District 5: Kimberly Kaplan Responds to BikePGH Candidate Survey
District 5 Council Candidate Kimberly Kaplan
1. Do you use a bicycle (or walk) in the city? If so, for what purposes (commuting, recreation, errands, exercise) and how often? Do you have any favorite places to ride or walk?
During my college years I had to commute between Chatham, CMU, Pitt, and Duquesne for various classes and internships. With only twenty minutes in between classes, I quickly became frustrated with the bus and shuttle services- so I tried biking. My bike gave me a new sense of freedom in my commute while also cutting my travel time in half. Outside of my school commute, I frequented the Eliza Furnace Trail. Unfortunately, after many close calls with cars, I decided to put my bike away (and travel abroad). Now that I’m back in Pittsburgh and living in Squirrel Hill, I plan to frequent Schenley Park; however, I am still concerned about roadsharing between cyclists and motorvehiclists.
2. What roles do you think city council can play in making cities safe, accessible and friendly for biking and/or walking?
City council can put up more bicycle signs, place reflectors separating bike lanes from car lanes, and host or promote events generating awareness about road-sharing. Additionally, with each new roadway construction, city council can support the insertion and/or expansion of bike lanes and pedestrian walkways.
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?
With bus lines cut, transportation is a huge concern for many residents with regards to reaching markets (for food/clothing, etc.). By creating a more bike-friendly environment, residents will be more inclined to utilize these alternative forms of transportation. There are areas in the district without any sidewalks, which means that kids (living two blocks from their school) must be bused. In the long run, this wastes resources and contributes the to lower air quality in the city. By investing in alternative options for transportation, the city offers residents the ability to be self-sufficient and independent while also encouraging healthier lifestyles. I’m excited to see the pedestrian/bicyclist integration in the Beechwood Blvd (Greenfield) Bridge construction.
4. In your district, what particular problem spots for pedestrians and/or people on bikes that you’d like to see addressed?
Unfortunately, just about everywhere in district 5 is a problem area for bicyclists; and many neighborhoods are a problem for pedestrians (for example, there are no sidewalks in most –if not all- of Hays). The problem is that it’s often a choice between parking spaces or bike lanes. I would propose that we conduct a study to analyze Pittsburgh streets for alternative routes and the viability of allowing bicylists sidewalk access in heavy traffic conditions.
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?
The city needs to streamline its budget in order to obtain extra funding; we should not be looking into raising taxes and fees as an initial step. We have inefficiencies in our spending- this does not mean we need spending cuts, but spending efficiency. We need to ensure that we don’t have money free-floating between projects for years on end, and we need to ensure that we are not overpaying for contracts. In doing so, the city can gather the necessary funds for organizing a City Steps Task Force assigned to repairing and maintaining our steps-infrastructure.
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 always, the city needs to promote awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence by collaborating with organizations such as MADD. Additionally, we should have regular sobriety check points during the holidays and on weekends, especially in areas known for drunk drivers. Road rage can be difficult to track, and one of the largest indicators is speeding. By adding motion-sensor cameras to strategic intersections, we can reduce the counts of speed aggression.
7. In conclusion, why do you think people, who care about issues involving biking, walking, and the built environment, should vote for you?
I’ve been a strong environmental activist since high school, so I know that transitioning towards alternative transportation options (from cars and buses) is something the city should be continuing. However, during this process, we need all commuters to cooperate and collaborate in order to achieve the best and most innovative solutions. With my background in conflict resolution and research, I can and will bring these groups together to further promote healthy transportation options for all residents in the city of Pittsburgh.
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