The Marin County Bicycle Commission
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November 2020 Election San Rafael City Council Candidate Questionnaires

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Marin County Bicycle Coalition cannot endorse candidates for public office, but we are able to share information so that you can arrive at your own conclusion. Below are San Rafael candidates’ responses to our questionnaire on bicycling in Marin. We have made no content changes. Thanks to the candidates for their time and thoughtful answers!

Here are the candidates on the November 3 ballot for San Rafael Mayor and City Council:

Do you ride a bicycle? If so, for what purposes and how often? (transportation/road/mtb)

Kate Colin (Mayor):

  • Commuting/Errands: Never

  • Road: 0-1 days per week

  • Mountain: 2-3 days per week

Mahmoud Shirazi (Mayor):

  • Commuting/Errands: 0-1 days per week

  • Road: 0-1 days per week

  • Mountain: 0-1 days per week

Maika Llorens Gulati (District 1): No response.

John Gamblin (District 4):

  • Commuting/Errands: Never

  • Road: 0-1 days per week

  • Mountain: Never

Rachel Kertz (District 4):

  • Commuting/Errands: Never

  • Road: Never

  • Mountain: Never

Greg Knell (District 4):

  • Commuting/Errands: 0-1 days per week

  • Road: 0-1 days per week

  • Mountain: Never

Where does improving bicycling infrastructure and safety rank among your other policy priorities (HIGH / MODERATE / LOW / OTHER)

Kate Colin (Mayor): High

Mahmoud Shirazi (Mayor): High

Maika Llorens Gulati (District 1): No response.

John Gamblin (District 4): Moderate

Rachel Kertz (District 4): High

Greg Knell (District 4): High

What’s your vision for the future of transportation in San Rafael? What are some of the city’s challenges, and how would you go about fixing them?

Kate Colin (Mayor):

My vision is to provide a safe way through congested parts of San Rafael as well as linking to other bikeway systems. Biggest challenge is we’ve a built infrastructure that was designed to accommodate cars.

Mahmoud Shirazi (Mayor):

All electric apparatus,train,bike,car,rideshare,and walking, make sure all bikes routes are open to use.

Maika Llorens Gulati (District 1): No response.

John Gamblin (District 4):

A mix of all modes, from traditional motor vehicles, bicycles, e-bikes, to more use of low impact public transportation. The City was designed over 125 years ago, narrow roads, inconsistent sidewalks and safe bicycle and pedestrian routes. Part of any future planning needs to include not only current transportation options but we need to anticipate the different modes and the uses of the near and long term.

Rachel Kertz (District 4):

Central San Rafael should be fully accessible and safe for bike riders. I am an occasional/social bike rider who enjoys riding but I like to ride under “perfect” conditions. With the traffic, lack of easy access and a few too many hills I’m nervous about riding. My husband is an avid bike rider so I know many of the trial and tribulations from his stories. He rides twice a week or more from San Rafael to Corte Madera and on the weekend will do a long road or mountain bike ride. We have 1 real rider in the house and 4 bikes.

The clock is ticking (just 15 years) to be less reliant on our gas-powered cars and hopefully move toward battery-powered vehicles, walking and bike riding options. I would like to see more dedicated bike pathways, green painting for bike rider safety and visibility and more areas to lock bikes. I also think it would be great to have bike rentals (similar to other cities) for commuting around downtown.

Greg Knell (District 4):

I am currently working on an improved bike route to Davidson Middle School involving the Whistlestop/ BioMarin property swap. Also North South Greenway and fighting SMART. Also, improved bike access to Santa Venetia School. I’ll be presenting this week at Voto Canal Patrick Seidler’s plan for making the Canal a bike first community.

Covid-19 has dramatically impacted transportation, with fewer cars on the road, but also fewer people riding transit. How will you work to ensure that recovery efforts include sustainable and equitable transportation outcomes, especially for those most reliant on transit?

Kate Colin (Mayor):

I am the Vice President of Marin Transit so well educated about the drop in transit riders and also well positioned to influence policy to bring folks back to transit. Our current priority is bus cleaning and following safety protocols which are being developed in conjunction with the state and other transit agencies.

Mahmoud Shirazi (Mayor):

public transportation with different time table, more compact buses, as we get more demand, more services.

Maika Llorens Gulati (District 1): No response.

John Gamblin (District 4):

It is going to be long road back to normalcy with the short and long term economic impacts still unknown. It is critical to our success that transportation and accessibility are placed at the forefront of our recovery plans.

Rachel Kertz (District 4):

There is a new appreciation for the lack of cars/traffic and our slower pace. Now is the time to see the silver-lining of our Covid-19 situation and look for opportunities to change our behavior. From a Climate Change/Public Transportation and encouraging walking and biking, we don’t want to go back to the way things were pre-Covid.

We need more bike visibility and access on public transportation. Allow for more rental-able scooters, bicycles and support bike taxis. We also have a need to improve the access from East San Rafael to North and West San Rafael.

I have tried to take my bike on the SMART Train and although it is possible, the train that day was busy and it felt like I was an inconvenience to the others on the train. We need to encourage more interconnection between all forms of public transportation.

