2025 Lakewood Candidate Election Questionnaire
As Lakewood’s advocacy group for people who walk and bike, we feel that biking and walking are political issues. When you choose to get around by foot or by bike, you are addressing critically important issues: personal health, air quality, oil dependence, economics, infrastructure, and safety. In the case of street safety, 1 in 5 traffic fatalities and major injuries involve pedestrians or people on bikes, and improvements to our built environment could literally save lives.
Each election cycle, we want to make sure that candidates understand issues that are important to constituents. We provided all Lakewood City Council and Board of Education candidates an opportunity to share their views about active transportation issues so voters can make informed decisions when casting their vote. Their responses can be found below. We will continue to add candidates’ responses as we receive them.
Council At Large
Tom Bullock
Brian Higgins
Sarah Kepple
Angelina Hamilton Steiner
Allison L. Urbanek
Brian F. Ventura
Ward 2
Bryan J. Evans
Board of Education
Monica Bruaw
Nora Katzenberger
Betsy Bergen Shaugnessy
Katie Slife Rustad
Responses follow:
At Large
Tom Bullock
Q1. Bicycling, walking, and transit infrastructure enhances quality of life and addresses issues such as affordability, equity, access, health, and the safety of our streets. City Council recently created the Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board (CASE). What initiatives would you like to see the CASE Board pursue?
Planning, authorizing, and directing the implementation of physical improvements on a regular and more frequent basis (i.e. prior to the periodic once-in-a-decade-or-more reconstruction of a street) to Lakewood streets, intersections, and crossings of safety improvements and other facilities for pedestrian and bicycling (and other personal mobility devices). Examples include curb bump outs, increased striping, green pavement coloration, plastic delineator posts, leading pedestrian indicators, (perhaps) signalization of bicycles, and increased traffic calming measures on more streets,
In addition, the implementation of the Active Transportation Plan in a thoughtful and high quality manner, such as multi-use paths and separated bike lanes.
In addition, to the degree that it falls within their jurisdiction, education and encouragement efforts for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to get more people, more of the time, safely walking and biking and to change car culture to one of respect for and increased safety towards non-motorized users of our public streets and sidewalks.
An emergent issue is to plan for, manage, and reduce conflicts between e-bikes and e-scooters and pedestrians.
Communication to the public, public input, and public education for all of the above is essential to the success of these measures long-term. It is likely the City Council and the Administration should take the lead and do most of this work, but CASE could and should play an important role.
Q2. People bike and walk when it’s safe, comfortable, and connects to the places they need to go. Lakewood’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) informs new-to-Lakewood ATP features into future infrastructure projects. In your opinion, what are some effective and achievable design features that could be added to our city and what are the biggest barriers to adding them?
Separated bike lanes, multi-use paths, on major routes and roadways; more crossings dedicated to people walking and biking; and improved lighting for people walking and biking.
The biggest barrier is funding and the capacity to implement more of the projects more quickly.
A potentially emergent barrier could be public opposition–if we collectively fail to communicate with the public about potential designs, their benefits, and costs. To date, City Hall (all of us–no fingers of blame being pointed) could and should be doing more to communicate with the public, gather public input, and engage in public education as a foundational step to considering, designing, and implementing all active transportation measures. It is essential that these improvements belong to all of us–and enjoy public support–so that these important infrastructure improvements are not measures imposed by City Hall over the objections of residents, inducing public opposition rather than public understanding. Concerns by members of the public should be respected and worked through, not “paved over”–otherwise the City may find it lacks public support and would be attempting, in effect, to build a house on sand.
Q3. Lakewood City School District is a “walking district” and has no school bus service for students traveling to or from school. Safety was listed as the primary concern of parents in making a decision to allow their child to walk or ride a bike to school. What, if any, changes would you advocate to increase the sense of safety for the families of Lakewood students who walk or bike to school?
Safety, convenience, education, and encouragement are all factors to increasing walking and biking to school. Family schedule decisions made by parents and guardians are a major driver of whether students walk, bike, or are driven to school–albeit those decisions by adult caretakers are made in the context of perceived safety and convenience of walking and biking.
I have been a committed proponent of walking and biking to school with my own children over the last two school years, and I’ve learned by experience that adults encouraging other adults and students encouraging their peers is a key to success–and in fact, sustained success (since the social payoff of making connections with neighbors and follow students is fun and provides enduring satisfaction, where possible).
That said, working to improve safety and the feeling of safety (two related but different things) along routes to school is essential. Increased numbers of crossing guards, updated placement of crossing guards, increased enforcement, and consistent education of adults driving students to school to engage in safe behavior and shift the norm from car drop-off culture to a walking and biking culture (or at least one in which all transportation modes are considered equally normal) are all valuable steps.
Q4. Cities across the country are installing protected bike lanes, which are bike lanes with a physical barrier between bike and automobile traffic, to encourage more people to ride and make roadways safer for all users. Do you support protected bike lanes on any Lakewood streets? Please explain why, or why not.
Yes–100%, and I wish we already had installed several. Our Active Transportation Plan currently calls only for one (and perhaps two more long-term).
Q5. About 14 percent of Lakewood households have no access to an automobile and are dependent on public transit/biking/walking for all their trips. Peer cities are advancing multi-modal transportation to improve safety, access to jobs, community health, the environment, and to attract new residents. Are you now, or have you ever been, in a zero-car or transit-dependent family? How will you advance public transit in Lakewood, and how will you keep public transit comfortable and convenient year around?
Before I moved to Ohio, I lived and worked in Washington, D.C. and never owned a car for the 11 years I lived there, relying instead on public transportation (light rail) and walking. Part of what attracted me to Lakewood in 2004 was that it felt to me (approximately) like a D.C. neighborhood with which I was familiar. Today we are a two car household that walks regularly to school (four days per week). I keep my vehicle miles travelled quite low since most days I work in Lakewood. In the future, I could envision us down-shifting to being a one-car household.
For public transit, Lakewood should continue pursuing ways to bring back the Lakewood Circulator on a targeted basis (e.g. targeting higher ridership for certain times of day such as commuting, errand-running, or evening entertainment). This would be a step preliminary to bringing back the full service circulator, which was expensive and didn’t enjoy high ridership at many times of day.
In addition, we should continue exploring last-mile transportation measures. The e-scooters Lakewood deployed is a worthy experiment and could be attempted again if we curb scooter litter, properly prepare for safety, and clearly define metrics for success.
Q6. The Community Circulator was a city-funded bus service that served only Lakewood and ceased operation in 2009 despite popularity and heavy reliance on the service by Lakewood seniors. Would you support a budget that funds the Community Circulator and what do you see as the largest barrier to Lakewood residents using public transit?
See my answer in Question 5 for part of this answer. In the past, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) paid for, owned, and operated the Lakewood Circulator. This service lost money, although was the most heavily-used in its service territory. It ended with the State of Ohio greatly reduced funding to GCRTA.
It would not be realistic for the City of Lakewood alone to take on funding of the full Circulator service that has been previously run by GCRTA with a day-long service schedule. Instead, the City could explore resuming Circulator service on a more limited schedule targeted to certain types of riders (meaning the purpose of their trip) to evaluate if demand is high enough to result in significant ridership. If successful, joint funding with other agencies could be explored.
Q7. Suburban sprawl has been a major theme in greater Cleveland’s decades of population decline. As a population of people spreads out, maintaining public services becomes less efficient and more costly. How will you proactively integrate efficient and sustainable land use policies into your transportation agenda?
Making Lakewood vibrant, successful, and desirable as a location for workers, shoppers, and residents is 100% about reversing sprawl. Since I began serving on City Council in 2008, we have made very significant progress towards these very goals.
