BFOC’s Q&A with Dallas Mayoral Candidate David Kunkle

Team BFOC interviewed both of Dallas’s mayoral candidates to learn their positions on bicycling initiatives, and complete streets efforts in the city. Below is our Q&A with David Kunkle. Click here to view candidate Mike Rawling’s interview. Side note: Both candidates have agreed to join us on our upcoming “Hellhound on My Trail” Blues History Bike Ride on June 12th. 

Bicycle & Alternative Transportation:

Q. How often do you use your bike for transportation?

A. I own 4 bicycles (two hybrids, one race bike and one mountain bike) I generally ride one of the bicycles 3-4 times a week. Not only is it great exercise, it is a wonderful way to experience my neighborhood in a different way. I live close to the Katy Trail, Santa Fe Trail and White Rock Lake, so I enjoy all three trails. Additionally, my wife and I enjoy riding our bikes through Deep Ellum and over the viaduct to North Oak Cliff. We also enjoy riding our bikes to neighborhood restaurants.

Q. As mayor, how would you encourage more people to use bikes for transportation?

A. By example. If I am elected Mayor, I will ride my bike to City Hall often and encourage others to join me.

Q. What infrastructure changes would you prioritize to improve safety for cyclists?

A. The bicycle lanes in NYC seem to be problematic for cyclists. I actually favor wider streets with more street parking to help calm traffic.

Q. What elements of the bike plan would you give priority to?

A. Connectivity and Complete Streets

Q. Would you support bike lanes or transit improvements that might reduce capacity and cause vehicular delay during peak periods if safety was improved for bicyclists and transit riders?

A. Yes.

Q. Tell us about your favorite cycling experience.

A. Riding my bike around White Rock Lake, which I do 3-4 times a week. It’s relaxing and I enjoy watching how the community comes together at the Lake, from the runners and cyclists, to families enjoying the parks.

Q.  As mayor, how would you encourage people to use alternative transportation?

A. Again, by example. In addition to my bike, I also ride my Vespa frequently. My wife and I also enjoy taking DART. It’s important for everyone to recognize how easy (and fun) it is to use alternative modes of transportation.

Q. If gasoline goes permanently to $5 a gallon or more, what do you think will change about how people use transportation in Dallas? What changes would you make personally?

A. Personally, I already use my bike and Vespa quite a bit. We also live in a neighborhood where we can walk to restaurants and shopping. Hopefully more people will start making DART a more regular part of their transportation strategy.

Complete Streets & Livability:

Q. As mayor, how would you improve livability in the city?

A. By focusing on and celebrating individual communities. We need to embrace the aspects of our neighborhoods that make us unique. I strongly support the concept of “thinking small”. I believe North Oak Cliff is the best example of creating sustainable inner city neighborhoods. City Hall must do a better job of recognizing how we can best help communities grow organically- the City cannot be an impediment to neighborhood growth.

Q. Many in Dallas are frustrated with the lack of progress on the Trinity River project. What changes would you consider making to the plan and what priorities do you have for the project?

A. My number one priority will be to kill the Trinity Toll Road. We need to stop spending money and energy on a project that should not and likely will not be built. We must close that subject once and for all so it will stops diverting time and energy from the overall Trinity River Project. The safety of the levees is my first priority, next I will focus on making the Trinity Parks and Trails a reality for our citizens.

Q. If you had $100 to invest in ways to improve neighborhood streets in Dallas how much of it would you spend on:

making it safer $30
making it easy to park $10
putting in bike lanes $15
putting in sidewalks $15
putting in more businesses and stores $20
putting in more greenery $10
What other improvements would you invest in? Streetcars

Q. Thinking about City of Dallas Departments – what will be the biggest challenges for them as the Complete Streets plan is created? And what do you anticipate will be the biggest challenges from an implementation stand point?

A. People need to understand the Complete Streets concept and establish consensus around it – not just in Urban neighborhoods, but throughout the entire city. City Departments will carry out the direction they get from elected officials and I will be a strong advocate to make sure our city staff facilitates the Complete Streets vision. I run on the streets, walk my dogs, ride my bike and scooter: I personally spend quite a bit of time on our streets and experience the value of improving access and mobility to all street users.

