BikeSD Endorses Kevin Faulconer for Mayor

No one has greater influence over the safety and design of San Diego’s streets than its mayor.  Former Mayor Filner’s (very brief) tenure gave San Diegans a true taste of the power of the mayor’s office and its possibilities. Between Plaza de Panama, the city’s first open streets event, CicloSDias, and a quick (if not perfect) solution on Montezuma Road after a preventable traffic fatality, San Diegans began to get a sense of the sheer power behind the Mayor’s office and the mayor’s ability to  improve traffic safety in the city of San Diego.  Faulconer is definitely no Filner, both in his governing style nor in his rhetoric, but he is a proponent of safer streets.

San Diego’s streets are slowly, but surely, undergoing a transformation.  The city is becoming a safer and more pleasant place.  But much work still remains.

After careful consideration of both Faulconer’s and Ed Harris’ records, public statements and responses to our questionnaire*, we are endorsing Kevin Faulconer for mayor in San Diego’s primary election.  Mayor Faulconer’s has shown commitment to the following:

  • Reducing vehicle miles traveled and sprawl.
  • Implementing the Bike Advisory Committee’s six highest priority projects from the draft Strategic Implementation Plan.
  • Training City staff on Complete Streets and Vision Zero planning and design.
  • Accelerating community plan updates so that their mobility elements reflect best practices in multi-modal transportation and are consistent with recent planning documents such as the Climate Action Plan and Bike Master Plan.
  • Annual monitoring of the Climate Action Plan to ensure achievement of the plan’s targets.
  • Revising Council Policy 800-14 regarding Capital Improvement Project Prioritization to incorporate Climate Action Plan transit priority areas and environmental justice considerations such as CalEnviroScreen.
  • Increasing mobility and economic opportunities for working families who cannot afford automobile ownership.
  • And funding 80 cameras in transit priority areas to gather improved bicycle commute data.

These commitments all played a key role in our decision as it was not only consistent with our organizational mission, but also consistent with our Strategic Framework.

“Of all the Mayoral candidates, Kevin Faulconer has laid out the most ambitious vision to continue making San Diego’s city streets safe and accessible for everyone, regardless of mode of transportation,” said Jeff Kucharski, BikeSD’s board president.

BikeSD’s choice of Mayor Faulconer was not made without careful consideration of his chief rival in the primary race, Ed Harris. Clearly, Harris has given transportation and regional planning issue serious thought. However, Mayor Faulconer outlined a more complete and compelling vision for bicycling in San Diego.

In addition to making streets safer, Mayor Faulconer is committed to making them more accessible and equitable, especially in historically underserved neighborhoods.  With Faulconer’s commitment to ensure the successful implementation of the Downtown Mobility Plan and achievement of his Climate Action Plan goal of 6% bicycle mode share by 2020, San Diego will compete for the most bike-friendly U.S. city. “Mayor Faulconer clearly understands that a successful city of the future is one that embraces safe and complete streets,” said BikeSD board member and BikeSD’s Policy Committee chair, Kristin Blackson. “It’s fundamental to not only our region’s economic development, but also to a vibrant and great quality of life.”

*As mentioned earlier, mayoral candidate Lori Saldaña didn’t respond to our questionaire.

BikeSD will help elect its endorsed candidates with volunteer support.

BikeSD Inc, is a 501(c)(4) California corporation. Our Endorsement Policy is available for you to read here. Please consider becoming a member or renewing your support so that we can elect strong leaders that will implement our vision in office.