The redevelopment of the former Lakewood Hospital Site as well as of former car dealerships (Barry Buick and Spitzer) with high density development on Detroit Avenue (where people can walk, bike, or ride the bus) are all developments I have actively supported and which are examples of efficient and sustainable land use. The same is true of a pending new affordable senior (~100 unit) housing development on the parking lot across from the Phantasy Theater and a possible one on the site of the former Hilliard Theater are additional examples I fully support.
The City of Lakewood is currently conducting a zoning code refresh that could facilitate additional housing types and support additional density–an opportunity for further fighting sprawl and supporting Lakewood.
We are also well underway on other measures such as reinvesting in our sewer and water infrastructure and maintaining and improving our sidewalks and street trees–ways in which we reinvest in our century-old homes, neighborhoods, and commercial areas to make efficient and sustainable use of land.
Q8. People care about street safety and bicycling, transit and walking issues. Why should these voters vote for you?
I joined Bike Lakewood in 2006, learning about bike safety, infrastructure, and design improvements from leaders of the organization over the years.
I have served on City Council since 2008 and am among the very first to advocate strongly and consistently for increased bike planning, the creation of a bikeway network, and for City investment in bike facilities, education, and encouragement. We’ve come a long way since our first Bicycle Master Plan, sharrows on Detroit Avenue, and the city’s first bike corral in front of Root Cafe. I’ve provided a steady drum beat of support for increased planning, funding, and incremental bikeway improvements that resulted in Franklin, Madison, and Lake Avenue bike facilities, the separated lane on Clifton Boulevard Extension, as well as bike repair stations (at one time) at parks. I even arranged a vendor to install a couple demonstration patches of green pavement across from Lakewood High School.
Now that I have kids in school, I’m participating in Hike & Bike to School efforts and serve as a co-coordinator for my building, Grant Elementary.
There’s always more to do, and you can count on me to champion these efforts.
Brian Higgins
No response received.
Sarah Kepple
Q1. Bicycling, walking, and transit infrastructure enhances quality of life and addresses issues such as affordability, equity, access, health, and the safety of our streets. City Council recently created the Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board (CASE). What initiatives would you like to see the CASE Board pursue?
I authored the Ordinance that formed the CASE Advisory Board, and co-sponsored the Complete Streets Ordinance. Whereas Complete Streets, the Active Transportation Plan, and the ADA Transition Plan are meant to address safety and accessibility through capital planning and major infrastructure, CASE Advisory Board is mean to help further a multi-modal transportation culture, provide lived experience perspectives on quicker, short-term solutions to improve safety and accessibility, and help to educate and inform the community.
I included the City’s Public Information officer as an ex-officio member to encourage collaboration on public safety messaging, for instance videos explaining various bike lane markings and how drivers should interact, or common mistakes to avoid to block sidewalk accessibility for people with disabilities, etc.. I could also see CASE Advisory Board going through a training program such as the Crash Analysis Studio, and using it as a mechanism to make recommendations for short term interventions as well as to work with the Planning Department on updating the traffic calming program. Council also recently reviewed a Circulator transit feasibility study that the Administration had commissioned. I could envision CASE working with the City on designing and promoting a pilot program. I would also love to see CASE partner with Keep Lakewood Beautiful and the Lakewood Garden Club on piloting planters to separate bike lanes. These are just a few of many possible ideas for CASE Advisory Board. I am interested to also hear the ideas of the appointed citizens.
Q2. People bike and walk when it’s safe, comfortable, and connects to the places they need to go. Lakewood’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) informs new-to-Lakewood ATP features into future infrastructure projects. In your opinion, what are some effective and achievable design features that could be added to our city and what are the biggest barriers to adding them?
I would like to see raised crosswalks, particularly around schools, high traffic intersections, and at HAWK crosswalk areas. In addition to making folks crossing, including shorter kids, more visible to drivers by raising them up, drivers also learn to slow down as they approach the intersection, and folks with disabilities and wheel chair users can avoid bumpy curb cuts and continue on a level surface. Some of the challenges for implementation will likely be intersection with storm drains and concern about snow plows. I would also like to see pedestrian islands, curb bump-outs and high visibility crosswalks on Clifton which has long crossings and fast vehicle traffic. Again, storm runoff will have to be creatively and strategically considered with the ongoing sewer work.
Q3. Lakewood City School District is a “walking district” and has no school bus service for students traveling to or from school. Safety was listed as the primary concern of parents in making a decision to allow their child to walk or ride a bike to school. What, if any, changes would you advocate to increase the sense of safety for the families of Lakewood students who walk or bike to school?
Again, raised crosswalks around schools and crucial intersections will be a very helpful infrastructure solutions. Additionally, I can envision the CASE Advisory Board, which includes a school liaison, expanding on the success of Hike and Bike to school week with additional public engagement and awareness and ongoing use of walking busses. Reducing car speeds with increased traffic calming measures such as speed tables and ongoing work on the Active Transportation Plan and Safe Streets for All plan will not only help families feel safer, but be safer.
Q4. Cities across the country are installing protected bike lanes, which are bike lanes with a physical barrier between bike and automobile traffic, to encourage more people to ride and make roadways safer for all users. Do you support protected bike lanes on any Lakewood streets? Please explain why, or why not.
Yes I support protected bike lanes. A physical barrier is the safest solution for all. Motorized vehicles can’t hit what they can’t reach, and less confident or experienced cyclists, including youth, can feel and be safer than on the street or sidewalk. Students often ride on the sidewalk where protected lanes are not available, which can create a dangerous situation for seniors and pedestrians with disabilities. Protected lanes give everyone safe space. Additionally, folks who use mobility devices can benefit from these lanes as they are smooth continuous surfaces.
Q5. About 14 percent of Lakewood households have no access to an automobile and are dependent on public transit/biking/walking for all their trips. Peer cities are advancing multi-modal transportation to improve safety, access to jobs, community health, the environment, and to attract new residents. Are you now, or have you ever been, in a zero-car or transit-dependent family? How will you advance public transit in Lakewood, and how will you keep public transit comfortable and convenient year around?
I had a year at Kent State University without a car and I have often used the example of the Campus Loop as a model for how a circulator could be convenient and reliable enough to be used regularly by residents. While the City of Lakewood does not have oversight of RTA services in Lakewood, we can support connectivity by continuing work on the Active Transportation Plan, including increased right of way access to the Triskett Rapid Station. We can also continue to lobby the state and federal government for increased funding of public transit. I have previously successfully lobbied to get the Cleveland RTA website up to ADA accessibility.
Q6. The Community Circulator was a city-funded bus service that served only Lakewood and ceased operation in 2009 despite popularity and heavy reliance on the service by Lakewood seniors. Would you support a budget that funds the Community Circulator and what do you see as the largest barrier to Lakewood residents using public transit?
City Council recently asked the Administration to present the transit feasibility study that they had commissioned over a year ago regarding the Circulator, and the video of that that Housing, Planning and Development meeting on September 8, 2025 can be watched off of the City Council Webpage. The largest barrier to Lakewood residents using public transit is that it needs to be convenient and low cost enough to incentive use over other methods such as ride-share services. I use the Kent State loop as a perfect example of a service that was regular enough, for instance every 20 minutes, that it was convenient, and it was free for anyone on campus to board. I have proposed funding a pilot model like this using the city’s existing ADA accessible senior vans running a regular loop around Lakewood. The data from this pilot could help us assess community interest and do a proper cost-analysis, and the City would likely have to self-fund a Circulator program.
Q7. Suburban sprawl has been a major theme in greater Cleveland’s decades of population decline. As a population of people spreads out, maintaining public services becomes less efficient and more costly. How will you proactively integrate efficient and sustainable land use policies into your transportation agenda?