Q. What do you like and not like generally about streets in the City of Dallas overall?

A. The streets in Dallas have been neglected for too long. Throughout the City of Dallas, our streets are crumbling. We must make improving our streets a priority. Potholes create dangerous driving conditions and damage to cars, but they also promote the image of a city that is neglected. For convenience, safety and property values, we must make it a goal to dramatically improve our streets and adopt the Complete Streets philosophy. This will help people become healthier and create safer and more livable neighborhoods.

Q. What are the drawbacks and what concerns do you have about complete streets for Dallas?

A. Some parts of the city may not embrace the vision. We need to educate the entire city on the long term benefits Complete Streets will create.

Q.  If you had friends visiting Dallas for the first time where would you take them, what would you show them?

A. First stop on the tour is always Bishop Arts. I love neighborhoods and I enjoy sharing the stories of neighborhood successes. From a beat cop to my time as police chief, I spend a large portion of y time exploring neighborhoods in all parts of our city.  I am also very proud of my own M Streets Conservation District, which includes he largest collection of Tudor homes in the United States.

BFOC’s Q&A with Dallas Mayoral Candidate Mike Rawlings

Team BFOC interviewed both of Dallas’s mayoral candidates to learn their positions on bicycling initiatives, and complete streets efforts in the city. Below is our Q&A with Mike Rawlings. Click here to view candidate David Kunkle’s interview. Side note: Both candidates have agreed to join us on our upcoming “Hellhound on My Trail” Blues History Bike Ride on June 12th.

Bicycle & Alternative Transportation:

Q. How often do you use your bike for transportation?

A. Seldom nowadays but in college it was my main form of travel.

Q. As mayor, how would you encourage more people to use bikes for transportation?

A. As President of the Dallas Parks and Rec Board I helped ensure Dallas had 100 miles of bike trails with plans to elevate that to 200, so yes, bikes as transportation is a platform I support.

Q. What infrastructure changes would you prioritize to improve safety for cyclists?

A. I would like to continue the work I did in the Parks and Recreation department and double the amount of bike trail miles in Dallas.

Q. What elements of the bike plan would you give priority to?

A. Safety for everyone has to be my priority.

Q. Would you support bike lanes or transit improvements that might reduce capacity and cause vehicular delay during peak periods if safety was improved for bicyclists and transit riders?

A. Safety is always a concern but changes to major roads would have to be handled on a case by case basis.

Q. Tell us about your favorite cycling experience.

A. While I was attending Boston College and living on the south side of town, I refused to take a car and would instead ride my bike all over town or even take the train but biking was a big part of my college years.

Q.  As mayor, how would you encourage people to use alternative transportation?

A. Making people aware of Dallas’s 100 miles of bike paths and continuing to support our DART system and light rail options.

Q. If gasoline goes permanently to $5 a gallon or more, what do you think will change about how people use transportation in Dallas? What changes would you make personally?

A. With rising gas prices people will inevitably seek other ways to travel; Dallas has invested in opportunities for people to do just that but we must continue to make non-car travel more efficient and effective.

Complete Streets & Livability:

Q. As mayor, how would you improve livability in the city?

A. By strengthening neighborhoods with better schools, more business opportunities and my continued focus on park and recreation development.

Q. Many in Dallas are frustrated with the lack of progress on the Trinity River project. What changes would you consider making to the plan and what priorities do you have for the project?

A. I propose to continue to look for way to minimize the cost of the project while making the levees safe and finishing the park and recreation areas.

Q. If you had $100 to invest in ways to improve neighborhood streets in Dallas how much of it would you spend on:

a. making it safer $30
b. making it easy to park $10
c. putting in bike lanes $10
d. putting in sidewalks $10
e. putting in more businesses and stores $30
f. putting in more greenery $10
g. What other improvements would you invest in?

Q. Thinking about City of Dallas Departments – what will be the biggest challenges for them as the Complete Streets plan is created? And what do you anticipate will be the biggest challenges from an implementation stand point?

