As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the 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 Cloverdale City Council candidates’ responses to our questionnaire on bicycling in Sonoma County. Thanks to the candidates for their time and thoughtful answers!
WILL CARTER
Do you ride a bicycle in Sonoma County for transportation or recreation? How would you characterize the experience of cycling here? I do not. However, my mother-in-law and her fiancé are avid cyclists who are involved in local cycling groups. They regularly ride throughout Sonoma County, including in Cloverdale, and travel internationally for events. They share with me their experiences and I will consult them, local Cloverdale cyclists, and your organization for guidance in decisions regarding cycling and cyclist safety.
What are your community’s/Sonoma County’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? Cloverdale Blvd fits the description of a hilly California Stroad/retired highway. Being the former 101 it has minimal safety considerations for cyclists and pedestrians. There are markings for bike lanes in most areas, but no proper safety measures. Other roads are in diminished condition which affects all road users. Speed of drivers is not well controlled in Cloverdale. Not all major intersections are seeing California’s Daylighting enforced.
Cyclists have been visiting Cloverdale throughout my entire life. When I was 16, my first job was at Plank Coffee which is still a popular destination for riders across the county. Additionally, Cloverdale has a number of local riders, including several I know personally.
I wish to see cycling thrive in Cloverdale as I see three benefits of cycling growing in popularity:
- Another source of tourism. Especially with the changes to wine industry and related tourism, cycling offers an opportunity for others to discover the beauty and unique charm of our county and my hometown. It also serves Cloverdale by promoting in-county tourism, a market I believe is ideal for Cloverdale to target.
- As an environmentally minded individual, I see cycling for communing as a noble pursuit, which can only be practical when local government listens to the needs of all road users.
- It is the right of all citizens to enjoy their public lands and municipal resources, no matter how they enjoy it. Boosting cycling in Cloverdale will create culture, support cycling related businesses, and allow the public to participate in one of the most popular forms of transit and recreation in their hometown.
If elected, what will you do to improve cycling safety and encourage more people in the county to ride? I made it a priority to publicly raise my concerns regarding downtown safety and intend to create a daylighting plan in Cloverdale, to be expeditiously executed. Further steps should be advanced to fulfill the suggestions from the City of Cloverdale Active Transportation Plan. By prioritizing existing suggested improvements from the 2025 Cloverdale Master Plan Circulation Element 3.0, I hope to bring additional measures which are modeled on existing local guidelines.
I will seek to implement a Business Activity District (as allowed by AB 43) for downtown areas of the boulevard, legally and simply reducing speeds to 25 & 20 MPH between E 4th Street and Healdsburg Ave, with no doubts about enforceability by local law enforcement.
I will promise my commitment to supporting the programs, including Safe Routes to School, where the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is already partnered with the City of Cloverdale.
Our visions and goals are often tempered by available budgets, staff time and public focus. How will you seek to balance improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and safety with your other policy priorities? At this point, the City of Cloverdale is deficit spending and the demands for additional funding are many. This will impede progress on pedestrian and cyclist safety. The saying “Paint is not infrastructure” is absolutely true, but at the moment, we can afford paint, and we can afford signs, and we can afford to implement low administrative cost solutions like a Business Activity District. Larger improvements will need planning and consensus among the Council members to secure funding, so I will follow existing recommendations to accelerate consideration and justify expenditures. I will seek to incentivize developments to contribute to our infrastructure when their impacts will include pedestrians and cyclists.
Are there any specific projects in your jurisdiction – either planned or imagined – that you are particularly excited to see implemented? I have three examples, one public and likely, one prospective and likely, and my own ambition for a safer Cloverdale.
- I am constantly thrilled to see the expansion and success of SMART. As a teen I hiked along the tracks from Santa Rosa to Ukiah. This was a glimpse of what lies beyond the roads and among the vines. I look forward to cyclists and rail commuters getting the opportunity to see this beautiful county in a new way. I will seek to aid SMART in raising the support and resources to complete the track adjacent multi-use paths, as well as partnering for the length within Cloverdale City Limits to ensure it is well connected and signed for city destinations.
