data has shown that building high-quality protected bike infrastructure is the most effective way to increase the number of people who bike. Despite this, there remain very few streets and corridors in San Francisco with protected bike lanes. Do you support the significant expansion of protected bike infrastructure, recognizing that this is often achieved by reallocating space on our streets that may decrease on-street car parking or vehicle travel lanes?

Yes

If “Yes,” what is at least one street or corridor in your District that you think would most benefit from a protected bike facility and why?

“Sharrows” do not make a safety protection measure for cyclists. Our district is lucky to already have a number of dedicated bike pathways, especially in the northern end, such as the dedicated lanes on Valencia, Folsom and Harrison Streets. One corridor that may benefit from a protected bikeway is Valencia, which marks the border of District 9, and is highly used by many of our residents. The biggest transportation problem I see biking along Valencia is vehicle doubleparking in bike lanes, which forces cyclists to dangerously swerve into the motorized vehicle lane, creating collision risks in an already hightraffic area. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

5. The SF Bicycle Coalition participated in the Mayor’s Transportation 2030 Task Force, which identified significant funding gaps for a safe, reliable transportation system. To continue building out the bike network, the original need until 2030 was $360 million, which has now increased to $660 million, by City estimates. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects to at least match the percentage of San Franciscans who bike?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

6. The Department of Public Health has used data to develop the “high-injury network” to show the 12% of city streets where over 70% of the collisions occur. This map has also shown that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by traffic collisions. If Supervisor, what would you do to prevent collisions in your District at these known locations?

It’s tragic that city hall knows a small amount of city streets account for the vast majority of traffic related injuries and deaths, and has done little to combat the infrastructural problem. Most of the Mission is affected by high levels of traffic related injury. Places like Valencia and 24th streets desperately need change. We need protected bike lanes, increased traffic enforcement mechanisms, and follow through from city hall on all Vision Zero initiatives. It’s time to end the decade of disappointment in our transit system and work towards safe, reliable streets.

7. Market Street is San Francisco’s most-biked street, with nearly 7,000 trips by bike counted here every day. The City is working on the Better Market Street project, which calls for limiting private automobiles, creating a continuous, protected bike lane for the full length of the project from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard and significantly advancing transit and pedestrian-friendly street design. Do you support this plan?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED] 

8. Data has shown that the five most dangerous behaviors are all driver-related offenses: speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, improper right-hand turns, running red lights and failure to stop at stop signs. The San Francisco Police Department has committed to maintaining 50% of their traffic citations to “Focus on the Five,” a goal they have yet to meet citywide. Do you support Focus on the Five and smart, data-driven enforcement?

 Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

9. As Supervisor, what will you do to ensure SFPD focuses enforcement on Focus on the Five or other known issues that make our streets unwelcome to bike on, such as double-parking in bike lanes, rather than ad hoc, complaint-driven enforcement?

Safe, reliable streets are a priority for my campaign. As Supervisor, I will support all initiatives that help foster streets that work for all of us. SFPD must focus on areas we know carry a high density of bike and pedestrian related injury. Research and data driven traffic enforcement will help us observe and prevent problems in the future.

10. Bay Area Bike Share is in the middle of a game-changing, tenfold expansion of its system to become one of the densest bike share networks in the United States. Do you support the expansion and placement of bike share stations in your District, even if this may mean repurposing of on-street vehicle parking?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

 

District-Specific Questions

1. In December 2015, Franklin Ling was hit and killed while biking at Woolsey and Goettingen Streets, an area that was known for high vehicle speeds through a residential neighborhood. What would you do as Supervisor to prevent such tragedies and ensure people driving through your District slow down in residential neighborhoods?

We need to invest more in bike infrastructure at the southern end of our district. Currently there is no dedicated bike lanes taking people from the Portola to northern parts of District 9. We must also take steps to address speed on residential streets by installing additional road upgrades such as speed bumps or automated cameras

2. District 9 is home to Valencia Street. Despite being one of the city’s most-biked streets with a dedicated bike lane, it remains as one of the most complained about streets given the non-stop issue of double-parking in bike lanes. Do you support the next generation of biking on Valencia Street to plan and design protected bike lanes here?

Yes

What would you do as Supervisor to enforce this known issue of vehicles double-parking and dropping passengers off in the bike lane?