A. As Mayor, I plan to help streamline each department to make them more efficient in implementing any and all plans.

Q. What do you like and not like generally about streets in the City of Dallas overall?

A. Most of Dallas’s streets are well maintained but there is always room for improvement.

Q. What are the drawbacks and what concerns do you have about complete streets for Dallas?

A. Balancing the needs of creating complete streets and prioritizing within the budget to be fiscally responsible so that the citizens get more bang for their buck in city hall.

Q.  If you had friends visiting Dallas for the first time where would you take them, what would you show them?

A. I always take my friends to The Bridge, Dallas’s Metro Homeless Shelter, because I am very proud of my work with the homeless. I also enjoy going to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens to showcase this beautiful area of Dallas to my friends. Then off to Al Biernat’s Steakhouse, a great place to finish the night and introduce visitors to Dallas’s great food scene.

Weeks 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21: 1 Day 52 Week No Car Challenge

A proud sponsor of the One Day 52 Week No Car Challenge

A proud sponsor of the One Day 52 Week No Car Challenge

Week 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21: Reset

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The last several weeks I’ve missed several posts.  I’m offering a reset to all of those still participating.  We’re currently on Week 21, based on my rudimentary calculations (counted each week by hand!).  Post by the end of Saturday this week if you’re still in the game.

Anyway, as the summer heats up, riding once a week is getting more challenging.  For those of you still at it, let me hear you!

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June 12th Group Ride: Hellhound on my Trail

BFOC is bringing back one of our popular history themed rides, Hellhound On My Trail. This ride highlights the blues and western swing past of Dallas. Once again, we’ll begin our ride at Dealey Plaza and the grassy knoll at 1:30PM on Sunday, June 12th. Be sure to arrive a few minutes early, as these history-themed group rides have been getting pretty large.

The group ride will take us through downtown Dallas and into the cradle of Dallas music history, “Deep Ellum”. From there, we’ll head over to 508 Park Avenue where the legendary Robert Johnson recorded, through the Cedars area to Bob Wills’ Longhorn Ballroom, across the scenic Corinth Street bridge, and onto the stomping grounds of T-Bone Walker. We’ll stop in the Bishop Arts for drinks, and end our tour passing Methodist Hospital, birthplace of Stevie Ray Vaughan.

The ride is approximately 9.5 miles, with some small and medium sized hills. This ride will be weather permitting and open to all expierence levels. Check back prior to the ride date for updates. A Facebook event for the ride can be found here.

A link to the proposed route can be found here.

And here’s some pics’ from 2009′s Hellhound ride:

Oak Cliff residents turn a blighted, trash-filled median into a neighborhood dog park

fidooakcliff was formed in 2010 to help promote development of a public dog park in Oak Cliff. After meeting with members of Team Better Block, the groups decided to collaborate and build their own neighborhood dog park using new and reclaimed materials over a weekend. The groups found a public median on Polk Street which had become an unsightly dumping ground filled with broken glass, overgrown weeds, and random trash. On the same site, a 100 year old pecan tree with branches that hung to the ground was trimmed back and became the focal point of the clean-up effort.

Prior to this event, the city had been discussing development of a 5 acre dog park miles away from the community, but thanks to this project, City Councilwoman Delia Jasso is now asking that the group continue to hold a pop-up dog park for the next three months while she works to make this small, neighborhood park permanent.

The location is also part of 6 green spaces identified by the N. Polk St Beautification Project for revitalization.

BFOC’er Scott Griggs is our newest Council Member!

BFOC member, and board member of the Oak Cliff Transit Authority has officially become the newest council member for the city of Dallas, taking the District 3 spot from incumbent Dave Neumann. Scott is an ardent fan of bicycling initiatives and a member of the Congress for New Urbanism. Having his voice on the council will go far to helping us move our city into a bike and pedestrian friendly place.

Way to go, Scott!!!

Bishop Arts BrewRiot Homebrew Beer Festival nearly here

One of Bishop Arts most anticipated events is back on May 22nd, from 4pm to 8pm. This year, we’re told a bicycle raffle will be added to the mix, along with goldsprints competitions, live music by the King Bucks, and games. If you’re a homebrewer, there’s still time to assemble your team and sign up to take part in the brew competition at brewriot.com. Also, a backyard burger grillout competition has been added to the mix, so it should be a fun filled evening.