Response from Tempe Mayoral Candidate Linda Spears – Tempe Election 2012
The board of Tempe Bicycle Action Group recently sent questions to all of the candidates for Tempe Mayor and City Council prior to the upcoming election, so that the voters of Tempe can hear the candidate’s positions on cycling and cycling related issues.
Responses from all of the candidates can be found here: https://www.biketempe.org/tempe-election-bicycle-qa-candidates-responses/
Response from Mayoral Candidate Linda Spears
Ride on trails for recreational purposes.
2a. Do you think cycling in Tempe is safe for you, your family members and friends?
Safe on trails, not all streets.
2b. What would do do to improve the safety of the cycling environment?”
Need more dedicated bikeways to improve safety.
3. What have you done or worked on in the past that shows your record of being involved in bicycle safety or road/trail improvement campaigns?
Not involved in the past. Please elaborate.
Specific improvements in Tempe
4. Where do you think cycling fits in Tempe or any city’s transportation infrastructure and planning?
Cycling is part of a multi modal transportation plan.
5. Many streets in Tempe do not have bike lanes (Broadway Road, Rural Road, McClintock Drive, Southern Avenue) and are not comfortable for any users other than automobile drivers. What measures would you support to improve the state of bike lane frequency in Tempe (i.e. road diets, shared spaces for bikes/buses, increased bike lanes)?
Complex question – no one answer fits all situations. Where roads are wide enough, bike lanes and dedicated bus lanes are reasonable. Restriping of lanes to facilitate bike lanes, eliminating left turn lanes based on traffic levels may also be possible.
6. How will you work with ADOT to obtain more bicycle and pedestrian facilities adjacent to and over the local freeway system like Country Club Way and Alameda Drive? Bicyclists have requested freeway crossings at Alameda and the I-10 and the Western Canal and I-10 and Balboa and 101 etc…
Being an advocate for Tempe infrastructure improvements with ADOT is a Mayor’s role. The crossing at Country Club Way and US 60 was very contriversal – neighborhood fought that crossing fearing that crime would come to their neighborhoods. It’s a difficult balancing act to determine the greater good.
7. The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is surrounded by roadway devoid of bike lanes. How would you make the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport accessible by bike?
The clearest path would be down Washington to the transit site at 44th St., providing bike storage there with passenger transport to the terminals via the rail system.
Tempe’s cycling image in the US
8. How would you increase Tempe’s standing in the broader bicycle community? For example, how would you help Tempe grow from its “silver” status with the League of American Bicyclists to a “platinum” status?
Not familiar with the rating system. Willing to work with the cycling community to achieve.
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