As a long time resident of the Mission I am equally frustrated by Valencia traffic. Our whole community needs to take bike safety more seriously double parking in bike lanes is  dangerous. This problem is especially acute on Valencia street because the limited number of vehicle lanes forces the comingling of bike and car traffic when someone illegally double parks. We need more visible signage to dissuade drivers from double parking, targeted traffic enforcement of double-parking on Valencia, and upgraded infrastructure (protected bike lanes) for local riders.

3. As San Francisco becomes a more expensive city to live in, we know that biking provides an affordable and sustainable way to get around. To increase access to bikes, the SF Bicycle Coalition organizes and leads the Bike it Forward program. We reclaim unclaimed and abandoned bikes from the SFMTA, BART, the SFPD and other agencies, which are then repaired with the help of our volunteers. Neighborhood residents sign up with our partner organizations in advance to participate and receive a bike. As Supervisor, do you support this program and its expansion?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

4. Do you agree that biking is an affordable mode of transportation?

Yes

If “Yes,” what would you do as Supervisor to increase biking in your District?

It is absolutely an affordable mode of transportation that I personally benefit from. We need to place additional bike friendly corridors at the southern part of our district to ensure residents have an easier safer dedicated pathway to the northern part of San Francisco. I’ll also work with local community organizations and the Bike Coalition to increase awareness of bike safety and promote efforts to get more people out of their cars and onto their bikes!

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Iswari España    Campaign Website: iswariespana.com

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city?

Yes

If “Yes,” how often do you ride and for what purpose(s)?

I use my bike to commute to and from work, and for recreational purposes.

2. The City has established a goal to at least double the number of bike trips in the next 3 years. Do you support this goal?

Yes

If yes, what would you do as Supervisor to help the city realize it?

As supervisor, I plan to support a model of community advocacy for the use of bicycles and cooperatives. I would encourage community space devoted to educate on safety and transportation options.

3. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant progress since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as Supervisor to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

I would expedite the delineation of bike lanes in our neighborhoods without the elimination of parking spaces and I would advocate for the enforcement of traffic laws that Law Enforcement has ignored that could prevent injuries and fatalities.

4. Research and data has shown that building high-quality protected bike infrastructure is the most effective way to increase the number of people who bike. Despite this, there remain very few streets and corridors in San Francisco with protected bike lanes. Do you support the significant expansion of protected bike infrastructure, recognizing that this is often achieved by reallocating space on our streets that may decrease on-street car parking or vehicle travel lanes?

No

5. The SF Bicycle Coalition participated in the Mayor’s Transportation 2030 Task Force, which identified significant funding gaps for a safe, reliable transportation system. To continue building out the bike network, the original need until 2030 was $360 million, which has now increased to $660 million, by City estimates. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects to at least match the percentage of San Franciscans who bike?

Yes

6. The Department of Public Health has used data to develop the “high-injury network” to show the 12% of city streets where over 70% of the collisions occur. This map has also shown that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by traffic collisions. If Supervisor, what would you do to prevent collisions in your District at these known locations?

As supervisor, I would support and allocate funds for traffic delineations and DPT staff to enforce rules and regulations in the area.

7. Market Street is San Francisco’s most-biked street, with nearly 7,000 trips by bike counted here every day. The City is working on the Better Market Street project, which calls for limiting private automobiles, creating a continuous, protected bike lane for the full length of the project from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard and significantly advancing transit and pedestrian-friendly street design. Do you support this plan?

Yes [RESPONSE TRUNCATED] 

8. Data has shown that the five most dangerous behaviors are all driver-related offenses: speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, improper right-hand turns, running red lights and failure to stop at stop signs. The San Francisco Police Department has committed to maintaining 50% of their traffic citations to “Focus on the Five,” a goal they have yet to meet citywide. Do you support Focus on the Five and smart, data-driven enforcement?

Yes 

9. As Supervisor, what will you do to ensure SFPD focuses enforcement on Focus on the Five or other known issues that make our streets unwelcome to bike on, such as double-parking in bike lanes, rather than ad hoc, complaint-driven enforcement?

I would leverage services between SFPD and DPT to create a specific dedicated task force to focus on street safety and the enforcement of traffic laws. This team will consistently patrol the most affected areas.

