Educate yourself on where the candidates stand on bike and pedestrian issues and vote in the primary election on Tuesday, September 9, as well as the general election on Tuesday, November 4.
As with the Providence mayoral candidate questionnaires previously posted, RIBike has requested that each of the candidates campaigning to be our next Governor share their thoughts on bicycling with voters.
All candidates were sent requests to participate using the email addresses listed on their campaign websites and notified that we would post the responses online. We have now received responses from four of the six candidates.
We hope you’ll take some time to read their responses; to dialogue with the candidates, us, and other Rhode Island voters about bike and pedestrian issues here, at forums and events, or on Twitter; and to go to the polls on September 9 and November 4.
We would like to sincerely thank the candidates for taking the time to make statements.
2014 Candidates for Governor of Rhode Island
Click on the candidate’s name to read the statement
Democratic Candidates
>> Todd Giroux – Did not respond
>> Clay Pell
Republican Candidates
>> Ken Block
>> Allan Fung – Did not respond
As pointed out in the comments, we did neglect to invite the candidates not participating in the primaries to respond to our questions. We will be sending the questionaires to them and posting their responses as they are received.
Independents
>> Kate Fletcher
>> Leon Kayarian
Moderate
>> James Sp0oner
Please note that the candidates responded to the following prompt:
“I am writing on behalf of the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition to all candidates for Governor to ask for a statement on bicycle issues in our state. We would appreciate your response to the following, which indicate the range of issues of concern to the bicycle community in Rhode Island.
Please let us know of any actions you have already taken that could improve conditions for bicycling.
What would you hope to do as Governor to:
- reduce highway injuries and fatalities, especially to bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users?
- expand our bicycle path network, in particular by connecting the existing network to the urban core—Woonsocket, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Providence?
- promote bicycle oriented tourism so that we can get a good share of the national $47 billion bike tourism market?
- implement the 2008 law that our state government take steps to reduce state employee automobile commuting by a goal of 35%?
- review subsidized “free” parking policies associated with the expenses of the proposed Garrahy Court House garage, URI-Providence leased parking, and the paving over green space at URI, RIC, and even the State House lawn?
Nearby MA is ranked the 10th most bike friendly state (RI is 27th) and has a goal of tripling miles of non-automobile travel by 2030, including bicycling, walking, transit use. What do you think of goals to put RI among the top 10 bike friendly states and similarly encourage non-car travel so as to combat climate change and help our environment, economy, and quality of life?
You are welcome to add a comment about your personal interests and/or experiences with bicycling.”