As Lakewood is landlocked in 5.5 square miles and the densest city in Ohio, we’re not sprawling ourselves, however we are affected by the sprawl of other communities, and people leaving Lakewood for larger lots and houses farther out with potentially lower property taxes but more expensive services and more fossil fuel consumption. Continuing work on expanding affordable housing and housing diversity can help reduce this problem. I am currently serving on the Zoning Code Refresh Advisory Committee which includes elements to help maintain and increase density where appropriate, encourage sustainable practices, and allow for more accessible housing.
Q8. People care about street safety and bicycling, transit and walking issues. Why should these voters vote for you?
I established the CASE Advisory Board and co-sponsored the Complete Streets Ordinance, served as the Council Liaison to the ADA Transition Plan Task Force, and have consistently worked to improve multi-modal safety.
Angelina Hamilton Steiner
Q1. Bicycling, walking, and transit infrastructure enhances quality of life and addresses issues such as affordability, equity, access, health, and the safety of our streets. City Council recently created the Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board (CASE). What initiatives would you like to see the CASE Board pursue?
I would like to see the CASE Board first and foremost embark on education and outreach. I think there is confusion when it comes to bike lanes, and how to interact with bike lanes most as a driver, but even as a pedestrian crossing the street. I would like CASE to work with Lakewood City Council and the Administration to produce education pieces and perhaps some engaging PSA’s that can be shared via social media.
I would also like to see CASE work with Council to address inequities in the various modes of transportation that individuals use. I would like to see a partnership to advance equity in transportation in our community so that everyone in Lakewood no matter mode of transportation or abilities is able to participate in our community safely.
Q2. People bike and walk when it’s safe, comfortable, and connects to the places they need to go. Lakewood’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) informs new-to-Lakewood ATP features into future infrastructure projects. In your opinion, what are some effective and achievable design features that could be added to our city and what are the biggest barriers to adding them?
The simplest would be bump outs which an example of was just recently done at Hayes Elementary School (Olive and Delaware). These can be added and are relatively simple to do. I don’t believe that anything is not achievable in the Active Transportation Plan. I believe that the biggest barrier to any aspect of the Active Transportation Plan is public support. Nothing is ever done without public support and the city has to do a better job at communicating with and educating the public about the Active Transportation Plan, what this means, and help them to understand better the benefits for everyone.
Q3. Lakewood City School District is a “walking district” and has no school bus service for students traveling to or from school. Safety was listed as the primary concern of parents in making a decision to allow their child to walk or ride a bike to school. What, if any, changes would you advocate to increase the sense of safety for the families of Lakewood students who walk or bike to school?
As a child that walked to school, most times without a parent or other adult, perhaps more parents would have their children walk if there were more organized walking busses and these were consistently done. There are parents that do not have the ability to walk with their children to and from school and/or perhaps have their children in before care/aftercare or their children walk on their own due to their adult’s work schedule. If these parents had the community they needed, these children could be included in the walking aspect, and we could decrease the number of cars on the streets during the critical hours of the day when children walk to/from school. Another issue is the number of crossing guards. If we can increase the number of crossing guards and ensure that there are never any gaps in service, we could increase the number of children that walk to school. There are areas of Lakewood that could use a crossing guard, and the city can look to increase the number of hires and ensure that they are paid equitably to limit turnover.
Lastly, I would also suggest bringing back safety patrol. As a fifth grade student in Lakewood City Schools, I was a part of Safety Patrol and took great pride in participating. It was an honor to serve, work with the crossing guards, and protect and help students. Safety patrol members helped to navigate students crossing sidewalks by parking lots and assisted crossing guards with crowd control at the street intersections. School safety patrol teams can also be involved in educating students through a peer-to-peer education model. I would work with Lakewood City Schools to revamp this program and bring it back as it will be a collaborative effort.
Q4. Cities across the country are installing protected bike lanes, which are bike lanes with a physical barrier between bike and automobile traffic, to encourage more people to ride and make roadways safer for all users. Do you support protected bike lanes on any Lakewood streets? Please explain why, or why not.
I am not sure that bike lanes on ‘any’ Lakewood streets are feasible (but perhaps it is). I think where it makes sense as far as planning and safety for everyone should be considered first and foremost and looked at. Lakewood is a densely populated community and will take unique approaches to planning and we will have to look at similarly densely populated communities and examine their approaches to planning. I support turning existing bike lanes into protected lanes and making those investments which should increase use of the bike lanes as safety (for both driver and cyclist) will be overwhelmingly improved.
Q5. About 14 percent of Lakewood households have no access to an automobile and are dependent on public transit/biking/walking for all their trips. Peer cities are advancing multi-modal transportation to improve safety, access to jobs, community health, the environment, and to attract new residents. Are you now, or have you ever been, in a zero-car or transit-dependent family? How will you advance public transit in Lakewood, and how will you keep public transit comfortable and convenient year around?
While I have never been in a zero-car or transit-dependent family, I as an individual was not a car driver until I was in college. As a child and teenager growing up in Lakewood I walked everywhere and/or used public transit to get to school, work, shopping, visit friends, etc. When I attended college out of state, one of the factors of me choosing where I went to college was the proximity of places to work off campus, shopping off campus, and mass transit. Now as an adult, I have been more intentional in opting for walking versus driving and want to advocate for the Community Circulator to make a comeback and increase accessibility to mass transit options.
Q6. The Community Circulator was a city-funded bus service that served only Lakewood and ceased operation in 2009 despite popularity and heavy reliance on the service by Lakewood seniors. Would you support a budget that funds the Community Circulator and what do you see as the largest barrier to Lakewood residents using public transit?
I will absolutely support a budget that funds the community circulator and in fact I requested that the Planning Department present the Transit Feasibility Study that was completed a year ago. I and other members of council have requested that the study be visibly present on the City’s website, so people are able to find it. I look forward to continuing discussion with the Planning Department and with members of council and advocate for some level of service for a Community Circulator that meets the needs of the residents, as this would be a barrier for residents using public transit; that it essentially doesn’t meet their needs.
Q7. Suburban sprawl has been a major theme in greater Cleveland’s decades of population decline. As a population of people spreads out, maintaining public services becomes less efficient and more costly. How will you proactively integrate efficient and sustainable land use policies into your transportation agenda?
Any transportation agenda that I would advocate for will also consider the goals of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) that was passed in 2023. The CAP will and should serve as the roadmap (no pun intended) for our community to follow for sustainability. A lot of time, work, and effort was put into the plan by the City and other community organizations and advocates.
Q8. People care about street safety and bicycling, transit and walking issues. Why should these voters vote for you?
People should vote for me because I am driven by service and compelled to act. I present solutions to challenges and work collaboratively in developing these solutions. I bring ideas and energy to the table and coalesce my ideas and energies with that of the community in creative problem solving to develop community driven solutions.
Allison L. Urbanek
Q1. Bicycling, walking, and transit infrastructure enhances quality of life and addresses issues such as affordability, equity, access, health, and the safety of our streets. City Council recently created the Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board (CASE). What initiatives would you like to see the CASE Board pursue?
Biking and walking are very important to our community. Folks of all ages deserve the right to get around our community safely. The CASE board is responsible for collaborating with the City to facilitate safe, effective and accessible multi-modal use of public corridors. I believe that the first course of action should be to create a plan on how to get all crosswalk signals to function without having to press a button to engage it. We should have a consistent system across town, enabling people of all ages to cross the street in a safe and consistent manner.
Secondly, there should be a plan to educate the general public on basic bike safety and how cars and bikes should share the road in a safe manner protecting bikers. Along with this educational plan, a study or plan should be created to figure out the best way to create more protected bike lanes.
Thirdly, the advisory board should work to create a campaign about distracted driving and all of the dangers that come along with it. Pedestrian safety is a big challenge in this city and we need to do more to hold drivers accountable for distracted driving, reducing dangers to non-car traffic in the community, ensuring that all can get around Lakewood without feeling afraid for their safety.
