Candidate Facts

Name: Mike Young    Campaign Website: http://www.votemike.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?

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 would support policies that would encourage bicycle usage in areas of high demand, e.g. more bike-share locations and more bike lanes where having them makes sense.

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’ve lived and served on U.S. army bases where traffic accidents are the leading cause of avoidable deaths and understand the need to create and enforce traffic policies meant to save lives. In so far as a local elected official can influence transportation policy, I am in favor of reducing speed limits and enhancing safety measures at pedestrian crosswalks. I believe we can strike a balance between increasing pedestrian safety and taking away parking spaces and/or vehicle lanes. After all, drivers become walkers as soon as they step out of their cars.

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?

There are bike lanes in District 7 but they don’t get much use. Bike lanes are most needed on 19th Avenue and West Portal, both of which are locations where implementing bike lanes is problematic.

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?

[NO RESPONSE GIVEN]

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?

Slower vehicular traffic limits, 4-way walk signs, better cross-walk painting, give PCO’s and police officers broader leeway in enforcing pedestrian, vehicular, and bicycle right of way laws.

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?

[NO RESPONSE GIVEN]

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?

My answer to this question would be predicated on the answer I get from the above question: why is the SFPD not able to meet the “Focus on Five” goal.

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 SF Bicycle Coalition has been advocating for better bike connections from Balboa Park Station to Lake Merced for years. As Supervisor, what would you recommend to improve the biking and walking connections to and from this important transit hub along Ocean Avenue?

I think the Metro need to go underground before we can have any meaningful discussion about improving Ocean Avenue. I believe Ocean Avenue is unsafe and inefficiently uses available space to maximize transportation efficiency and safety.

2. According to the 2009 San Francisco Bicycle Plan, it is legal to ride a bicycle along the sidewalk of 19th Avenue due to the lack of a north-south bike route here. There is currently a long range planning effort to underground the M Ocean View Muni line and repurpose the onstreet space to transform this freewaylike street into a people friendly boulevard with dedicated bike lanes. Do you support this effort?

Yes

Why or why not?

I would support this if we can find an answer to how vehicular traffic from 101 and 280 will reach the Golden Gate Bridge. This is a battle that was fought years ago and our present situation is the outcome of that battle. Biking and walking are great but closing off 19th Avenue to vehicles without providing a solution to access 101 North is not an acceptable solution.

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 [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

4. 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 I280 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 would work to ensure that we implement designs that everyone has already agreed upon.

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Ben Matranga    Campaign Website: benmatranga.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 my bike fairly often and for all purposes – commuting, leisure and for exercise. I rode my bike solo across the United States from New York to San Francisco, along the California coast from San Francisco to Mexico, and have circled our beautiful city on a 49 square mile loop many times. I imagine that I have logged more miles in the saddle than any other District 7 candidate and acutely understand the joys and challenges.

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 with the SFMTA and other City departments to ensure the proper funding is secured.

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?

Project delivery must be prioritized and I will hold agencies accountable to ensure Vision Zero projects are implemented. Furthermore, I will be a champion of funding for needed Vision Zero projects in all aspects of Vision Zero including engineering, education, enforcement, and evaluation.

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?

Golden Gate Park is on the edge of our District and would benefit greatly. People of all ages and abilities bicycle throughout Golden Gate Park and it is important we prioritize safety in this beautiful, unique civic space.

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?

I would focus on project delivery to ensure needed Vision Zero projects along the high-injury network are prioritized and completed on-schedule.

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 would focus on fully staffing the SFPD Traffic Company to ensure the needed staffing is in place to enforce our traffic laws.

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 SF Bicycle Coalition has been advocating for better bike connections from Balboa Park Station to Lake Merced for years. As Supervisor, what would you recommend to improve the biking and walking connections to and from this important transit hub along Ocean Avenue?

I support improving biking and walking connections to and from Balboa Park Station. This area is unique because of the volume of students in the area including students from City College, Lick-Wilmerding High School, Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco State University, and numerous other schools is considerable. As Supervisor, I would pursue projects that improve safety and access to transportation for students and others in the area.

2. According to the 2009 San Francisco Bicycle Plan, it is legal to ride a bicycle along the sidewalk of 19th Avenue due to the lack of a northsouth bike route here. There is currently a long range planning effort to underground the M Ocean View Muni line and repurpose the on street space to transform this freewaylike street into a people friendly boulevard with dedicated bike lanes. Do you support this effort?

Yes 

 

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 [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

4. 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 I280 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 would work to ensure proper funding and on-going community outreach is secured.

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Andy Thornley    Campaign Website: Thornley2016.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)?

Nearly every day, for every reason, shopping, commuting, visiting, joyriding.

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 energetically prioritize funding and resources and political support to elevate the bicycle transportation system to a high level of continuity and comfort and completeness, via bicycle system infrastructure (bikeways, secure bike parking, wayfinding systems, etc) and programs (bike education for kids and adults and drivers, safe routes to school, measured and meaningful safe streets enforcement, etc). At the same time I would work with focus and energy to improve and strengthen transit in the city, Muni and regional systems, and other sustainable mobility choices to allow more San Franciscans to get along with less car.

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 champion the implementation of proven engineering countermeasures on our streets (sidewalk extensions, intersection daylighting, intersection fixes, etc); support automated speed enforcement legislation in Sacramento, and implementation here once it’s approved; work with the SFPD & SFMTA to carry out consistent, measured, and sensible “safe streets” enforcement (SFPD Richmond Station has been a leader on Focus on the Five), support and prioritize Geary Blvd pedestrian realm enhancements, Fulton Street fixes, Arguello Blvd fixes (paint now and more soon); provide Safe Routes to JFK Drive; and dramatically constrain car circulation in Golden Gate Park.