10. Bay Area Bike Share is in the middle of a game-changing, tenfold expansion of its system to become one of the densest bike share networks in the United States. Do you support the expansion and placement of bike share stations in your District, even if this may mean repurposing of on-street vehicle parking?

No

If “No,” why not?

Europe runs a very successful Bike program that all their citizens love and enjoy. Their success is attributed to an advocacy and education campaign. They learned to internalize the benefits of alternative transportation. San Franciscan’s have not reached that level of consciousness. I do not believe pitting the community against each other, especially around the issue of street parking, will create allies. I am a big advocate of the share stations but not at the expense of vehicle parking.

District-Specific Questions

1. In December 2015, Franklin Ling was hit and killed while biking at Woolsey and Goettingen Streets, an area that was known for high vehicle speeds through a residential neighborhood. What would you do as Supervisor to prevent such tragedies and ensure people driving through your District slow down in residential neighborhoods?

I will fight for the careful delineation of the streets and signage enforced by DPT with the support of SFPD.

2. District 9 is home to Valencia Street. Despite being one of the city’s most-biked streets with a dedicated bike lane, it remains as one of the most complained about streets given the non-stop issue of double-parking in bike lanes. Do you support the next generation of biking on Valencia Street to plan and design protected bike lanes here?

Yes

What would you do as Supervisor to enforce this known issue of vehicles double-parking and dropping passengers off in the bike lane?

We have to share the road, if these vehicles are illegally parked, we need enforce the law and cite them. We also need to dedicate drop off zones for seniors and businesses that also need the street.

3. As San Francisco becomes a more expensive city to live in, we know that biking provides an affordable and sustainable way to get around. To increase access to bikes, the SF Bicycle Coalition organizes and leads the Bike it Forward program. We reclaim unclaimed and abandoned bikes from the SFMTA, BART, the SFPD and other agencies, which are then repaired with the help of our volunteers. Neighborhood residents sign up with our partner organizations in advance to participate and receive a bike. As Supervisor, do you support this program and its expansion?

Yes

4. Do you agree that biking is an affordable mode of transportation?

Yes

If “Yes,” what would you do as Supervisor to increase biking in your District?

I plan to support a model of community advocacy for the use of bicycles and cooperatives. I would support Bike Share and Bicis Del Pueblo cooperative programs. I would encourage community space devoted to educate on safety and transportation options.

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Francisco Herrera    Campaign Website: francisco4supe.org

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city?

Yes

If “Yes,” how often do you ride and for what purpose(s)?

I love riding bicycle for recreational and health purpose, but it is now very limited amount of bike riding.           

2. The City has established a goal to at least double the number of bike trips in the next 3 years. Do you support this goal?

Yes 

If yes, what would you do as Supervisor to help the city realize it?

I will work to expedite implementation of the city’s bicycle plan by funding planning and development to expand city streets and promote the use of bicycle and public transportation. In particular I would promote making downtown and key neighborhood thoroughfares bicycle and pedestrian friendly. Establishing traffic circles and strictly enforce low motor vehicle speed, creating safe routes to school and work.

3. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes 

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant progress since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as Supervisor to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

I will prioritize funding and policy decisions based on the goals of Vision Zero. I will work to a lot monies from that funding for a strong media informational campaign to raise general consciousness on the purpose of Vision Zero

4. Research and data has shown that building high-quality protected bike infrastructure is the most effective way to increase the number of people who bike. Despite this, there remain very few streets and corridors in San Francisco with protected bike lanes. Do you support the significant expansion of protected bike infrastructure, recognizing that this is often achieved by reallocating space on our streets that may decrease on-street car parking or vehicle travel lanes?

Yes

If “Yes,” what is at least one street or corridor in your District that you think would most benefit from a protected bike facility and why?

I believe ocean from Mission to City College could be developed with this purpose. That benefits many people going to Balboa Bart and CCSF. The public is not conscious how many people particularly working class folk need their bikes for work. It is one way we reduce our expenses in the city.

5. The SF Bicycle Coalition participated in the Mayor’s Transportation 2030 Task Force, which identified significant funding gaps for a safe, reliable transportation system. To continue building out the bike network, the original need until 2030 was $360 million, which has now increased to $660 million, by City estimates. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects to at least match the percentage of San Franciscans who bike?