Q2. People bike and walk when it’s safe, comfortable, and connects to the places they need to go. Lakewood’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) informs new-to-Lakewood ATP features into future infrastructure projects. In your opinion, what are some effective and achievable design features that could be added to our city and what are the biggest barriers to adding them?
Lakewood’s Active Transportation Plan ( ATP) is a plan that covers bicycle, pedestrian and safety improvements in our community aiming to create a complete and connected network for year-round access to local resources. I believe that with this plan we need to create a more consistent plan for pedestrians to safely cross streets without having to engage the signal, this makes street crossing much safer for children and adults to cross the street safely and easier.
I also think that protected bike lanes should be a priority, making biking on our city streets safer for the biker and for drivers. This way both can safely utilize our streets in a less intimidating manner, especially on streets that have sharrows. The City of Cleveland just implemented protected bike lanes through the use of a car parking lane, they made Huron Rd one direction which allowed the change in how the street was used. This is not something that can be done on all of our streets, but could be helpful in certain street situations or on our larger streets that are wider than the average side street.
I am unsure what the barrier is for the in-consistent cross walk signals and hope that this simple change can happen immediately, ensuring safer means of crossing the street for folks of all ages.
As for the addition for more protected bike infrastructure, I believe that barrier is getting the public to understand the importance of these changes. I believe that a lot can be accomplished through education and an inclusive and pro-active communication and education plan.
Q3. Lakewood City School District is a “walking district” and has no school bus service for students traveling to or from school. Safety was listed as the primary concern of parents in making a decision to allow their child to walk or ride a bike to school. What, if any, changes would you advocate to increase the sense of safety for the families of Lakewood students who walk or bike to school?
Children and their families should feel safe getting to and from school, especially in a community where walking and biking is a very common. I think that we should work to get more crossing guards to help facilitate safe routes to school. I also think that doing more to promote more neighborhood walking school bus stops, encouraging more students and families to walk to school together. This promotes a sense of community, neighbors getting to know neighbors, as well as safety in numbers of creating more of a presence on our streets and in our crosswalks.
Q4. Cities across the country are installing protected bike lanes, which are bike lanes with a physical barrier between bike and automobile traffic, to encourage more people to ride and make roadways safer for all users. Do you support protected bike lanes on any Lakewood streets? Please explain why, or why not.
Yes, absolutely, protected bike lanes ( as I have mentioned above) are the best way to ensure that folks feel safe on the road. The protected bike lane not only provides a safe and protected route for bikes but also provides a protected lane that will allow cars to travel safely and not have to share one lane creating unsafe means of transportation for both car and biker. While this is not something that can be done on all roads, it should be prioritized on roads that can accommodate it and unique ways of creating the protection should be explored, like planters, curbs, parking lanes, bollards etc.
Q5. About 14 percent of Lakewood households have no access to an automobile and are dependent on public transit/biking/walking for all their trips. Peer cities are advancing multi-modal transportation to improve safety, access to jobs, community health, the environment, and to attract new residents. Are you now, or have you ever been, in a zero-car or transit-dependent family? How will you advance public transit in Lakewood, and how will you keep public transit comfortable and convenient year around?
My family is not a zero car or transit-dependent family. I am a very active pedestrian and I walk to work as many days as I can. I believe in supporting small businesses and tend to shop most at stores that are walkable from my home. I believe that we need to work with the community to best understand how public transportation is used and see if there are ways that we can work with RTA to ensure that service is consistent and offered as frequently as possible. The best way would be to partner with RTA to offer a community survey, focus groups and community conversations to ensure that all voices are being heard as well as getting the most accurate information to ensure service that actually meets the needs of our community.
Q6. The Community Circulator was a city-funded bus service that served only Lakewood and ceased operation in 2009 despite popularity and heavy reliance on the service by Lakewood seniors. Would you support a budget that funds the Community Circulator and what do you see as the largest barrier to Lakewood residents using public transit?
I moved to Lakewood in 2006 and I have heard stories about the Community Circulator. In order to support a plan to bring the Community Circulator back, I would need to understand more about its function, the cost and infrastructure that would be needed to run the program.
The biggest barrier to residents using public transportation is the frequency of buses as well as trying to get across town in an efficient way. it is very difficult getting across town if the destination is not a direct one. Buses only run frequently on Detroit and Clifton and usually only during the work week and during business hours.This can be a challenge for families who rely on transportation to take children to school or daycare and to get to work in a timely and efficient manner. We need to do more to understand our community’s transportation needs so that we can work with RTA and advocate for more effective ways to run routes to make things easier for folks.
Q7. Suburban sprawl has been a major theme in greater Cleveland’s decades of population decline. As a population of people spreads out, maintaining public services becomes less efficient and more costly. How will you proactively integrate efficient and sustainable land use policies into your transportation agenda?
Lakewood is an inner-ring suburb and is the densest city between New York and Chicago. There are 12,600 one and two family homes and approximately 8,000 apartment and condo units within our 5.5 square miles. Naturally our community is walkable with a fairly high walk score of between 75-86, with a bike and transit score that is lower. There is always work to do and I believe that we can accomplish more through community discussion and informed planning working to improve transportation so that folks can access all aspects of our community easily.
Q8. People care about street safety and bicycling, transit and walking issues. Why should these voters vote for you?
As a 20 year resident of Lakewood and for the past 12 years I have lived and worked in the same community, my work has allowed me to get to know our city and the folks who live here. I worked at LakewoodAlive, a local community development organization for 10 years where I had the privilege of creating programming that ensured folks had access to healthy, safe and accessible housing. I also worked with a team to host community events like Lakewood Summer Meltdown, Light Up Lakewood and Spooky Pooch Parade. For the past two years, I have worked for Barton Communities, where we create and manage high-quality affordable housing for older adults. My primary focus there is to ensure that residents have access to resources and supports that help them live their best lives possible. I am an active member of the Lakewood community and have a proven track record of creating and implementing programs that have long-standing impact. I have supported people and created a sense of community my entire career and when elected to Lakewood City Council, I intend to continue that work by continuing to serve my friends, neighbors and fellow community members through common sense approaches to improving infrastructure for walkers, bikers, and transit users.
Brian F. Ventura
Q1. Bicycling, walking, and transit infrastructure enhances quality of life and addresses issues such as affordability, equity, access, health, and the safety of our streets. City Council recently created the Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board (CASE). What initiatives would you like to see the CASE Board pursue?
The Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board (CASE) has a crucial role to play in building a more connected Lakewood. I would like to see the board focus on three key initiatives:
- Community-Led Planning: I believe the board should create neighborhood-level working groups to gather direct feedback from residents. This grassroots approach ensures that we are addressing the specific needs and concerns of each part of the city, from the accessibility needs of our senior residents on Mathews Ave to the safe routes for students walking to school.
- Public Education Campaigns: We need to do more than just build infrastructure; we need to teach people how to use it safely and effectively. I would like to see the CASE Board develop and launch public education campaigns focused on cyclist and pedestrian etiquette, safe driving around active street users, and the benefits of a less car-centric lifestyle.
- Cross-Departmental Collaboration: To be successful, the board must work closely with city departments like the Division of Streets and the Police Department. I would advocate for regular, scheduled meetings between CASE and these departments to ensure that active transportation is a priority in all new projects and safety initiatives.
Q2. People bike and walk when it’s safe, comfortable, and connects to the places they need to go. Lakewood’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) informs new-to-Lakewood ATP features into future infrastructure projects. In your opinion, what are some effective and achievable design features that could be added to our city and what are the biggest barriers to adding them?
In a dense, mature city like Lakewood, effective and achievable design features must prioritize safety and connectivity within our existing street grid. Some features I believe would be most impactful include:
- Enhanced Crosswalks: Upgrading key intersections with high-visibility, marked crosswalks, curb extensions, and pedestrian refuge islands would make walking and crossing streets significantly safer for everyone.
