Ward 5 – Phyllis Cleveland Responses

Bike Cleveland Cleveland City Council Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate Name: Phyllis Cleveland
Council Ward 5 Candidate

Q. What roles do you think city council can play in making cities safe, accessible and friendly for biking?
A.  City Council can create and or pass legislation to make safe, accessible and friendly for biking. City Council can also engage and educate our community on bike safety and initiatives through events, activities, social and other communication forms. These activities should be directed towards bikers, drivers and pedestrians.

Q. Funding for bikeways and other bicycle improvements and programs in Cleveland is currently derived from a mix of local, regional, and federal grants. Do you support an increase in dedicated funds in the City of Cleveland capital budget to install a safe, connected network of bike facilities?
A. Yes

Q. Do you have ideas for securing other funding for biking projects in Cleveland?
A.  Funding can also be sought from public and private foundations and from private industry, such as bicycle and helmet manufacturers.

Q. In January 2012 the City of Cleveland’s Complete and Green Streets Ordinance went into effect. The ordinance requires implementation of sustainable policies and guidelines in all construction projects within the public right of way. What will you do to ensure that the city incorporates Complete and Green Streets policies and practices into road projects within your ward? How will you measure success?
A. I will monitor projects in my ward to ensure that benchmarks are met.

Q. In what ways can enhanced bicycling facilities and opportunities benefit your ward and the city as a whole? Are there any specific projects that you’d like to see accomplished?
A. I represent several low-income neighborhoods where many residents do not own cars and use bicycles for transportation. However, many residents do not observe traffic laws or practice safety (wear helmets, e.g.) I would like to see efforts to educate residents on bicycle safety and to encourage more bicycling for recreation for adults in the communities in my ward.

Q. Cities across the United States are installing protected bicycle lanes (a.k.a. cycletracks) to create a stress-free biking environment and to encourage “interested but concerned” people to ride a bike. Do you support the installation of bike infrastructure like buffered bike lanes, protected bike lanes, and bike boxes on Cleveland streets? YES/NO
A. Yes

Q. Are you in favor of Bike Boxes (i.e. former shipping containers converted to bike parking) being placed in a parking lane on city streets?
A. Yes, I support this where it is practical to do so.

Q. In just about every neighborhood throughout the city, one of the top concerns is drivers driving too fast, aggressively, and not safely sharing the road with people on bikes. What ideas do you have to calm traffic and make our neighborhoods safer and more comfortable in which to ride a bike? Feel free to talk about particular problem spots in your ward.
A. We are currently doing a traffic study on Kinsman Avenue to make it safer for drivers, pedestrians and bikers. Traffic calming studies involving community residents and stakeholders and community educational initiatives can be effective ways to make neighborhoods safer and more bike-friendly.

Q. According to the 2012 Census almost 28% of Clevelanders do not have access to a car, how would you go about re-examining road projects to take into account the transportation needs of all city residents, improve safety, and enhance the livability of Cleveland neighborhoods?
A. I would examine road projects, including design, analyze traffic and safety data, and engage community stakeholders in review of road projects.

Q. What do you think is the number one risk to people on bikes both in your ward and the city as a whole? What have you done/will you do as an elected official to remedy it?
A. I believe the biggest risks are drivers and bicyclists who are unaware of or unwilling to observe traffic and safety laws. I support community education and stronger enforcement of laws.

See responses from all candidates at BikeCleveland.org/I-bike-I-vote