- A local development project has suggested the installation of protected bike lanes along Asti Rd, at their expense. This would allow cyclists a safe alternative to the higher traffic Boulevard.
- I would like to see a full road diet and remodel for the entire length of Cloverdale Blvd. This project would be well outside of the practical funds available to the city, but if a plan is established, the project can be implemented in phases and with grants when possible. I would like to see tighter controls on vehicles, completely accessible sidewalks, frequent crosswalks, and functional, protected bike lanes throughout Cloverdale within a decade.
STEVE KAWA
KIMBERLY KERN
Do you ride a bicycle in Sonoma County for transportation or recreation? How would you characterize the experience of cycling here? I do ride in Sonoma County, mostly for recreation and short distance transportation. Cycling here can be beautiful, but it can also be inconsistent with regard to safety and road quality. Some routes feel safe and well designed, while others lack shoulders, lighting, or clear separation from vehicle traffic. The experience varies dramatically depending on where you ride, and that inconsistency can keep people from choosing bicycles more often. We have the foundation for a great cycling network, but we need more continuity and safer connections between neighborhoods, schools, parks, and downtowns.
What are your community’s/Sonoma County’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? Our biggest challenges are safety, connectivity, and the mismatch between where people live and where essential services are located. In Cloverdale, many short trips could be made by bicycle if routes felt safer and more intuitive. Bicycling fits directly into a vision of responsible, sustainable development: it reduces congestion, supports downtown vitality, and provides affordable transportation options. As we grow, we should prioritize infill development and infrastructure that makes walking and biking practical, not just recreational.
If elected, what will you do to improve cycling safety and encourage more people in the county to ride? I would support expanding protected bike lanes, improving lighting and signage, and strengthening safe routes to schools. I would also encourage collaboration between cities, the county, and regional agencies to create connected corridors rather than isolated segments. Education and outreach matter, too – when people understand safe cycling practices and see visible infrastructure improvements, ridership increases.
Our visions and goals are often tempered by available budgets, staff time, and public focus. How will you seek to balance improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and safety with your other policy priorities? I believe bicycle and pedestrian safety should be integrated into every infrastructure conversation, not treated as an optional add on. Even small, incremental improvements like better crosswalks, traffic calming, and clearer signage can make a meaningful difference. I will prioritize projects that serve multiple goals at once: safety, connectivity, downtown vitality, and long term cost efficiency. Transparent budgeting and community input will guide how we balance these needs.
Are there any specific projects in your jurisdiction – either planned or imagined – that you are particularly excited to see implemented? I’m especially interested in improving safe routes to schools and strengthening connections between residential neighborhoods and downtown. Cloverdale has an opportunity to create a more continuous north south cycling corridor and to enhance crossings along busy streets. I’m also excited about exploring traffic calming measures that make walking and biking feel safer for families, seniors, and students.
ANDRES MARQUEZ
MARJORIE MORGENSTERN
JEN NEYLON
CHRIS PARKER
COLLEEN SHIELDS
Do you ride a bicycle in Sonoma County for transportation or recreation? How would you characterize the experience of cycling here? Yes, I just went on a ride in Dry Creek Valley on Saturday and take several rides throughout the year in the Cloverdale, Geyserville, Healdsburg areas. I love riding through the vineyards and wine country. It is so therapeutic!
What are your community’s/Sonoma County’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? I would LOVE to see more bike road access – bike lanes and bike commuter options. More bike racks at retail stores and other transportation hubs.
If elected, what will you do to improve cycling safety and encourage more people in the county to ride? Lead by example and continue riding. Also, promoting retail locations to offer bike parking access. Participating in RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK and SCHOOL days. Getting more press about the inherent need for more road availability.
Our visions and goals are often tempered by available budgets, staff time and public focus. How will you seek to balance improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and safety with your other policy priorities? Again, leading by example and working with retailers and employers to incentivize biking as a viable transportational option.
Are there any specific projects in your jurisdiction – either planned or imagined – that you are particularly excited to see implemented? More bike lanes/paths along major roadways. I’d love Sonoma County to be like Davis, CA, where biking is just part of regular everyday life!
KELLY SPAGNOLA