Describe your vision of a healthy, safe, equitable transportation system for Baltimore City and the roles walking, biking, and public transportation play in that vision.

Traffic in Baltimore City can be quite congested, while also dangerous for many commuters. In addition, parking is often limited and expensive for commuters in the City. My vision for the City is to see a prolific change in how we commute, and how we make the appropriate accomodations for a new means of commuting in the City. In the area by Johns Hopkins East Baltimore campus, provisions have been made to section off a portion of the street for bicyclists and there are various stations throughout the campus for bicyclists to park. We need to expand these accomodations throughout the City, while also investing more in public transportation by expanding the light rail system. To encourage the use of public transportation, I want to offer a tax credit to City residents how use our expanding services in public transportation. With this initiative, it is important to have public safety present to ensure the safety of all commuters.

The fastest and most economical way to address climate change, improve public health, and create equal access to opportunity is to design a city that reduces dependence on private automobiles. What are the biggest barriers to getting people to choose walking, biking, or public transit instead of personal vehicles, and what would you do to address these impediments?

Public safety is one of the most important barriers that prevent people from walking, biking, or using public transit. Without creating a police state, we need to engage public safety and the citizens of Baltimore to make safer communities for all people. We also need to invest in our infrastructure to make walking, biking, and public transportation more accomodating to the average commuter. Lastly, all communities need to have equitable access to stores, markets, schools, public parks, healthcare facilities, and other key resources.

In 2017, the Planning Commission approved the Separated Bike Lane Network plan that connects 85% of Baltimore’s neighborhoods by creating safe, protected places to ride a bike. Do you agree with the plan’s recommendations, and if so, what would you do to ensure that we fulfill the plan’s promise to build a minimum of 17 miles of bike lanes per year? Are there specific areas of the city where you would prioritize implementation?

Effective strategic planning involves appropriating funds and gathering the necessary resources and stakeholders to ensure we capitalize on our objectives. As Mayor, I would make sure funds are appropriately directed to the Separated Bike Lane Network. Specific areas of the city where I would prioritize is the downtown area of Baltimore, where there is limited parking and high traffic.

Approximately 50 people are killed on city streets each year while walking, biking, or driving, with another 9,000 people injured. What is your plan to reduce the number of Baltimoreans injured and killed in traffic every year?

By investing more in public transportation efforts and incentives, we can reduce the number of people driving. Also, there are some drivers who are not responsible. I beleive that City Hall should work with the MVA to have re-testing services for drivers. Every few years, a driver should have to report to the MVA to display they are a safe driver by taking the initial test the MVA requires from all new drivers. By honing in on these skills, drivers will be more responsive to the safety, responsibility, and courtesy of being on the road for all other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Approximately 800 Baltimoreans die early every year from preventable diseases related to carbon emissions, more than double the city’s murder rate. Thousands more are hospitalized each year as these emissions trigger asthma and other respiratory diseases. There is a strong correlation between hospitalization and proximity to major car commuter routes. What is your plan to reduce carbon emissions from automobiles in order to decrease the number of Baltimoreans hurt by and dying from emissions-related diseases?

We need stricter criteria on what makes a car safe to drive, and my administration will work with the MVA Emissions Office to ensure we are presenting criteria that is specific to Baltimore City drivers and residents. Investing in public transportation, infrastructure, and more engaging public safety tactics is also important when looking to reduce carbon emissions.

Do you walk for transportation? If so, for what purposes, how often, and what was your last trip walking?
I enjoy walking and I take my son for walks on a weekly basis, weather permitting. I find walking to be therapeutic, relaxing, and a great way to learn and interact more with the City. You get to explore more when you are walking rather than driving.

Do you use public transportation? If so, for what purposes, how often, and what was your last trip by public transportation?

No response

Do you ever ride a bicycle? Is it for transportation, recreation, or both? What was your last trip by bicycle?

I do own a bicycle and I use it mostly for recreation. During the campaign season, I have not gotten on my bike as often as I would like, but it is a thriving experience that I enjoy sharing with my son. I look forward to getting back on quite soon!

Baltimore’s urban areas have limited space on streets. In order to increase safety and improve mobility, some modes of transportation must be prioritized over others to make the most of this limited space. Please rank how you would prioritize different modes of transportation on city streets, using numbers 1 through 7:

1. Public Transportation
2. Bicycles & Scooters
3. Parking
4. Walking & devices that aid people with a disability
5. Ride Hailing Services (Taxi, Uber, Lyft)
6. Freight and Delivery
7. Personal Automobiles

Agree or disagree?

I support removing parking on a street if it would improve safety and increase mobility of people using that street.

Agree

Minimum parking requirements are shown to increase housing costs while limiting potential density and making neighborhoods less walkable. I support following the lead of other cities that have removed minimum parking requirements from new development.

Agree

Some cities require employers that subsidize parking also offer an option for employees to receive that subsidy as a cash payment. I support a mandate that employers offer parking cashout so that employees can choose to pocket that money, use it for alternative transportation, or continue using that cash to pay for parking.

Agree

Increasing density in areas of opportunity is proven to help individuals escape poverty. I support taller, denser, or larger buildings in areas they are now prohibited by zoning.

Agree

Transit oriented development can expand access to areas of opportunity by locating housing and retail along high frequency transit. Current zoning code only identifies these zones along subway and light rail routes. I support expanded Transit Oriented Development zoning to include areas within a quarter mile of high-frequency bus routes.

Agree

It is now widely accepted that Single Family Residential Zoning was historically created to maintain racial segregation. I support removing Single Family Residential Zoning categories, allowing both single family and multi family residences to be built in all residential zoning areas.

Agree

I support allowing existing residences to be split into apartments in all zoning categories without having to pass legislation for each conversion, increasing density in neighborhoods that were traditionally single family homes.

Agree

At 20mph, 90% of pedestrians survive being hit by a car. At 40mph, only 10% survive. I support enforcing a maximum speed limit of 25 mph on arterial streets, and 20 mph on local streets.

Agree

Allowing turns on red is a contributing factor in increased pedestrian injury and death. I support banning turns on red at all intersections that allow pedestrian crossing.

Agree

Automated Speed and Red Light Enforcement Cameras are widely proven to reduce fatal collisions. I support using these cameras on any street, not just near schools and construction sites.

Agree

The Automated Speed Enforcement Camera current threshold is 12 miles per hour. I support cameras being able to issue citations for those traveling 5 miles per hour or more over the speed limit.

Agree

I would invest in automated enforcement cameras that will issue citations to private automobiles for being stopped or parked in bus lanes.

Agree

Dedicated bus lanes and bus boarding islands are proven to dramatically improve bus reliability and boarding times. I support removing parking or travel lanes to create bus lanes and boarding islands to improve bus performance.

Agree

The city adopted the Greenway Trails Network plan that will connect existing trails such as Gwynns Falls Trail and Herring Run Trail to create a 35-mile trail loop that connects 80% of Baltimore’s neighborhoods to greenspace and recreational trails. I support the construction of these trail connections, even if it requires using grass medians or taking road space or parking space away from private automobiles.

Agree