Washington Bikes 2021 General Election Endorsements for City of Seattle

In Seattle, City Council and Mayor each play vital roles in advancing transportation policy and funding. The results when we have champions in office? Progress towards our vision of neighborhoods connected by bike. Over the next four years, Seattle politicians will have lots of opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to making biking an intuitive and safe transportation option for all.

In Seattle, City Council and Mayor each play vital roles in advancing transportation policy and funding. The results when we have champions in office? Progress towards our vision of neighborhoods connected by bike. Over the next four years, Seattle politicians will have lots of opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to making biking an intuitive and safe transportation option for all.

During Washington Bikes’ endorsement process, we asked candidates for office in each of the below races how they would get Vision Zero on track, and reverse the trend of increasing deaths and serious injuries of people biking and walking on our streets. We asked for their commitments to grow investments in a connected, protected bike network as the Levy to Move Seattle expires and its successor’s funding strategy is shaped by council, mayor and community for a vote in 2024 (which means a lot of work to shape the funding package ahead of time). And, we asked candidates if they would champion and hold the line on key biking projects where the biggest hurdle is political will, not funding. We’re excited to announce our Seattle endorsed candidates, and we encourage you to give them your vote.

Among the many other important elected positions on Seattle’s ballot, Washington Bikes also endorsed in the Port of Seattle and County Executive races.

District 8 (Citywide) Seattle City Council: Teresa Mosqueda

Washington Bikes believes Teresa Mosqueda is the right choice for Seattle City Council Position 8. Teresa has demonstrated leadership on bike safety issues while on council, and she is an important voice that deserves a second term. Whether it’s helping evolve the advocate narrative around who we must build the bike network for (must watch video about the ALEGRA bike network) or leading budget negotiations to increase funding for much needed bike safety projects, Teresa backs better biking. Teresa has committed to working to grow funding for bike safety projects in the city budget and next transportation Levy, and supports key projects in the city where political will, not funding, are the biggest hurdle.

From Teresa:

“We don’t have connected bike lanes or connected sidewalks. That infrastructure must be prioritized, and we must keep our commitment to voters and carry through on our Move Seattle and Vision Zero promises. Creating road diets, and ways to get cars to slow down and physically removed from areas where pedestrians and cyclists are is crucial in order to ensure that our children can safely walk and bike to school. This will involve investments in creating safe bike lanes and pedestrian corridors, which is already underway through the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan. But additionally, we must make sure these investments are equitable and placed in the communities that have been marginalized and have the greatest need for infrastructure improvements.

Read Teresa’s questionnaire responses

District 9 (Citywide) Seattle City Council: Nikkita Oliver

Washington Bikes believes Nikkita Oliver is the right choice for Seattle City Council Position 9. It is clear that Nikkita understands how bicycling fits into the broader issues of mobility, climate, and economic justice. Having recently started biking again for the first time since childhood, Nikkita understands first-hand that Seattle has a long way to go before people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds will feel comfortable on a bike. Nikkita knows that prioritizing active transportation improves community safety and well-being. They are committed to advancing policies that make bicycling safer, more accessible, and welcoming for all communities. Nikkita has committed to working to grow funding for bike safety projects in the city budget and next transportation levy, and supports key projects in the city where political will, not funding, are the biggest hurdle.

From Nikkita:
“Investing in the community is a top priority for our campaign, especially when it comes to measures that create safety. More public space for people walking and rolling is very important, not only for helping people thrive but also for physical safety… I support completing and expanding Seattle’s protected bicycle network…”

Read Nikkita’s questionnaire responses

Mayor of Seattle: M. Lorena González and Bruce Harrell (Dual Endorsement)
M. Lorena González

Washington Bikes endorses M. Lorena González for Seattle Mayor. Reshaping Seattle as a 15 minute city is a central element of Lorena’s campaign platform. That’s because Lorena understands that multi-modal transportation and land use fit together hand in hand – and are necessary to reach the city’s mobility, climate, and economic goals. We know that Lorena will hold the line on key projects needed to advance Seattle’s citywide bike network, including bike lanes along Eastlake and completing the Burke-Gilman Missing Link along Shileshole Ave NW. We look forward to working with Lorena as she brings her record of supporting safer biking to the Mayor’s office to grow investments in completing a connected bike network citywide – especially in historically under-resourced South Seattle.

From Lorena:
“We must finish the Bike Master Plan and provide for sidewalks in every corner of Seattle. It’s no mistake that South Seattle has the highest concentration of people of color in the city, has some of the least complete sidewalk and bike infrastructure, and is home to the most dangerous streets and highest pedestrian injury and death rates—it’s the result of a legacy of underinvestment we must rectify. Dedicated bike and walking lanes, road design to discourage dangerous driving and speeding, and other measures will reduce conflicts between road users, increasing safety and encouraging more to walk and ride—it also will help everyone get where they’re going faster.”

Read Lorena’s questionnaire responses

Bruce Harrell

Washington Bikes endorses Bruce Harrell for Seattle Mayor. Bruce indicated strong support for growing investments for biking, as well as holding the line on key projects needed to advance Seattle’s citywide bike network – including bike lanes along Eastlake and completing the Burke-Gilman Missing Link along Shileshole Ave NW. As Mayor, we look forward to working with Bruce as he builds on his council record of votes in favor of building Seattle’s bike network. Throughout our endorsement process, Bruce committed to using the Mayor’s office to make biking safer and more accessible across the city – especially in South Seattle.

From Bruce:
“Reducing transportation emissions is crucial to our mission to defeat climate change. I absolutely support reducing the number of car trips we take through better planning and access to transit, sidewalks, and bike lanes… We have to look at transportation comprehensively – investing in a variety of solutions like safe sidewalks and bike lanes, electric charging infrastructure and expanded access to e-bikes, and connections to large rail projects, like expediting ST3 and making Cascadia high speed rail possible. For too long automobiles have been the top focus – in our transportation system priorities locally to the transportation packages passed at the state level. During COVID, we’ve seen how transitioning some parking spaces into outdoor seating areas has revitalized our neighborhoods, and I would look for other opportunities to creatively repurpose car-focused infrastructure – making our streets more people, pedestrian and cyclist focused.

Read Bruce’s questionnaire responses