District 1: Councilperson Darlene Harris responds to BikePGH Candidate Survey
District 1 Councilperson Darlene Harris
1. Do you use a bicycle (or walk) in the city? If so, for what purposes (commuting, recreation, errands) and how often?
Not as much as I used to, but growing up my family didn’t have a car, so I walked a lot and relied on public transit. I believe that it is important to look after those who do not have access to a car, because I’ve been there myself, and I understand how challenging it can be.
2. What roles do you think city council can play in making cities safe, accessible and friendly for biking and walking?
The City is responsible for the design, and layout of city streets. As a Council member I’ve worked to ensure that pedestrians and cyclists are always taken into consideration, rather than only thinking about drivers. Our streets belong to the residents of this city, and shouldn’t be designed to serve commuters driving in and out of town. If we want vibrant neighborhood business districts, our streets need to be safe and walkable.
Our bike trails along the rivers and throughout parks can be preserved, maintained, and expanded in appropriate areas with action from Council.
Council must also make sure we have enough well-equipped officers to enforce traffic laws that are designed to keep us safe.
3. How can improved biking and/or walking benefit your district? Are there any specific projects that you would like to see accomplished or are in the works that you’re excited about?
Neighborhoods that are bike and pedestrian friendly are more attractive to new residents and businesses. Biking and walking facilities should be viewed as investments that will help revitalize communities.
I would like to reconnect the two sides of historic Deutschtown that were split apart with the construction of I-279, by putting a park over the highway. This public green space would make it easier for pedestrians and bikers, and would reconnect these two communities.
4. In your district, what particular problem spots for pedestrians and/or people on bikes that you’d like to see addressed?
There are several, but some of the worst intersections on the Northside are Federal St. and North Ave.; Chestnut and East Ohio St; Benton Rd. between Little Sisters and Bascom Ave.; California Ave. at the intersection of Termon and Benton; and the Perrysville Rd./Watson Rd./Venture Ave intersection.
5. Do you have any ideas on how the city can better maintain, fund, and fix our public steps, an important piece of our pedestrian infrastructure?
Every year, the Mayor has a fund that’s allocated for new hires. For the last two years, that money has been carried over, rather than being spent on those jobs. We could move that money into a fund for the rehabilitation and maintenance of our City Steps. Also, the City should explore any Federal or State grant processes that might help add to any sort of funding for pedestrian thruways. Lastly, any excess moneys that the city might have should also be considered to be earmarked for funding our City Steps program.
6. Aggressive and drunk driving seem to be problematic throughout the city. What steps can Council take or advocate for to address these life-threatening issues?
As was previously mentioned, there has been a stagnation on new hires around the city, including new police officers. Since the beginning of 2014, the police force has been reduced by 10%, to its lowest number ever. One of the most obvious things that we can do is to restore the PBP numbers to previous levels, if not greater.
7. In conclusion, why do you think people who care about bicycling and walking issues should vote for you?
I’ve worked on the North Side as a community activist for nearly 40 years, most of them without pay. I started working with my own community group, the Spring Hill Civic League, serving as president for many years, and I went on to help create the Northside Leadership Conference to give the neighborhoods of the North Side a unified voice. I am passionate about serving the communities of the North Side and will continue to fight for you if I’m reelected.
Bike-Ped issues are important to me because they are important to my constituents. I will ensure that the safety of bikers and pedestrians is a top priority for the city.
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