- Green Infrastructure: Integrating features like tree boxes and permeable pavement in our sidewalks and public spaces would not only enhance the comfort and aesthetics for walkers but also help manage storm water and reduce the urban heat island effect.
- Clearly Marked Shared Lanes: Where dedicated bike lanes are not feasible, we can implement sharrows (shared lane markings) and clear signage to remind drivers to share the road, making our streets more predictable for cyclists.
The biggest barriers to adding these features are funding and public buy-in. Many residents are concerned about the potential loss of on-street parking or the impact on vehicle traffic flow. We must address these concerns transparently and demonstrate how these changes ultimately benefit the entire community by creating a more livable and accessible city.
Q3. Lakewood City School District is a “walking district” and has no school bus service for students traveling to or from school. Safety was listed as the primary concern of parents in making a decision to allow their child to walk or ride a bike to school. What, if any, changes would you advocate to increase the sense of safety for the families of Lakewood students who walk or bike to school?
The safety of Lakewood’s children is a top priority. As a long-time resident, I understand the unique challenges our “walking district” presents. I would advocate for the following changes to increase the sense of safety for families:
- “Safe Routes to School” Program: I would actively support and expand a comprehensive program that focuses on mapping out and improving the most-used walking and biking routes to each school.
- Expanded Crossing Guard Presence: We should work with the school district and law enforcement to ensure there is an adequate number of trained crossing guards at key intersections during peak hours.
- Infrastructure Audits: I would propose a proactive approach to auditing and maintaining sidewalks to identify and repair hazards like cracks, uneven pavement, and overgrown vegetation that can obstruct movement.
- Community Watch Programs: We can empower parents and community members to volunteer in “walking school buses,” where groups of children walk to school together under adult supervision. This not only increases safety but also builds community bonds.
Q4. Cities across the country are installing protected bike lanes, which are bike lanes with a physical barrier between bike and automobile traffic, to encourage more people to ride and make roadways safer for all users. Do you support protected bike lanes on any Lakewood streets? Please explain why, or why not.
Yes, I absolutely support protected bike lanes on select Lakewood streets where it is feasible and beneficial for the community. The data from other cities is clear: protected bike lanes dramatically increase the sense of safety for cyclists, which encourages more people to use bikes for transportation and recreation.
My support is rooted in the belief that our streets should be safe for all users; drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Protected bike lanes create a clear, dedicated space for cyclists, reducing the potential for conflict with vehicles. This not only protects cyclists but also makes driving more predictable and safer for motorists.
Q5. About 14 percent of Lakewood households have no access to an automobile and are dependent on public transit/biking/walking for all their trips. Peer cities are advancing multi-modal transportation to improve safety, access to jobs, community health, the environment, and to attract new residents. Are you now, or have you ever been, in a zero-car or transit-dependent family? How will you advance public transit in Lakewood, and how will you keep public transit comfortable and convenient year around?
While I have had access to a car for most of my adult life, I have always understood and advocated for those who are transit-dependent. For the 27 years I’ve lived on Mathews Ave, I have used both the bus and rail lines, particularly the Clifton Boulevard bus line. When I worked on West 48th and Detroit in the early 2000’s I also biked to work. This personal experience has shown me firsthand the importance of reliable public transit.
To advance public transit in Lakewood, I would work to strengthen our partnership with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA). I would advocate for expanded service hours and improved frequency, especially on our most-used routes. I would also push for increased funding to modernize our bus stops with features like shelters, digital information kiosks for real-time tracking, and better lighting.
To keep public transit comfortable and convenient year-round, we must prioritize street-level amenities. This includes better snow removal around bus stops and sidewalks leading to them, as well as maintaining our sidewalks to ensure safe and accessible walking paths. On a more personal note, during the winter times I am known for clearing both sides of the sidewalks on my street as well as the bus stop near Detroit and Sloane.
Q6. The Community Circulator was a city-funded bus service that served only Lakewood and ceased operation in 2009 despite popularity and heavy reliance on the service by Lakewood seniors. Would you support a budge t that funds the Community Circulator and what do you see as the largest barrier to Lakewood residents using public transit?
Yes, I would absolutely support a budget that funds the Community Circulator. The fact that it was popular and heavily relied upon, especially by our senior population, is a clear sign that it addressed a critical need. This type of service enhances the independence and mobility of our residents, improves their quality of life, and is a strong example of a service a city should provide.
In my opinion, the largest barriers to Lakewood residents using public transit today are a lack of frequency and poor last-mile connectivity. For many, the closest bus stop is not easily accessible, or the wait times are too long, making the service feel inconvenient compared to driving. I would advocate for better integration of our multi-modal infrastructure to ensure that every resident has a safe, comfortable way to get from their home to the nearest public transit stop.
Q7. Suburban sprawl has been a major theme in greater Cleveland’s decades of population decline. As a population of people spreads out, maintaining public services becomes less efficient and more costly. How will you proactively integrate efficient and sustainable land use policies into your transportation agenda?
The best transportation plan is one that is seamlessly integrated with an effective land use policy. To combat suburban sprawl and its negative effects, I will proactively advocate for policies that support density and mixed-use development. This means updating our zoning laws to allow for more residential and commercial buildings in the same areas, creating walkable neighborhoods where residents can access services and jobs without needing to drive.
Q8. People care about street safety and bicycling, transit and walking issues. Why should these voters vote for you?
These voters should vote for me because I understand that transportation issues are not just about getting from point A to point B; they are fundamental to our quality of life. As a 27-year resident of Lakewood, I have walked, jogged, and biked on these streets, and witnessed firsthand the challenges and opportunities our city faces. I believe in a holistic approach that connects our transportation policy to our housing, economic development, and public safety.
I will bring a realistic, hands-on approach to the City Council. I am a strong advocate for safe streets, accessible transit, and walkable neighborhoods because I know that these are the building blocks of a stronger, more vibrant, and more equitable Lakewood for all of us, no matter our age or ability. I am ready to work with residents to turn these ideas into action and to make Lakewood a leader in modern, multi-modal urban planning.
Ward 2
Brian Evans
Q1. Bicycling, walking, and transit infrastructure enhances quality of life and addresses issues such as affordability, equity, access, health, and the safety of our streets. City Council recently created the Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board (CASE). What initiatives would you like to see the CASE Board pursue?
I think the CASE Board needs to play an active role in advising the administration and council on all streets-related projects. The CASE Board will be uniquely qualified to study upcoming projects from a variety of angles and used the members’ lived experiences to make thoughtful and informed recommendations. This board will also be an important advocate as we work to shift the culture in Lakewood from being so insanely car-centric.
Q2. People bike and walk when it’s safe, comfortable, and connects to the places they need to go. Lakewood’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) informs new-to-Lakewood ATP features into future infrastructure projects. In your opinion, what are some effective and achievable design features that could be added to our city and what are the biggest barriers to adding them?
I think all manners of traffic-calming, from digital speed readouts, to traffic speed bumps and tables, to road diets (specifically necking down pavement space at intersections) are all achievable given the circumstance. Cost is the biggest barrier to to more robust solutions like road diets, and process is currently a hindrance to basic traffic calming. I’m advocating to relieve the pressure on residents to achieve traffic calming measures on their streets and to proactively add measures to many streets, and to boost our budget to include other more expensive options when roadway work occurs.
Q3. Lakewood City School District is a “walking district” and has no school bus service for students traveling to or from school. Safety was listed as the primary concern of parents in making a decision to allow their child to walk or ride a bike to school. What, if any, changes would you advocate to increase the sense of safety for the families of Lakewood students who walk or bike to school?
