Dear Club Members,

The Chair of our Commuter Committee (Jim Funk) recently asked the candidates in the upcoming Gainesville City Commissioner elections the following question:

“As a resident of Gainesville and Chair of the Gainesville Cycling Club's Commuter Committee, I would like to share with club members your insights, ideas and plans on what can be done to facilitate transportation within the city. This would include multi-modal transportation, organization of routes, construction and design of streets/paths, and organization of traffic flow and parking. If you could answer me please by email I would much appreciate it.”

Only two candidates responded--Donna Lutz and James Ingle from the City at Large race.  Here are their answers.  And remember that the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.  Early voting ended Saturday, so you cannot vote downtown on Monday.

I have edited the responses for format and syntax, but not content. A more readable, printable version is at https://docs.google.com/document/d/13RBd1AvPWG3pc0EbVKry9hrNfFrBOjkXI1C0R3p3WWY/edit?hl=en_US  

Regards,

James Thompson
Newsletter Editor
Advocacy Director
Gainesville Cycling Club


(From James Ingle, City at Large Candidate)

Gainesville’s transportation infrastructure has dealt with massive growth over the last thirty years.  In many ways, we have responded positively by increasing bicycle lane mileage and bus ridership.  However, many low-cost improvements could and should be made by future City Commissioners.  As your next At-Large City Commissioner, I will work with neighborhoods, businesses, and the County Commission to improve multi-modal transportation in Gainesville.

We do have a lot in which to take pride.  Riding the bus is considered inefficient and slow in many cities, especially among young people accustomed to cars.  Here, riding the bus is an everyday experience for thousands of people from all walks of life.  To ride the bus is to see Gainesville “At Large.”  On any given ride you might see East Side working folk, Santa Fe and UF students, K-12 teachers, and even a few City Commissioners.  Our cycling commuters can also be proud to rank above Portland, Oregon in percentage of adults (7%) who replace gasoline miles with human-powered miles on a weekly basis--this according to the 2010 U. S. Census.

We do have some problems that the City Commission needs to address more vigorously.  Bus drivers are driving too long and working just under Florida Department of Transportation limits.  And they are not allowed to coordinate with each other to make ad-hoc decisions about connections and break-down adjustments.  This must change.  And we do have some routes that need an overhaul, especially for the heavy ridership of working people in East Gainesville that make our City thrive each day.  

As to bike lanes, we simply must coordinate with the County and UF to empower law enforcement--GPD, UPD, and ASO--so they can punish drivers who hit, maim, and kill cyclists.  You have a legal right and environmental obligation to commute and enjoy recreation on our public roads, and you also pay taxes to build them.  I am aware of a national crisis in punishing motorists who hit bikes, whether intentionally or by negligence.  As an experienced State of Florida lobbyist in Tallahassee, I will utilize my Commission position to represent you in this matter at the State level in passing laws, and at the local level in being an example to other cities on this issue.  

In the end, building roads, bike lanes, and bus routes is not the ultimate solution.  The most important improvement we need to make is in education, especially for our many young people in Gainesville.  This is where the next City Commissioner can do the most, and for the least amount of money.  Reading a national magazine article or hearing the President talk about the added costs and time of driving a car is one thing.  Hearing it in person from co-workers, a City Commissioner, and your neighbors at a park picnic, a ride to work day, or from a City press release is another.  It costs thousands per yard to build a road.  It costs much less to educate mid-towners and campus riders about the financial and environmental burden of parking, automobiles, and scooters.

Without government access and accountability to our City staff, transportation workers, and local residents, none of this can happen.  And our so-called “progressive” City Commissioners have failed us in this regard (see www.electjamesingle.com for some examples).  If elected, it will be my goal to alter the relationship between residents and government, and to report more aggressively what the Commission is doing on behalf of the people it represents.

Regards,

James Ingle
Candidate
Gainesville City at Large 2012
electjamesingle@xxxxxxxxx
www.electjamesingle.com
 
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(From Donna Lutz, City at Large Candidate)

Dear Jim,

Thank you for your correspondence, and I agree with you the issue is complex and deserving of more than an e-mail response.  I can tell you if I am elected, that I would approach this issue with the same big picture and consensus building approach that I have used my entire life.  

Before making any decisions, I would have interested parties present their ideas and solutions, then I would look at staff's recommendations.  I would then work with my fellow commissioners to make the best decision for the community of Gainesville.

As I live by the University, I do know that the coexistence of cars, bikes, and walkers is not always working.  People are not giving up their cars, and other people love cycling and walking.  It would be through the input of a group such as yours that one piece of the puzzle would be represented, and then we would put the other pieces together to get the big picture.

I know that respect is a word that would have to be kept in the dialogue also.  That is why in my campaign I talk about no labels!

If you have a specific question, please forward it to me.  We have 5 days, and I will be going to a debate at Santa Fe College this afternoon.

Regards,
Donna Lutz

Donna Lutz
Elect Donna Lutz
www.electdonnalutz.com
Follow me on;
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elect-Donna-Lutz/219302834790856
Twitter:http://twitter.com/#!/ElectDonnaLutz

 

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