Shirley Gonzales
1. How often do you or your family use Durango’s bike and pedestrian network? On a scale of 1-5, what score would you give it and why? If you had an unlimited budget, what investments would you make first? Finally, given the fiscal and political constraints, which projects do you think should be the City’s top priorities?
My family and I use the network daily. My husband and I commute to most errands and my children ride to their activities at the rec center and playdates. I give the network a 4. Slow speeds in town and mostly respectful drivers make me feel safe most of the time and we utilize the river trails whenever possible. I would like to see the continuation of a separated trail on college to Florida, the trail to three springs, better connectivity to the river trail from main.
2. In Colorado, as well as in the United States, pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities reached record levels in 2023, even as they have been falling in almost every other first world country. In Durango, road injuries and fatalities reached a record high in 2021 and have remained elevated. People list safety as the number one reason keeping them from walking and biking more o<en. What do you think is the best way for our City to address this problem?
More separated bike lanes, not just a stripe in the road, greater speed enforcement, Better engineering designs that promotes safety for vulnerable road users. By becoming members of the vision zero network, we are eligible for technical expertise in this area.
3. Studies have found that walkability and bikeability increases economic productivity, property tax revenue, and opportunities for local business, and generates higher returns on public investment.
However, there is frequently loud opposition to spending public money on pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
How would you engage with the invariable pushback to any changes to the public right of way such as protected bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks, new crosswalks, lower speeds, etc.?
This type of change requires a culture shift which takes time. We have had an automobile dominant culture for many generations which means that we need to continue conversation forums, models, and pilot programs to show the economic reasons for alternative transportation. We need to continue the conversations about affordability related to transportation and housing together.
4. As a City Councilor, you will have to manage a number of different issues. How do pedestrian and cyclist safety and connectivity fit with your other priorities?
Housing and transportation should be addressed together. My priorities are housing, alternative transportation and small business development which all combine beautifully from a policy perspective.
Kip Koso
1. How often do you or your family use Durango’s bike and pedestrian network?
Quite a bit but in pieces as it connects our daily routine. We are a one car family so one of us is walking or biking most days. If you add in the trails system and my hiking weekly in Horse Gulch, then the usage goes up even more so.
2. On a scale of 1-5, what score would you give it and why?
We chose our house in South Durango for a variety of reasons, but one of the big reasons was so that we could easily walk to downtown and be in proximity to Horse Gulch. Given our location and comparing it to other living situations we have been in, I would give it a 4
3. If you had an unlimited budget, what investments would you make first?
I am a traffic calming guy with an urge to prioritize pedestrian and bike safety more than it is currently. An unlimited budget is not the situation leaders EVER deal with, but my fantasy would be to create an even better river corridor along the Animas River Trail (ART) focused on bikes and pedestrian activity, more bathrooms there and downtown, improve the tree cover along major streets and walkable areas in the city and ensure connections to all parts of the city by trail. Update the signage in most of the hiking and biking trails and assist the Katz Foundation in the development of the Mesa. I would improve equestrian trails and amenities in conjunction with the County and look for opportunities to augment or eventually house the Fairgrounds on the Mesa. With that movement, I believe the existing Fairgrounds area becomes an infill area that could be very important. With my unlimited budget I may even pay for that Tiger petting zoo the kids at Florida Elementary were asking for at their new Three Springs school…
4. Finally, given the fiscal and political constraints, which projects do you think should be the City’s top priorities?
Trail maintenance rather than expansion except in keys areas like the Mesa or valuable infill in existing parks. Connect the ART to Three Springs Underpass crossing at 12 th street decision. I am not sure if the cost is too much on this idea, but we need to make a decision after 20 years of thinking about it Work with the Powerhouse, New Police Station and businesses by Buckley Park to increase the likelihood that tourists walk throughout downtown from the Train station up to Buckley Park. We should build attractive amenities, improve annual events, provide safe walking and biking pathways and support businesses (and business parking) that act as attractive destinations for tourist traffic to the North, expanding the economic impact of what we have now in the Central Business District.
5. In Colorado, as well as in the United States, pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities reached record levels in 2023, even as they have been falling in almost every other first world country. In Durango, road injuries and fatalities reached a record high in 2021 and haveremained elevated. People list safety as the number one reason keeping them from walking and biking more often. What do you think is the best way for our City to address this problem?
Work within the traffic code and enforce it strongly. Find the balance in user responsibility. Pedestrians have a priority in crosswalks but need to cross at crosswalks to enjoy that safety. Bikers must abide by the same traffic rules as cars, wear protective gear and try to avoid car focused zones such as Camino Del Rio, 160 and 550. Bicyclists and pedestrians should enjoy a well maintained ART, a downtown that is more conducive to bikes and pedestrians and dedicated lanes that provide clear delineation between where a car is supposed to be and where a bike (when present) is supposed to be.
6. Studies have found that walkability and bikeability increases economic productivity, property tax revenue, and opportunities for local business, and generates higher returns on public investment.
However, there is frequently loud opposition to spending public money on pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
How would you engage with the invariable pushback to any changes to the public right of way such as protected bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks, new crosswalks, lower speeds, etc.?
Projects need to make sense from a financial standpoint and as a positive community impact. When there is controversy, projects should consider community input and move forward if they still make sense, even with some community pushback. There is a balance to be achieved by the smaller but growing population of walkers/bikers and the larger population of car drivers. I would hope that the biking community is providing and supporting infrastructure initiatives with proven research as well as drawing on historic experience in our own city. Existing business owners absolutely have a right to be supported when projects that disrupt their businesses are put in place and neighbors need to have a say in projects that affect their neighborhood. Cycling infrastructure that does not impact business like the 250/251 connection now being upgraded is an easy decision. Downtown changes that affect a lot of people and businesses are a much more delicate conversation and will be slower with more deliberation and contain more compromises.
7. As a City Councilor, you will have to manage a number of different issues. How do pedestrian and cyclist safety and connectivity fit with your other priorities?
Pedestrian and cyclist safety are one of many considerations when it comes to quality of life and health of the community. I would prioritize clear safety issues that are the result of poor infrastructure while working on education where incidents are a result of poor personal decisions. There is limited budget for all our decisions but this community has prioritized recreation and continues to dedicate funding for that purpose so pedestrians and cyclists have an advantage there and I will often, but not always, reflect that prioritization. Maintenance and improvement of existing infrastructure will more often be a priority for me than building something new, but I try to keep an eye on how the construction or upgrading of small and often separate pieces can build to an excellent overall amenity like the ART or provide a more multi-modal environment that is safer and healthier for our citizens. Pedestrian and cyclist safety will be an important consideration in conjunction with changes to our streets, the 12 th Street underpass discussion and Durango Mesa. There is also the very real situation of landing the World Mountain Bike Championships in 2030 which will provide a huge shot of adrenaline into the biking infrastructure around our community. Bookended by World Cups, it could mean that biking funding and community enthusiasm could really explode in the next five years which would include most of my city council term. I hope it happens and I look forward to hearing from the Bike Durango community as we discuss all manner of events, projects and upgrades in the next four years.