Every single thing we can do to calm traffic and shift our culture will improve safety for our students. In addition to physical improvements, we have to continue to allocate resources for program like Hike and Bike and push out School Pool, which, I think, could have the biggest impact on families knowing they can get their kids to and from school safely, even when they can’t be with them.
Q4. Cities across the country are installing protected bike lanes, which are bike lanes with a physical barrier between bike and automobile traffic, to encourage more people to ride and make roadways safer for all users. Do you support protected bike lanes on any Lakewood streets? Please explain why, or why not.
I absolutely support protected bike lanes and agree that they can have a profound impact on folks who are currently hesitant to ride for transportation rather than recreation. The challenge, as always, is mainly cost compacted by tight right-of-ways on many of our corridors making it more difficult to build the necessary infrastructure.
Q5. About 14 percent of Lakewood households have no access to an automobile and are dependent on public transit/biking/walking for all their trips. Peer cities are advancing multi-modal transportation to improve safety, access to jobs, community health, the environment, and to attract new residents. Are you now, or have you ever been, in a zero-car or transit-dependent family? How will you advance public transit in Lakewood, and how will you keep public transit comfortable and convenient year around?
I have not been a zero-car household. Public transit is a necessity for many, and it’s imperative we all act as advocates at the state and federal to support transit, which is woefully underfunded, especially here in Ohio. Myself and colleagues are trying to find cost-effective ways to re-intrdue a circulator, but funding solely from the city is not realistic.
Q6. The Community Circulator was a city-funded bus service that served only Lakewood and ceased operation in 2009 despite popularity and heavy reliance on the service by Lakewood seniors. Would you support a budget that funds the Community Circulator and what do you see as the largest barrier to Lakewood residents using public transit?
As mentioned above, a Lakewood budget that funds a circulator simply isn’t realistic in today’s reality. I wish that weren’t the case, but there’s no way around the fact that transit in general, and specifically on a small scale, loses money — ridership and modest fares do not come close to a break-even point. I think the biggest barrier to Lakewood residents using transit is a negative perception of transit in general, and of RTA specifically, combined with the inability to quickly get to where they want to go efficiently.
Q7. Suburban sprawl has been a major theme in greater Cleveland’s decades of population decline. As a population of people spreads out, maintaining public services becomes less efficient and more costly. How will you proactively integrate efficient and sustainable land use policies into your transportation agenda?
I’m a planner at heart. I live in Lakewood because it’s the only place in Northeast Ohio anything like it – it’s dense and compact, providing the exact mix of people and geography where transit and walkability should thrive. Active projects today in Lakewood are building on that density and smart-growth ethos, and our updated zoning code will increase our ability to build smarter and denser. I whole-heartedly support our current development strategy and a zoning code that will allow for different types of housing that will increase our density and allow for more affordable options.
Q8. People care about street safety and bicycling, transit and walking issues. Why should these voters vote for you?
I firmly believe that Lakewood needs to LEAD, not FOLLOW, when it comes to smart and inclusive transportation planning. We don’t. We need to back up our walkability claims with infrastructure upgrades and make real efforts to change our culture. I am committed to fighting this battle on both of those fronts — yes, infrastructure is critically important, but if we ignore behavior, we’ve already given up the game. These issues are absolutely critical to me both personally and as a councilperson. I fight hard each day to remake Lakewood into a place where it’s easier to walk and bike around than it is to drive.
Kyle V. Robinson
Q1. Bicycling, walking, and transit infrastructure enhances quality of life and addresses issues such as affordability, equity, access, health, and the safety of our streets. City Council recently created the Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board (CASE). What initiatives would you like to see the CASE Board pursue?
As a daily runner, I see both the potential and the problems in our current street infrastructure. It’s not just about recreation, it’s about getting around safely and efficiently, no matter how you travel. The CASE Board should focus on practical, people first projects like conducting street safety audits, identifying and fixing dangerous intersections, and making sure every new infrastructure plan includes input from people who actually walk, bike, or take transit in our city.
Equally important is who gets appointed to the CASE advisory board. This can’t just be a checkbox committee. The committee needs people with lived experience and deep local knowledge. I’d like to see someone from Bike Lakewood on the board, along with others who bring real world insight: transit riders, mobility advocates, people working in public health or traffic safety, and even school representatives. Having a well rounded, qualified board is the only way CASE can move from ideas to impact.
Q2. People bike and walk when it’s safe, comfortable, and connects to the places they need to go. Lakewood’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) informs new-to-Lakewood ATP features into future infrastructure projects. In your opinion, what are some effective and achievable design features that could be added to our city and what are the biggest barriers to adding them?
We need more traffic calming on our streets. Raised crosswalks, curb bump outs, protected bike lanes, and better signage all help slow cars and make streets feel safer. The intersection at Hilliard and Madison is still a concern. It is busy, and it is not as safe as it should be for school children crossing there. We need a dedicated crossing guard and more consistent police presence during peak times. There are also blind spots that create real risk, one example is at SW corner of Detroit and Westwood Avenue, where visibility is poor and drivers often speed through when making the turn. Making sure all crosswalk buttons are functioning properly should be a basic standard, not something residents have to report repeatedly. In key areas, protected intersections could make a big difference.
As someone who runs almost every day through our neighborhoods, I’ve seen firsthand where design falls short. Sidewalks are inconsistent or missing entirely, bike lanes vanish when you need them most, and crosswalks are poorly marked or placed where drivers do not expect them.
One major barrier is how difficult it is for residents to actually get these improvements. The process is often frustrating and unclear. We need to make it easier and more responsive when neighbors ask for something like a speed table or crosswalk. Safety should not require a long process or a high threshold of complaints.
The other big challenge is funding and how it is prioritized. I will push for investments that reflect what residents are asking for safe, walkable, connected neighborhoods that support everyone, not just drivers.
Q3. Lakewood City School District is a “walking district” and has no school bus service for students traveling to or from school. Safety was listed as the primary concern of parents in making a decision to allow their child to walk or ride a bike to school. What, if any, changes would you advocate to increase the sense of safety for the families of Lakewood students who walk or bike to school?
This is a real concern, and it affects our most vulnerable residents: our kids. I strongly support keeping our neighborhood elementary schools open. Closing schools would force more families to drive their children longer distances, which means more cars on the road during peak times, more congestion, more pollution, and ultimately less safety for students who still walk or bike. Walkable, bikeable school access should be a core part of how we plan our neighborhoods.
To make that possible, we need to double down on Safe Routes to School efforts. That means more crossing guards, not fewer. It means clear and visible school zone signs, speed tables near schools, and better lighting in the early morning and late afternoon hours. I would also advocate for routine checks to make sure crosswalk buttons are working and visible at key intersections.
One simple but effective idea is making Elmwood a one way street during afternoon pickup at Grant, similar to how Lakeland is temporarily one way by Lincoln. This could reduce traffic confusion and give kids a safer environment to walk or bike home.
Parents and caregivers should be involved directly in identifying where the danger spots are. They know better than anyone where cars speed, where visibility is low, and where kids feel unsafe. As someone who runs through these neighborhoods regularly, I can say that if an intersection feels unsafe to me as an adult, it is absolutely not safe for a child walking to school.
Q4. Cities across the country are installing protected bike lanes, which are bike lanes with a physical barrier between bike and automobile traffic, to encourage more people to ride and make roadways safer for all users. Do you support protected bike lanes on any Lakewood streets? Please explain why, or why not.
Yes, I support protected bike lanes where they make sense, especially on streets that already carry a lot of traffic. They make roads safer for everyone, whether they are biking, walking, or driving. But they need to be planned carefully, with real community input and solid data behind the decisions. I have seen how even small changes, like adding a physical barrier, can shift how people move through a neighborhood. As someone who runs these streets almost every day, I support anything that helps make them feel safer, calmer, and more focused on people rather than just cars.