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 support transforming Arguello Boulevard into a true greenway that connects the Presidio and Golden Gate Park and moves kids and families and commuters and shoppers to neighborhood and crosstown destinations. Arguello Blvd has already benefitted from an early road diet (2001) and I’m fully supportive of the SFMTA’s proposals to further tame and re-shape Arguello in the near term, and I’ll work to make even more ambitious physical changes to Arguello for safer and more comfortable biking for all ages and abilities.

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?

D1 is cursed with deadly streets as much as any district in SF – Geary Boulevard is one of the most perilous streets in the city, and Fulton, California, Arguello, and JFK Drive are likewise dreadful and sometimes deadly. Not surprisingly, but inexcusably, kids and seniors are overrepresented in the numbers of people seriously injured and killed on D1 streets. We know what to do, they’re the same things we need to do to realize Vision Zero – I would energetically support engineering, enforcement, and legislative changes (e.g. automated speed enforcement) to realize real safety improvements in D1 and citywide.

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?

SFPD Richmond Station has been a leader in focusing traffic enforcement resources on the most dangerous behaviors and locations in D1, and I would guide SFPD commanders to build on Richmond Station’s example for all districts. I’ll continue to advocate for SFPD’s Traffic Company realignment to a true “Safe Streets” unit (with energetic coordination and engagement from SFMTA and DPH and advocates) – getting more officers patrolling on bikes more of the time is essential, toward reducing “windshield perspective” and building empathy and effectiveness in addressing widespread pernicious hazards like double-parking and failure to yield at intersections and elsewhere.

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?

Probably, I’d have to see the proposal; JFK Drive west of Transverse is narrower than the eastern extent, and there were few cars parked on JFK Drive at 30th Ave on the evening of June 22, so effectively no parking buffer to protect a bike rider. As a near-term action I recommend making key segments of JFK Drive one-way for cars to eliminate through motor traffic, as well as one-waying 30th and 36th Avenues and a few other segments; see Thornley2016.com/FixJFK for details. This fix can be implemented quickly – this year – with paint and signs and enforcement.

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 

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: Brian Larkin    Campaign Website: www.LarkinForDistrictOne.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)?

Three to five times a week. Twice a week to go to the Presidio YMCA, and at least once more and usually two or three other times to run errands (grocery, banking, post office, hardware store)

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?

Support the construction a network of Type III bicycle lanes.

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?

More & regular enforcement of traffic laws, especially against speeding and DUI. Better public transit service, especially an underground extension of the Muni Metro system out Geary Blvd to the Richmond District – this, by the way, is my main reason for running.

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?

The east/west street that I travel the most is Lake Street. It has a type II bike lane, but a type III lane (physically separated from car traffic) would make it more attractive for cyclists and encourage its use.

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?

Work with the MTA planners to ensure that the problems at the high-injury network locations are identified and mitigated.

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’d meet with the commander of Richmond Station on this. I agree that ad hoc measures are only effective in a small area and a short time. The development of a comprehensive program with regular review of its results would be a good start.

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. 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?

I would support expanding the bike network in GGP.

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 [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries 

 

Candidate Facts

Name: Sandra Lee Fewer    Campaign Website: www.sandrafewer.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 occasionally, for recreation and exercise. But my husband more so—he has ridden for years, founding the SFPD Bicycle Unit as an officer and taking my daughters to ride in Critical Mass when they were younger.

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 be interested in looking at increased funding for transportation, especially for cycling infrastructure, and in alignment with the Transportation 2030 task force work. As a school board commissioner, I know that many of our families struggle with the cost of transportation and while there are great organizations like PODER and the Bike Coalition working to address accessibility to bicycles, I think there could be increased investment in educational programs for families, low-income residents and communities of color. As a Transit Authority Commissioner, I would support stronger oversight from SFCTA and better coordination with SFMTA and key departments. [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?

As a School Board Commissioner, I authored the resolution in support of Vision Zero– this is clearly a priority but we have some work to do to make the goal realized. I would work to strengthen the role of the SFCTA’s Vision Zero committee in terms of oversight and metric tracking to ensure we are evaluating our progress. I think that we need to expediate any funds focusing on key safety improvements, and develop accountability measures for any delays in such safety 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 [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 think Golden Gate Park, especially JFK Drive, would be a great place to start. With thirteen million annual visitors, Golden Gate Park must be a safe and inviting place for everyone, particularly people walking and biking. It is unacceptable that people like Heather Miller lose their lives due to half-measures.

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?

In the Richmond District, safety is a priority concern for many residents, for both cyclists and pedestrians. My husband, a former police officer, retired as a traffic cop out of Richmond Station after 35 years on the force. I have discussed with him at length the measures used for traffic calming and the level of effectiveness for each. I believe that the primary method of traffic calming must be traffic signage and traffic devices, focusing SFPD resources on the most dangerous streets and intersections. These measures will benefit not just people biking, but also pedestrians, families and seniors. [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?

My husband, a 35 year veteran of SFPD, not only served as a traffic cop but also started the SFPD Bicycle Patrol, writing the first grant and training officers. He knows well the importance of coordinated efforts within the police department to ensure street safety for our residents. The Focus on the Five is a critical program and in order for SFPD to be aligned, we must ensure station accountability and transparency around citation data collected, and that is there is a comprehensive program in place to train and support rank and file officers on the model.

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. 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?

Yes, I think would be in support of an extension of the protected bike lane, but would also want to assess the impact of that expansion where the lanes narrow on drivers with disabilities, etc. Heather Miller’s death was tragic and we should absolutely take necessary measures to prevent more fatalities. Traffic calming measures, as mentioned above, are necessary to slow down cars and protect cyclists and pedestrians both in bike lanes and crosswalks.

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 

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 [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries