As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition cannot endorse candidates for public office, but we are able to share information so that you can arrive at your own conclusion. Below are Sonoma City Council candidates’ responses to our questionnaire on bicycling in Sonoma County. We have made no content changes. Thanks to the candidates for their time and thoughtful answers!
NOTE: None of the Sonoma candidates are members of SCBC.
JOHN GURNEY
Do you ride a bicycle in Sonoma County for transportation or recreation? How would you characterize the experience of cycling in your city? Yes, I ride a bicycle for recreation and for transportation. Having only recently settled into a new home in the City of Sonoma from the unincorporated area, I look forward to leaving the car at home. Having cycled within the city over the past years, my experience has been good. I, as I believe all cyclists should, closely follow the rules of the road which eliminates conflicts with motor vehicle traffic and increases cyclist safety. The city has been moving forward with installing dedicated bike lanes which seem underutilized and is viewed publicly as a waste of money.
What are your city’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? The City of Sonoma’s transportation infrastructure is restricting as we look at alternative modes of transportation. I think cycling is definitely a key part of future alternatives. With the advent of electric supplemented bikes we have created new challenges while encouraging greater use. Bikes with higher speeds, electric skateboards and scooters and the conflicts created with pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic.
If elected, what will you do to encourage more people in your city to bicycle and to improve cycling safety? I support cycling and alternative transportation. I would hope to lead by example and be seen about the community as a cyclist. I have and continue to coach cycling at our local health club for the past 11 years. Many of my students have participated in road ride activities with me and we always coach safety and respect for the motoring public.
Our dreams and goals generally exceed our budgets. How does improving bicycling infrastructure and safety rank against your other policy priorities? Community safety is a founding purpose of government. As cycling becomes a more appealing alternative transportation and recreation activity, we need to ensure safety strategies are funded and implemented. This includes ensuring cyclists are held to the same standard as motor vehicles to drive safely, use the infrastructure in place currently for bicycles and ensure we are educating cyclists reinforcing safe riding practices. As a policy priority, funding needs to be made available as part of the implementation.
MIKE NUGENT has not yet submitted a statement.
PATRICIA FARRAR-RIVAS
Do you ride a bicycle in Sonoma County for transportation or recreation? How would you characterize the experience of cycling in your city? I ride my bike in Sonoma for both recreation and transportation. As a rider in the SF-LA AIDS Life Cycle ride, I rode in many different cities and roadways, both on the ride and in my training. I experienced great bike paths and roadways with no bike path. In the City of Sonoma, the path provides a safer pathway to travel east/west. As an avid walker as well, the bike path would benefit from additional signage for bike/pedestrian safety. The Broadway bike path was included as part of the overall design for pedestrian safety. More is needed to meet the overall goal of pedestrian safety. For recreational biking it is challenging to determine the best path to travel in out of the city.
What are your city’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? Our transportation challenges are:
- Congestion on several main roadways, especially during school drop of and pick up times.
- Lack of alternative transportation.
- Limited number of bike paths.
- Limited bike parking in the plaza especially when events are taking place.
- Safe cycling education.
- Vehicle enforcement for safe bike paths.
- Updated sidewalks for pedestrians.
Encouraging bicycling to the plaza and throughout the valley, with safe pathways and safe cycling education, is a key component of a sustainable Sonoma.
If elected, what will you do to encourage more people in your city to bicycle and to improve cycling safety? I will promote expanding the infrastructure for safe bicycling and bike parking as part of the development of a transportation master plan. Personally ride to activities and events in Sonoma. Encourage local businesses to provide bike parking. Support the promotion of cycling events.
Our dreams and goals generally exceed our budgets. How does improving bicycling infrastructure and safety rank against your other policy priorities? One of my top priorities is climate adaptation/preparedness. Having a walkable and cyclable Sonoma is key as we transition away from automobiles as our primary mode of transportation.
RON WELLANDER has not yet submitted a statement.
THOMAS DEEGAN
Do you ride a bicycle in Sonoma County for transportation or recreation? No How would you characterize the experience of cycling in your city? Good on side streets dangerous on highways and major thoroughfares.
What are your city’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? With increase visitors comes increases traffic on our roads. Sonoma addressed some of this with the restraining of Broadway.
If elected, what will you do to encourage more people in your city to bicycle and to improve cycling safety? yes
Our dreams and goals generally exceed our budgets. How does improving bicycling infrastructure and safety rank against your other policy priorities? Safety is important with all modes of transportation and bike safety is not exception. We have to ensure the that we have safe lanes for biking.