2016 Election: Chris Ward on Issues that Matter to BikeSD Supporters in District 3

Our board sent questionaires to candidates running for city council and we will be posting their responses here. Christopher Ward is running against Anthony Bernal to replace Councilmember Todd Gloria who currently represents District 3.

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Chris Ward. Image via Ward’s website.

1) How do you envision the growth of cycling in San Diego – be it for transportation, recreation, or otherwise? Do you see cycling as a community builder?

Investing in our active transportation network will result in the growth of cycling in San Diego for transportation, recreation, and result in community enhancements and small business success. We see in cities around the world that when pedestrian and bike improvements are made we see more activity on our main streets, businesses thrive, and neighbors interact with one another. There’s been fewer community building successes than recent CicloSDias events that brought out so many neighbors to enjoy their community in a new way.

2) What steps must be taken to ensure the success of San Diego’s “Vision Zero” goals?

Including pedestrian and bike improvements as part of the planning and funding for capital projects to make sure we have safe corridors. I will also be a constant and able advocate for my constituents that request sidewalk repairs, crosswalk

installations and other projects funded outside of the CIP system.

3) Given the myriad of competing interests in D3 neighborhoods, how will you handle individuals and groups, alike, whose interests and actions run counter to the City’s transportation and street design goals as laid out in the Climate Action Plan, and Vision Zero initiative?

I believe that the next City Councilmember from District 3 can provide leadership to bring stakeholders from initially disparate standpoints together and find solutions that result in safer and complete streets throughout our neighborhoods.

My staff and I will spend the time it takes to explain to business owners and others nervous of change how safer street infrastructure will benefit their businesses and neighborhoods. I will also leverage the relationships I have with supportive business owners to help them speak with credibility to their peers.

I believe much of the frustration around the planning and outreach for bike and pedestrian projects has come from long delays, and outreach missteps from SANDAG. My background in urban planning gives me the technical expertise and understanding to look at the data and understand all of the impacts for proposals being sold to the community. In terms of the Climate Action Plan, I will advocate for funding projects that implement the goals of the plan and many of those will be focused on bike and pedestrian improvements to allow D3 residents to use non-car modes to get around.

4) Multiple studies have shown that increased bicycle accessibility, is good for local businesses – and that this even holds true when on-street parking is reduced. How can the information gap between advocates and businesses be bridged to advance our common interests of safe, thriving neighborhoods? Further, at which point do you say to those who refuse to engage as responsible and reasonable partners in the community’s progress, that the cycle of arguments must end so we may act for the common good?

When you look at the data from other cities that have invested in bike networks it is clear they are successful at bringing new riders into the system and increasing business for small businesses on main streets. From Portland to Washington DC, people are getting out of their car, experiencing their neighborhoods, and supporting local business. These experiences need to be shared so the information gap does not result in rejection of projects that are great neighborhood investments. As a policy and planning wonk, I know the success stories and can help facilitate those conversations.

Public participation for planning transportation is essential. However, our processes would be improved if entities like SANDAG acted quickly and efficiently, with specific public timelines for reaching decisions. I will push that for transportation planning, and remind City and SANDAG staff not to repeat past mistakes.

5) What (if any) plans and decisions, with respect to increasing cycling accessibility, have been made in the past by government agencies and elected officials that you disagree with? Did you make public that disagreement? And do you see an opportunity, if elected, to reverse it?

I spoke at SANDAG in favor of the Transform Hillcrest plan – an example of the business community, advocates, and neighbors coming together to support a plan that would increase cycling accessibility, increase parking, and provide great public spaces. It was a lost opportunity to not move forward with that plan and we see now that even the parking losses that were initially reported were greatly decreased due to work by SANDAG and city staff.

6) Will you support the implementation of the Downtown Mobility Plan designed by CivicSD, including budgetary requirements for its completion and success?

Yes.

7) If you have one, share a favorite cycling memory – and let us know how it shapes your desire to see safe streets in San Diego for all residents, across generations?

Less of a memory and more about a hope – to be able to ride bikes around the neighborhood with my daughter Betty when she gets older. I am lucky to live in a safe pocket of University Heights with minimal car traffic but would not feel comfortable riding from our home to Balboa Park with her based on the current bike infrastructure. Prior to her joining our lives, I remember trying to bicycle to church one day along University Avenue between Vermont and 1st Avenue. We wouldn’t bring her along the same route today given our experience.

8) Finally – If elected, will you commit to meeting with BikeSD representatives on a regular basis to continue the dialog around improving all D3 neighborhoods, and making San Diego the world’s greatest city for cycling?

Yes and I will have a staff member in my office who will be a liaison to the cycling community.

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.