RICHMOND, VA – The organization Bike Walk RVA distributed a questionnaire to all Board of Supervisors candidates in Henrico and Chesterfield to see how they envision the future of walking and biking in their communities.
The five questions (which had multiple parts) had to do with generally improving walking and biking in the counties, issues of health and equity, the future of policies and plans that lead to walking and biking infrastructure on the ground, and funding of those projects.
If elected, how do you pledge to improve biking and walking in Henrico County and in your district?
Do you believe that increasing biking and walking improves public health?
Do you believe that safe biking and walking infrastructure provides an accessible mode of transportation for people of all income levels?
If yes to either of these, what measures would you take to expand access in your district?
In the last two years, the City of Richmond has developed a Bicycle Master Plan and Chesterfield County has developed a Bikeways and Trails Plan (up for adoption later this year).
These plans set long-term visions for those localities for how to improve biking and walking for transportation and recreation. Henrico County does not yet have a comparable plan.
If elected, would you support development of a walking/biking infrastructure plan for Henrico County during your term in office? How?
Establishing safe and accessible places for people to bike and walk for transportation and recreation will require additional funding for capital projects, either in the form of Federal grants, State revenue-sharing, or local capital improvement dollars.
Do you support pursuing additional funding for biking and walking infrastructure? If yes, how?
Bike Walk RVA received responses from 12 out of the 17 candidates running in Chesterfield and Henrico Counties, and compiled the responses in an interactive online map.
The way to view the map. Click the question, then click on the ? mark beside a candidate’s name to view each response. Do this for each question/answer.
The map can be viewed directly at this URL: http://bitly.com/BikeWalkRVACandidateQuestionnaire
“In Chesterfield and Henrico Counties, many of our plans, policies, and funding decisions are shaped by the Board of Supervisors, including the future of paved trails, bike lanes, sidewalks, safe neighborhood streets, and other infrastructure that would make walking and biking safe and convenient,” said Max Hepp-Buchanan, Director of Bike Walk RVA. “Our goal here is not to endorse candidates, but rather educate voters on where those candidates stand on walking and biking issues prior to the November 3 election.”
Bike Walk RVA is a program of Sports Backers, – a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and does not support, or oppose, candidates or political parties. Their candidate questionnaire is strictly educational in nature.