Greg Knell (District 4):

I have a plan to bring back retail in San Rafael, Both existing businesses and we are planning a new concept Town Center for the Northgate Mall property. I was on the North San Rafael Vision that adopted the Terra Linda Promenade and am on the committee now working on the last leg on Merrydale at the SMART station after 20 years. Existing retail depends on restoring confidence in shopping at our retailers safely.

If elected, what would you do to 1) improve safety for all people who ride bikes and 2) increase the number of people who bike for transportation? Please note any infrastructure projects in San Rafael that you think are particularly important.

Kate Colin (Mayor):

If you read the Bicycle Magazine article from spring 2018 (I think that was the timing), having lights on your bike increases visibility exponentially. I would love to partner with biking community to have a campaign where everyone has lights on their bikes and not just those of us who know the data. Now that I know, I will never bike again without my lights!

The 2nd Street corridor renovations are crucial to addressing the bike/car/pedestrian congestion. I would like to build on these types of projects such as considering altering the intersection that comes onto Miracle Mile from Fourth Street so that it is safer for bikes and peds.

As e-bikes become more affordable, they will enable more people to bike for transportation and we need to make sure that future projects encourages this behavior change.

Mahmoud Shirazi (Mayor):

I educate the public how to properly ride bike on one of those beer gathering, then ask some of those merchants give discount for first time purchase, and make sure we have our loop complete.

Maika Llorens Gulati (District 1): No response.

John Gamblin (District 4):

1. Any new transportation projects undertaken by the city must take into consideration the safety of everyone who will use the asset, not just the motor vehicle traffic, this includes both bicycle and pedestrian. We need to conduct extensive outreach to all interested groups for input and discussion. The residents who use the roads are the ones best equipped to provide the needed input.

2. The proposed 3rd street corridor project is the most important traffic related project the city will undertake in the coming years. We have to do this right as it will impact not only San Rafael residents but all of Marin county who use 3rd street to as an east-west access point.

Rachel Kertz (District 4):

1) Increase visibility on the roads by using more bike lines (green paint) increase the number of easements being available for pedestrians, bicycles, scooters etc. for example the over pass to Novato from Northern San Rafael. Stop lights should also have more meters/radars that identify bike riders and non-automobile transportation.

2) Commuting from north to south and reverse through downtown San Rafael is difficult. The bike route behind Irwin Street toward Marin Sanitary helps for safety but we need more of these.

3) I want to understand how other communities have shifted from dedicated car passage to supporting bike riding. I love seeing the cities who have changed their one-way roads to being two-way and making room for a protected bike path.

4) Promote the use of electric bikes.

5) Use this lower traffic window to pilot changes in road and bike path alternatives.

Greg Knell (District 4):

Projects: North South Greenway. Safe Routes to Schools, Bike lanes painting and construction. Bikeable Canal project. Increase acceptance of pedal assist bikes. We have an aging demographic and pedal assist has become vital to this group. I am a member of North Bay Elder EBikers.

Why should people who ride bikes vote for you?

Kate Colin (Mayor):

I’d be honored to have the support of the biking community and appreciate the opportunity to fill out this questionnaire. People who ride bikes should vote for me because I am a collaborative leader who understands that the best solutions gather wisdom from everyone in the community and not just the folks at City Hall. I have been an active participant in San Rafael’s Safe Routes to School as enabling our students to safely bike to school is incredibly important. In addition, I’ve been riding in San Rafael and the surrounding areas for over two decades and understand what it’s like to have a 2 ton pick-up truck cut you off and then swear at you because it’s happened to me more than once.

Mahmoud Shirazi (Mayor):

Under my watch San Rafael specially 4th st is going to be the hub of Marin what Fairfax use to be,come on down kill your thirst with a beer and meet your fellow bikers.(I can’t Waite).

Maika Llorens Gulati (District 1): No response.

John Gamblin (District 4):

Having lived in marin on and off for over 30 years, I know the importance of alternative modes of transportation to our residents. Those who ride bikes and the infrastructure needed to support their increased use are priorities for myself and the city.

Rachel Kertz (District 4):

Although I may not be the true Marin bike rider, I understand the concerns, I’ve talked and listened to many friends who are actively involved in addressing the needs of bike riders and I am engaged with Safe Routes to School. I supported and encouraged the upcoming pedestrian and bike path changes that will be completed in front of Terra Linda High School.

Although I’m not a avid bike rider, I live with one. I have also been the one with my husband after he got hit by an impaired driver. All was fine and it was my husband who was being aware of the situation and protected our kids from getting hit. We were all very fortunate.

All of our vacations either involve bike riding or having me be the pick-up person. We have done extensive bike trips in the Netherlands and Italy. These are communities who love and respect their bike riders. I understand the importance of bike riding (and other forms of public transportation) and its necessity to reducing the impacts of Climate Change.

I look forward to continuing the work to develop North San Rafael, as a premier area for public transportation, walking and bike riding opportunities.

Greg Knell (District 4):

Endorsed by the Sierra Club. I am the only lifetime environmentalist in the race.

I was on the steering committee for Measure A which created the Transportation Authority of Marin which funded the Larkspur Bike Bridge and other projects where no transportation funds had ever been received by Marin before. I am a long time advocate of transportation alternatives.

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