[BikeLongmont] candidate questions and cover letter

[Nenad]

I looked into the mailing list archives for the candidate questionnaire.
At the time, we decided to keep the number of questions low, since we'd
like to get as many responses as possible. The objective of the
questions is not to make points, but to get some insight into their
attitude to bicycling. I am attaching my draft of the cover letter and
the questions. Let me know your thoughts - we can certainly make changes
if we need to.

In the meantime, we'll gather the names and email addresses of the
candidates and I'll make a web page. For the incumbents, I also plan to
post voting record on the bike issues.

I was thinking of sending this to local, state, congressional and senate
candidates. I am not sure there is much point to ask the presidential
candidates, but we might do that if the group thinks it would be good.

Regards, Nenad

Cover letter:

Dear .....,

On behalf of Bicycle Longmont, I would like to ask you a few questions.
Bicycle Longmont is a nonpartisan advocacy group. Our main objective is
to work with the City of Longmont to help ensure safe and enjoyable
bicycling conditions in our area.

We operate a mailing list and a website http://www.bicyclelongmont.org.
We are sending these questions to all the candidates in the primary
races that involve our members. We do not plan to endorse any party or
candidate - our intent is to post the answers on our website, so that
local bicyclists can take them into consideration.

Thank you in advance for your response.

Nenad Rijavec
Bicycle Longmont coordinator
nenad at bicyclelongmont.org

All Candidates:

1. Are you a cyclist? If so, what do you enjoy most about cycling in and
around Longmont (or Boulder County or Colorado, depending on the
candidate)?

2. What do you think is the biggest issue facing the bicyclists on the
roads in Longmont (Boulder County/Colorado)?

3. What programs would you support to make bicycling in Longmont
(Boulder County/Colorado) safer, more convenient and more enjoyable?

4. As the years go by, fewer and fewer children walk or bike to school,
while more and more children are obese. What programs would you support
to increase the opportunities for children to walk or bike to school?

Local Candidates only: 

5. The interchange at Hover Street and Ken Pratt/Diagonal can be tricky
for cyclists and pedestrians to navigate. This situation will become
worse once the restaurants along Clover Basin Drive and Dry Creek Drive
are open for business. What do you propose to mitigate the problems at
this bottleneck?