Q5. About 14 percent of Lakewood households have no access to an automobile and are dependent on public transit, biking, and walking for all their trips. Peer cities are advancing multi modal transportation to improve safety, access to jobs, community health, the environment, and to attract new residents. Are you now, or have you ever been, in a zero car or transit dependent family? How will you advance public transit in Lakewood, and how will you keep public transit comfortable and convenient year around?
While I don’t currently live without a car, I’ve spent significant time living car free in both San Francisco and New York City, and those experiences really shaped how I think about transit and city life. In those places, public transit and walking were not just options, they were the lifeblood of getting around. The system was frequent, reliable, and connected, and that made it possible to live fully without owning a car. It was amazing how much more you noticed your neighborhood, met people, and felt connected to the city.
Both cities also had thoughtful design around transit stops. Designs like covered shelters, clear signage, and timely information made waiting outside much more bearable, even in bad weather. That kind of investment made a huge difference.
Here in Lakewood, there used to be a bus route called the Lakewood Circular that made it easier to get around town without a car. I would advocate for bringing that back or creating something similar to help connect residents to jobs, schools, and local businesses. Making transit easier and more reliable not only helps residents get where they need to go but also supports small businesses by bringing more customers and employees into commercial areas.
To bring the best of those experiences here, I would push to improve infrastructure around our bus stops with shelters and better lighting and work to make sure real time arrival information is available and easy to find. I’d also prioritize stronger coordination with RTA and city level investments that make transit a year round, comfortable option, especially during cold months when waiting outside can be tough. If we want more people to choose transit, it needs to be convenient, safe, and reliable no matter the season.
Q6. The Community Circulator was a city-funded bus service that served only Lakewood and ceased operation in 2009 despite popularity and heavy reliance on the service by Q6. The Community Circulator was a city funded bus service that served only Lakewood and ceased operation in 2009 despite popularity and heavy reliance on the service by Lakewood seniors. Would you support a budget that funds the Community Circulator and what do you see as the largest barrier to Lakewood residents using public transit?
Yes, I touched on the idea of bringing back a version of the Lakewood Circular in my previous answer, and I definitely support exploring ways to make that happen especially with a focus on seniors and people with limited mobility. The biggest barrier to public transit use in Lakewood is how reliable it feels and whether people can easily get from their homes to the bus stop. If you have to wait outside in the cold for a long time or if the bus does not come on time, it becomes frustrating and people stop relying on transit.
A local circulator can help fill those gaps and make it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to get around on their own which supports their independence and dignity. Getting that right would make transit a real option for more people in our community.
Q7. Suburban sprawl has been a major theme in greater Cleveland’s decades of population decline. As a population of people spreads out, maintaining public services becomes less efficient and more costly. How will you proactively integrate efficient and sustainable land use policies into your transportation agenda?
Lakewood’s density is actually one of our biggest advantages. We already have a solid foundation to build on, so we don’t need to start from scratch. What we need to do is protect what makes our neighborhoods walkable and accessible and find ways to make them even better. That means supporting zoning rules that encourage mixed use development where people can live close to shops, transit, and services. It also means cutting back on rules that require too much parking, which can take up space and encourage more driving. Instead, I want to see more focus on filling in empty or underused spaces within the city rather than pushing outward into undeveloped land.
As an attorney, I have an understanding of how zoning laws work and how to change them thoughtfully so they support smart growth. When land use and transportation policies work hand in hand, we create a city that is easier to get around, more affordable to live in, and better for the environment. This approach also helps build a community that is vibrant and fair, where people have real choices about how they travel and where they live.
Q8. People care about street safety and bicycling, transit and walking issues. Why should these voters vote for you?
I’m not running just to fill a seat. I’m running because I live these issues every day. As an avid runner, I experience Lakewood’s streets on foot and see firsthand where they work well and where they need real improvement. Living and moving through the city has shaped how I understand what people need to feel safe and connected.
We need a real sense of urgency about all this. People are getting injured too often or even killed on our streets. I will bring that urgency to the table and push hard for changes that save lives.
As an attorney, I have the skills to dig into policies, fight for what matters, and make things happen. I want to make Lakewood a place where walking, biking, and taking transit are safe, easy, and reliable choices for everyone, not just those who drive. I believe no one’s opportunities should be limited by where they live or how they get around. That is why I am committed to making sure our city works better for all of us.
Board of Education
Monica Bruaw
Q1. Lakewood City Schools was recently awarded a $50k grant for a Safe Routes To School (SRTS) initiative. In response, Assistant Superintendent Christine Palumbo stated “This project is a priority because we realize how critical it is to help our families explore safe, reliable, and healthy ways for their children to get to school. We’re excited about the partnerships that will bring this vision to life and about the lasting impact it will have on our students and community.” Do you share Christine Palumbo’s SRTS vision and what partnerships and actions would you pursue to implement an SRTS plan in Lakewood?
Yes, I share Christine Palumbo’s vision for Safe Routes to School and strongly support the district’s commitment to ensuring that all students have safe, reliable, and healthy ways to get to and from school. Creating these pathways not only promotes student safety but also encourages healthy habits and strengthens the connection between our schools and the broader community.
To make this vision a reality, I would prioritize:
- Partnerships with the City of Lakewood and City Council
- Partnerships with local law enforcement
- Partnerships with parent/community groups
This will ensure we have consistent crossing guards at key intersections and safe, well-marked walking and biking routes. I would also advocate for practical supports like bike racks, helmets, locks, and clear wayfinding to make biking and walking accessible to more families.
By combining district initiatives with strong city and community partnerships, we can build a lasting program that supports student safety, independence, and wellness while also reducing traffic congestion around our schools. Walking and biking to school should be the norm, not the exception.
Q2. Bicycling and walking infrastructure enhances quality of life and addresses issues such as affordability, equity, access, health, and the safety of our streets. Lakewood City Council recently created the Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board (CASE). What initiatives would you like to see the CASE Board pursue?
I believe the CASE Board has an important opportunity to strengthen Lakewood’s commitment to safe, accessible, and equitable transportation. I would like to see initiatives that make walking and biking safer and more practical for students and families, such as improving crosswalk visibility, ensuring consistent crossing guard coverage, and expanding bike racks near schools and parks.
Education is also key. CASE could partner with schools and community groups to provide bike safety training, helmet distribution, and awareness campaigns that encourage drivers to share the road responsibly.
Finally, I’d like to see CASE explore partnerships with the City and schools to connect safe walking and biking routes across neighborhoods, ensuring that every student and family have affordable, healthy, and reliable ways to travel through our community.
Q3. Lakewood City School District is a “walking district” and has no school bus service for students traveling to or from school. Safety was listed as the primary concern of parents in making a decision to allow their child to walk or ride a bike to school. What, if any, changes would you advocate to increase the sense of safety for the families of Lakewood students who walk or bike to school?
Safety must be at the center of every conversation about how our students get to school. Since Lakewood is a walking district, we need to ensure families feel confident that their children can travel safely on foot or by bike.
I would continue to promote the district’s walking school bus program, where groups of students walk to school together with designated adult volunteers. This not only increases safety but also builds community connections. When people see their friends and neighbors walking to school on a regular basis, they are more likely to join.
In addition, I would support working with the City to improve crosswalk visibility, ensure consistent crossing guard coverage at high-traffic intersections, and maintain clear, well-lit sidewalks and paths. Expanding access to bike racks, helmets, and locks would also encourage safe biking.
By combining these practical supports with strong community partnerships, we can create safer routes and greater peace of mind for families.
Q4. Lakewood is a walking district in an area that regularly experiences severe winter weather. What is your view on the measures currently in place by the City and the District to accommodate the needs of all students, including those with disabilities and mobility needs as it relates to actively commuting in winter? What other measures would you like to see implemented to enable students to continue to commute safely year round?
Lakewood’s identity as a walking district makes it especially important that our sidewalks and routes to school remain safe and accessible year-round, including during severe winter weather. While the City and District already work to clear sidewalks and prioritize safe passage near schools, more can be done to support all students- especially those with disabilities or mobility needs. I believe we need to more actively listen to those with disabilities and mobility needs on what practical changes would ease their navigation of our city.
I would like to see stronger coordination between the City, District, and neighborhoods to ensure timely and consistent snow and ice removal along key school routes. This includes curb cuts, crosswalks, and ADA-accessible ramps, which are often the first areas to become blocked. Partnering with community groups or volunteer programs could help cover gaps more quickly. Social media can be utilized to foster connections amongst our residents to fill these needs.
In addition, expanding safe waiting areas near schools and ensuring sidewalks remain well-lit in the shorter winter days would give families greater confidence. For students with mobility needs, the District should continue to evaluate accessibility and provide additional support where routes are most challenging.
By planning ahead, coordinating resources, and listening to families, we can make sure that Lakewood students remain safe and supported in all seasons.
Q5. What funding grants, and/or initiatives, would you like to see Lakewood City Schools pursue to improve students’ experience walking, biking, or busing to school and how would you evaluate progress of such initiatives?
I would like to see Lakewood City Schools pursue additional Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grants as well as state and federal funding opportunities focused on student safety, wellness, and infrastructure. These grants could help expand programs like walking school buses, provide bike racks, helmets, and locks, and improve crosswalks, signage, and lighting near schools.
Beyond grants, I’d also like to see partnerships with the City of Lakewood to align infrastructure improvements with school needs, for example, making sure snow removal, sidewalk repair, and crossing guard coverage are prioritized on routes most heavily used by students.
The ODOT surveys are wonderful and I will work to ensure that this data collection is continued by teachers. To evaluate progress, I would look at measurable outcomes: increased student participation in walking and biking programs, reductions in safety incidents, feedback from parent surveys, and regular reviews of route conditions. By combining funding with strong accountability and community input, we can ensure these initiatives truly improve the daily experience of students and families.
Q6. People care about street safety and bicycling, transit and walking issues for students. Why should these voters vote for you?
Voters who care about street safety, walking, biking, and transit should know that I am committed to making Lakewood a district where students can travel safely and families feel supported. One of my priorities is to keep all seven elementary schools open, which minimizes walking distances and ensures that neighborhood schools remain accessible to students.
My career is in educational facilities planning, allowing me to view the district at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels in terms of usage, infrastructure, and transportation. I support adopting a flexible intra-district open enrollment policy so families can choose a school that not only fits their child’s needs but may also provide a safer or more practical route to school. Combined with investments in Safe Routes to School initiatives and partnerships with the City, these measures will help protect students, expand options for families, and strengthen Lakewood’s identity as a walkable community.
I will bring a focus on safety, accessibility, and family choice to the board- because every child deserves a safe, reliable, and healthy way to get to our wonderful schools.
Nora Katzenberger
No response received.
Betsy Bergen Shaugnessy
Q1. Lakewood City Schools was recently awarded a $50k grant for a Safe Routes To School (SRTS) initiative. In response, Assistant Superintendent Christine Palumbo stated “This project is a priority because we realize how critical it is to help our families explore safe, reliable, and healthy ways for their children to get to school. We’re excited about the partnerships that will bring this vision to life and about the lasting impact it will have on our students and community.” Do you share Christine Palumbo’s SRTS vision and what partnerships and actions would you pursue to implement an SRTS plan in Lakewood?
I absolutely agree with Dr. Palumbo! We are excited about the opportunities this grant brings, as well. I would love to inform and encourage our students to walk or bike to school using some fun incentives and support for safe practices. I greeted kids at Harrison and Emerson for our most recent Hike & Bike Week and was happy to see families walking and riding up to school! I think we should definitely incorporate some safety reminders to all of our kids as we launch each initiative / encourage them to ride or walk to school. I would love to see some additional bike racks as participation increases, ways for kids who need helmets to get them paid for, a bike buddy system, and a personalized ‘safe route’ map that would show a student the safest way (for example the closest crosswalk) for them to get from their house to their school. A separate but complementary initiative the schools are using is School Pool, a free federal program providing an online tool connecting families to form walk and bike pools.
Q2. Bicycling and walking infrastructure enhances quality of life and addresses issues such as affordability, equity, access, health, and the safety of our streets. Lakewood City Council recently created the Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board (CASE). What initiatives would you like to see the CASE Board pursue?
I think educating kids on street safety is vital, but adults could use a refresher course, as well. The burden should be on everyone in the community, regardless of age and regardless of your mode of transportation. We’re all in this together. Kids, teens, and adults could use some standards for bike manners. What bikes can and cannot do, how to behave in traffic, how to pay attention, and ensure that you can see and hear what’s happening around you. There is a real problem with a lack of respect for people who are moving around in different ways. Whether that means someone in a wheelchair crossing the street, cars edging out bicyclists, and people with dogs on retractable leashes (which are banned in Lakewood) that are not visible, we need to give each other more space and time and respect.
Q3. Lakewood City School District is a “walking district” and has no school bus service for students traveling to or from school. Safety was listed as the primary concern of parents in making a decision to allow their child to walk or ride a bike to school. What, if any, changes would you advocate to increase the sense of safety for the families of Lakewood students who walk or bike to school?
I think routine helps to build confidence in both kids and parents. A route should be established that is familiar and safe, preferably with other kids or families. The safest route, with as few unmanned crossings as possible and no shortcuts. This will also make it easy for parents to find and pick up their kids en route, if necessary.
Q4. Lakewood is a walking district in an area that regularly experiences severe winter weather. What is your view on the measures currently in place by the City and the District to accommodate the needs of all students, including those with disabilities and mobility needs as it relates to actively commuting in winter? What other measures would you like to see implemented to enable students to continue to commute safely year-round?
In my years on the board, the main danger I’ve seen in winter weather is the accumulation of snow created by snow plows. Kids climb over these snow piles to cross the street and become invisible to cars. Snowy and icy sidewalks also make kids go into the street to walk, where they are obviously at risk. Ideally, residents would clear their sidewalks before kids walked to school, but that is not always possible for many reasons including physical limitations, scheduling, etc. In recent years, the major reason for snow days has not been snow, but below zero temperatures and high winds. While we are so fortunate to live in a walkable community, it does come with some additional responsibility for getting kids to and from school in extreme weather. I love to see parents join forces to support each other with carpools in bad weather, as we did when my kids were in school.
Q5. What funding grants, and/or initiatives, would you like to see Lakewood City Schools pursue to improve students’ experience walking, biking, or busing to school and how would you evaluate progress of such initiatives?
I hope we will continue to pursue grants including HLF Healthy Lakewood Foundation grants promoting safety as well as the Hike & Bike program and any other initiatives resulting from the SRTS grant that become successful. We would evaluate progress as participation increases and based on how many kids start and continue commuting this way. I’d love to see our walking buses grow and give parents an opportunity to rely on each other for pooling in the morning. We need to keep looking at transportation alternative program (TAP) grants. I know the CDC also funds bike safety grants that we may be eligible for. I’d like to see fundraising activities for bike helmets and find charitable organizations or local bike shops that want to help with repairs or rebuilds so kids can take advantage of used bikes. I’d hate to see a kid miss out on biking to school simply because of a flat tire or lost helmet.
Q6. People care about street safety and bicycling, transit and walking issues for students. Why should these voters vote for you?
Because I care about students getting to school safely, on time, relaxed and ready to learn and have a great day. This is important for the environment, it’s great for camaraderie, it’s physical exercise, you start the day with a sense of accomplishment and independence. Kids gain confidence when given responsibility for themselves. We need to set the stage for them to succeed and enjoy the benefits!