Yes

6. The Department of Public Health has used data to develop the “high-injury network” to show the 12% of city streets where over 70% of the collisions occur. This map has also shown that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by traffic collisions. If Supervisor, what would you do to prevent collisions in your District at these known locations?

Allocate funds to construct continuous, protected bike lanes on the High-Injury Corridor segments, as well as a well financed community education campaign, that have proven to be very effective. People collaborate when given the correct information. I will also move to have funds allocated to women’s projects and population older than 45 yrs. old, the 2 constituencies suffering increase in injuries. As cost of living rises people are moving to bicycling to economize.

7. Market Street is San Francisco’s most-biked street, with nearly 7,000 trips by bike counted here every day. The City is working on the Better Market Street project, which calls for limiting private automobiles, creating a continuous, protected bike lane for the full length of the project from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard and significantly advancing transit and pedestrian-friendly street design. Do you support this plan?

Yes 

8. Data has shown that the five most dangerous behaviors are all driver-related offenses: speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, improper right-hand turns, running red lights and failure to stop at stop signs. The San Francisco Police Department has committed to maintaining 50% of their traffic citations to “Focus on the Five,” a goal they have yet to meet citywide. Do you support Focus on the Five and smart, data-driven enforcement?

 Yes 

9. As Supervisor, what will you do to ensure SFPD focuses enforcement on Focus on the Five or other known issues that make our streets unwelcome to bike on, such as double-parking in bike lanes, rather than ad hoc, complaint-driven enforcement?

I will move to convince colleagues to have more officers on bikes, as well as walking the beat, giving them a better perspective on the issue and more ability to stop infringing car drivers. I will prioritize funds to create a very visible public media campaign educating the public on bike/driver safety as more of our population moves to biking and accidents have increased not decreased. I will continue to support the efforts of “bicis in the hood” and the B-coalition in your campaigns to promote rider/driver safety.

10. Bay Area Bike Share is in the middle of a game-changing, tenfold expansion of its system to become one of the densest bike share networks in the United States. Do you support the expansion and placement of bike share stations in your District, even if this may mean repurposing of on-street vehicle parking?

Yes 

 

District-Specific Questions

1. The Planning Department led the Ocean Avenue Corridor Design Study, which was completed in 2015 after extensive public outreach. Recommendations in the study included a redesign and plaza treatment for the intersection of Ocean, Phelan and Geneva Avenues as well as the inclusion of a westbound bike lane between I-280 and Phelan Avenue. Do you support the study’s findings?

Yes

If “Yes,” what would you do as Supervisor to advance the design and implementation of the Ocean Avenue Corridor Design Study?

I support the findings relevant to District 11, like the redesign and plaza treatment for the intersection of Ocean, Phelan and Geneva Avenues. I support safety and comfort improvements throughout the city, but I defer to the District 7 Supervisor for improvements located fully in District 7, like a westbound bike lane between I-280 and Phelan Avenue. Street safety is a priority for me, particularly on streets like Geneva Avenue. I would work with my District 7 colleague to identify funding through the SFCTA and work with the relevant implementing agencies like CCSF and the SFMTA. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

2. As San Francisco becomes a more expensive city to live in, we know that biking provides an affordable and sustainable way to get around. To increase access to bikes, the SF Bicycle Coalition organizes and leads the Bike It Forward program. We reclaim unclaimed and abandoned bikes from the SFMTA, BART, the SFPD and other agencies, which are then repaired with the help of our volunteers. Neighborhood residents sign up with our partner organizations in advance to participate and receive a bike. As Supervisor, do you support this program and its expansion?

Yes

3. Do you agree that biking is an affordable mode of transportation?

Yes 

If “Yes,” what would you do as Supervisor to increase biking in your District?

Increase funding and institutional support for community-led bicycle projects like PODER’s “Bicis del Pueblo” and the SF Bicycle Coalition’s Community “Bike Build” to create more bicycle-oriented activity, community cooperatives and transportation support (i.e. more buses supporting more bikes). I would also support projects like the Geneva Ave & Visitacion Valley Multimodal Improvement Project that bring safer and more comfortable access to green open spaces, (i.e. McLaren Park) from working-class neighborhoods like the Excelsior and Crocker-Amazon.

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries