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 Windsor Mayoral and Town Council candidates’ responses to our questionnaire on bicycling in Sonoma County. Thanks to the candidates for their time and thoughtful answers!
RICK MASSELL, Mayor
TANYA POTTER, Mayor
GINA FORTINO DICKSON, District 1
Do you ride a bicycle in Sonoma County for transportation or recreation? How would you characterize the experience of cycling here? No – admittedly, I am not much of a cyclist, though I do consider the needs of cyclists and pedestrians to ensure their safety when reviewing development proposals in my capacity as a Windsor Planning Commissioner. I previously served on the Windsor Parks and Recreation Commission, and recognize that cycling is an important part of both commuting and recreating in Windsor – and was proud to see a new bike pump track come to fruition during my ongoing tenure as a Town Commissioner. I feel that Windsor’s limited network of key streets has made cycling safety complicated – there are few arterial streets that connect our community, and the arterial streets we do have handle significant volumes of vehicle traffic during peak hours. Windsor took the lead as one of the first Sonoma County communities to paint their bike lanes green to create a visual separation between vehicle lanes and bicycle lanes and more recently, has placed bollards at high-traffic locations such as Shiloh Road east of Hembree Lane, and Old Redwood Highway near Lakewood Drive. This is just a start, and I recognize the need to do more to make cycling a safer and more enjoyable experience for our residents.
What are your community’s/Sonoma County’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? With a focus on Windsor and Northern Sonoma County, the limited transportation infrastructure in Windsor is a challenge, and regionally, continuing to build out the SMART line and adjacent bicycle and pedestrian pathway will be huge drivers of both economic development and opportunity to help get cyclists from north to south. Windsor is already a cycling destination, with many taking the SMART Train or using Windsor as a launchpad for countryside rides using Eastside Road, Chalk Hill Road, and other roads branching off of the Town of Windsor. Because these roads were built before cycling gained in popularity, many of the roads aren’t designed to safely handle both cars and cyclists, even though both road users enjoy the scenery at the gateway to North Sonoma County Wine Country.
If elected, what will you do to improve cycling safety and encourage more people in the county to ride? Just as I’ve done on the Planning Commission, I’ll be an advocate for road safety for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. Recognizing that the key arterial routes are mostly surrounded by developed land with the exception of the north side of Arata, parts of Old Redwood Highway and some parts south of Shiloh Road, we can’t simply widen our key roadways to create fully separated Class I or Class IV bike lanes (asides from the SMART line), but we have prioritized Class II bike lanes on all key corridors in town. As the remaining parcels of undeveloped land are potentially developed in the future, I will look at ways to create Class I lanes or at a minimum, Class II lanes as Windsor currently has on its main roads.
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? The Measure I sales tax initiative on the November ballot will be a huge driver in determining what Windsor can and cannot do in the years ahead to invest in transportation infrastructure improvements. Capital improvement projects have been slowed or delayed due to current funding challenges, which will only intensify if Measure I does not pass. If it does, beyond budget stabilization, I would like to enhance discretionary spending on smoother streets, safer sidewalks including ADA-compliant curb ramps, and Class II bike lane safety improvements on key streets in Windsor. if Measure I does not pass, I believe our choices will be very limited, though we can look to do more bollards in high-risk areas as a cost-effective investment where practical and as funding allows.
Are there any specific projects in your jurisdiction – either planned or imagined – that you are particularly excited to see implemented? While funding is currently unknown for many of these (though I would note there’s potential SCTCA grant funding coming to support the first item below), I would like to see projects in three key areas affecting each of Windsor’s downtown freeway exits, which handle cross-town traffic within Windsor for both bicyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles:
- At Shiloh Road, working with SCTCA to secure funds to repave and enhance road safety on this corridor. Windsor has invested in bollards on some segments of this road, but more can and should be done, particularly as development projects along this corridor come to fruition
- As the most expensive and complex project, at the Central Windsor exit, working to secure funding to make the bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing connecting the east and west near RCU on the east side and the Chevron/Shell gas station on the west side reality. The plans are on paper, but building it out is very expensive
- At Arata Lane, creating a safer ingress and egress from the freeway that would both allow for a northbound freeway onramp at Arata while improving bike lane safety and sidewalk safety – which may include a new roundabout
All of these proposals are expensive, likely totaling tens of millions of dollars combined, and there’s no way Windsor can fund these projects on our own; but as someone who knows how to collaborate with others, I’ll work with partner agencies including SMART, SCTCA, and our state and federal legislators to look at ways to begin securing funding for these key projects, which will create better cross-town connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians, and make the biggest impact on getting around on a bike within our community. Beyond these, as noted earlier, I’m also excited about the SMART Train and pathway continuing north to Healdsburg, Geyserville, and eventually, Cloverdale.
EVAN KUBOTA, District 1
Do you ride a bicycle in Sonoma County for transportation or recreation? How would you characterize the experience of cycling here? My kids and I utilize bike riding to visit the Town Green, and also to ride at Shiloh and Riverfront regional parks.
Cycling is a great way to get exercise, and helpful when you want to avoid parking for crowded events. Unfortunately, the condition of many bike paths and roadways (and poor drivers!) makes it dangerous to take younger children out on to the streets.
What are your community’s/Sonoma County’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? Trying to upgrade bike routes in older areas is difficult because they were never designed to support protected bikeways, wider cycling lanes, or alternate traffic.
Anything we can do to support safe and accessible cycling will help both the cyclists and alleviate congestion. I’m always excited to see when the new developments we are adding include significant road improvements, even one section at a time. These requirements which have been implemented by code in Windsor, help to create better designed pathways for cyclists and pedestrians.
If elected, what will you do to improve cycling safety and encourage more people in the county to ride? Continuing to require builders to include safe bicycle pathways when developments are approved is the best tool we have to force this change while not impacting local budgets. The additional requirements of bike storage and parking, and small investments into things like repair and water stations will also continue to make this a bike friendly community.
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? We are at a tipping point in the condition of Windsor’s roads. Deferred maintenance has caused them to become unsafe in many areas. Including bike lane improvements as part of the overhaul will help to combine upgrades into necessary repairs.
Continuing to require these improvements with new development will also help us to progress toward a more bicycle friendly atmosphere.
Are there any specific projects in your jurisdiction – either planned or imagined – that you are particularly excited to see implemented? Windsor has benefited from having a few very strong bicycle advocates both on the Planning Commission and the Town Council. With their support, we were able to pass the Active Transportation Plan in 2026 which was a significant investment in the future of Windsor’s transportation goals. By creating this plan, we have an incredible guide that highlights the needs, goals, and plans for the Town.
Along with the SMART train extension, and the pathway beside it, I’m excited to see the improved roadways and connectivity outlined in the ATP.
While most development is met with negativity due to the impacts of growth, by including active transportation in the requirements, we can at least accomplish this important goal while we grow.