With elections right around the corner (November 7th) and as a city that holds the distinction and enjoys the reputation as one of the country’s most bicycle-friendly communities, bicycling must be prioritized among our newly elected City Council. With Councilmembers in Districts 2, 4, and 6, on the ballot this year, as bicycle enthusiasts and supporters we want to know where the candidates stand on the past-time, the sport, and the active mode of bicycling — that is so important to us and our future, as well as such a part of our city’s identity.
Bike Fort Collins sent each of the candidates listed below a short questionnaire intended to allow them to introduce themselves and provide their position on proximate bicycle and active transportation-related issues. While, as a 501c(3), BFC cannot endorse nor support a specific candidate, we are happy to compile and share their responses to enable you to make more informed decisions when filling out your ballot this year.
All candidates are listed below alphabetically. Click on their name to view/read their questionnaire responses. What boundaries does each Council District represent? View a District Map here.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES (2-YEAR TERM)
CITY COUNCIL – DISTRICT 2 CANDIDATES (4-Year Term)
CITY COUNCIL – DISTRICT 4 CANDIDATES (4-Year Term)
CITY COUNCIL – DISTRICT 6 CANDIDATES (2-Year Term to Fill Vacancy)
- ALEXANDER ADAMS (Did not recieve answers)
- EMILY FRANCIS
CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
Below are the questions we asked the candidates:
General
- Do you regularly ride a bicycle? If so, what kind of riding do you do?
- Given Fort Collins’s bicycle friendliness, what City bike amenity (i.e. what bike trail, or bikeway, maintenance stations, etc.), element of bicycle infrastructure, or bicycle program is your favorite, or (if you ride) that you use most regularly?
Active Modes Plan
The City’s most current Active Modes Plan combines and updates the City’s 2011 Pedestrian Plan and 2014 Bicycle Plan as well as incorporating micromobility devices such as scooters and skateboards.
- What should be the City’s role in supporting (including funding) active modes of transportation as a safe, affordable, efficient and convenient travel option for people of all ethnicities, ages and abilities?
- What role do you see active transportation playing in City’ ability to achieve its goal and reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2030 (vs. 2005 levels), on its way to carbon neutrality by 2050?
Bicycle Infrastructure
Significant areas of our local community have gaps or intersections and areas that need improvement as it relates to safe bicycling and walking infrastructure. In addition to being a safety hazard, they discourage residents from these activities, as a recently completed Multi-modal Index also highlights. Bike Fort Collins has begun to feature some of these ‘opportunities’ on our website as Intersection/Facility Focuses, as well as made presentations to the city’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and Transportation Board.
- How would you approach these opportunities and other infrastructure gaps relative to bicycle safety?
Fort Collins Bike Park
Bike Fort Collins is a partner in an initiative started by our peer organization, Overland Mountain Bike Association, to bring a Bike Park to the City of Fort Collins. While Fort Collins is the progressive and bicycle friendly city that it is, many residents have to travel to places like Boulder (see Valmont Bike Park) to access such an amenity. In surveying the community for input during the 2020 Parks & Rec 10-Year Master Planning process, if ‘Mountain Bike Courses’ hadn’t been listed separately from ‘Bike Park’ (as they are contained within Bike Parks), the combined category would have been among the top-four identified/desired amenities by the community. See survey results.
- Do you support the planning and construction of a Bike Park for the Fort Collins community? Why or why not?