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 Town Council candidates’ responses to our questionnaire on bicycling in Sonoma County. Thanks to the candidates for their time and thoughtful answers!
NOTE: None of these candidates are members of SCBC.
ROSA REYNOZA, Mayor
JOHN LEYBA, District 2
SAM SALMON, District 2
Do you ride a bicycle in Sonoma County for transportation or recreation? How would you characterize the experience of cycling here? I ride a bike for transportation approximately 2-3 times per week, mainly from my home to the Town Hall / Town Green of Windsor. Any trips within a 2 1/2 mile radius from home with decent weather and not a great deal of packaging, the bike is my transportation. I find my routes in Windsor to be most accommodating. I acknowledge the drivers of cars and give as much to them as I can.
What are your community’s/Sonoma County’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? Greenhouse gas emissions are a threat to our Earth and cars are our main source of these emissions in Sonoma County. Riding a bike is one of the more easy was of reducing my carbon footprint as well as being a health exercise. More biking and walking less getting into the car repeatedly is an easy answer. As to future development, prioritizing the construction of bike paths were crucially needed and development is not happening is necessary.
If elected, what will you do to improve cycling safety and encourage more people in the county to ride? More outreach advising residents of the importance of biking in lieu a driving. Do all we can to improve the bike lanes knowing it is easier said many times than done.
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 alluded to this question in 3, without knowing it was coming. Perhaps my Town could do much of the necessary striping and re-striping in house. At some points, the amount of safety infrastructure provided is a bit extreme and seriously takes away from the momentary ability to provide more for less. Many times we wait for development projects to come forward with street improvements for bike safety. We have been successful in someways with grants.
Are there any specific projects in your jurisdiction – either planned or imagined – that you are particularly excited to see implemented? The projected improvements between the Old Redwood/Shiloh Road intersect and the Walmart Center is such a key improvement. Excited about it is not the term. Seriously concern that it get done is. There has to be a safe passage for the many new residents in that area to walk and bike the few blocks it takes for shopping, dining and services available a few blocks away.
DANIEL BRYANT, District 3
ARCHIE ECKLES, District 3
JB LEEP, District 3
DAVID STANKAS, District 3
Do you ride a bicycle in Sonoma County for transportation or recreation? How would you characterize the experience of cycling here? I do ride a bike and love the experience of riding here in Windsor. Our community is bike friendly and we have lots of clubs here and for the most part residents are conscientious towards bike riders and always give bike riders the girth they need.
What are your community’s/Sonoma County’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? In my opinion, I feel our biggest community. Transportation challenges are the ever increasing cars on the road more people driving equals more frustrated drivers, which equals unsafe roads for bicyclists my vision for bicyclist in the future development of our community is to assure safety for all bicyclist involved in the sport and for recreation.
If elected, what will you do to improve cycling safety and encourage more people in the county to ride? Bicycling is a fundamental and important part of our community. I would exercise my position to make sure that all bicyclist are safe and that all bike lanes are marked properly so that bicyclist can remain unarmed and enjoy the sport and recreational fun of riding a bike with friends and family.
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? With the challenges that budget bring, we will continue to work with cyclist and residence alike to make sure that the infrastructure and safety is a priority for our council safety is a must
Are there any specific projects in your jurisdiction – either planned or imagined – that you are particularly excited to see implemented? We are currently working to make sure that the budget is adjusted to include cones on the side of the roads on Shiloh, but we’re still trying to figure out the logistics of the driveways, but we are excited about the Focus moving forward with the thought process of our community.