Like many groups, we have been closely following the race for Philadelphia’s 100th Mayor. We formed a coalition, built a platform, met with candidates, released a questionnaire, and hosted a mayoral forum! And though the Bicycle Coalition cannot endorse candidates (according to our tax status), we did sift through all of the candidates’ responses to Feet First Philly’s, 5th Square’s, Grid Magazine’s, our own Better Mobility 2023 questionnaire, and and the Better Mobility Forum. We went through some of the topics talked about in these questionnaires and gave them either a red flag or a green check. We also awarded bonus points to candidates who proactively mentioned additional policies and issues we support.
Legend
🚩: no change from the status quo
🚩🚩: may harm mobility goals
🚩🚩🚩🚩: actively harms mobility goals
✅: matches mobility goals
✅✅: matches mobility goals and articulates a path forward
✅✅✅✅: bold and visionary mobility priorities
Giving transportation issues a higher priority in the city by creating a Department of Transportation.
Bloom:🚩(said he would consider it at the Better Mobility Forum on 3/31)
A.Brown: no answer
J.Brown: 🚩
DeLeon:✅
Domb:🚩(said he would consider it at the Better Mobility Forum on 3/31)
Green:✅
Gym:✅✅
Parker: no answer
Rhynhart:✅✅
Recognize the need to fully fund safety projects and maintain their infrastructure; prioritize bike lane construction and maintenance; increase the paving budget; and create line items for traffic calming.
Bloom: no answer
A.Brown: no answer
J.Brown:✅
DeLeon: ✅
Domb:🚩🚩🚩🚩
Green:✅
Gym:✅✅
Parker: 🚩
Rhynhart:✅✅
For Philadelphia’s streets to meet the City’s own standards of maintenance, we should pave 131 miles per year. The city has not met this standard since 2002. In order to maintain and improve our streets, we must prioritize paving by hiring a third paving crew.
Bloom: no answer
A.Brown: no answer
J.Brown: no answer
DeLeon: no answer
Domb:✅
Green:✅✅
Gym:✅✅
Parker: no answer
Rhynhart:🚩
Though part of our public space, sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of private property owners. This leaves many sidewalks in deep disrepair, making them a danger to the elderly, people with strollers and carts, and folks with disabilities. The city should develop more low-income maintenance programs for residents, and prioritize mobility through a specific “sidewalk safety” program in the Streets Department or new Department of Transportation.
Bloom: no answer
A.Brown: no answer
J.Brown: 🚩
DeLeon: 🚩
Domb:🚩
Green:✅
Gym:✅✅
Parker: no answer
Rhynhart:✅✅
In order to reach Vision Zero – zero traffic fatalities by 2030 – we need a mayor who will make hard decisions in the name of safety. The city should increase its contribution to Vision Zero to $10 million annually – fully funding the program’s vision.
Bloom: 🚩(He needs to do more research)
A.Brown: ✅
J.Brown: no answer
DeLeon: 🚩(half that)
Domb: ✅/🚩(at the forum he said over a couple years and on his questionnaire he said he will fund it as needed)
Green: ✅(at the forum he said in 5 years and on his questionnaire he said 7 years)
Gym:✅(over time)
Parker: no answer
Rhynhart:🚩(fund as needed)
Since 2020, Automated Speed Cameras have helped reduce speeds, serious injuries, and fatalities on the most dangerous road in our city, Roosevelt Blvd. Philadelphia’s next mayor needs to strongly advocate for expanding the pilot throughout the rest of the city and make the program permanent.
Bloom: no answer
A.Brown: no answer
J.Brown: ✅
DeLeon: no answer
Domb:✅
Green:✅
Gym:✅✅
Parker: no answer
Rhynhart:✅✅
One of Mayor Kenney’s goals was to build 30 miles of high quality bike lanes by the end of his term. The next mayor needs to continue that goal and increase it by building 40 miles of on-road protected bike lanes and 29 miles of trails to create a connected network throughout ALL of Philadelphia.
Bloom: ✅
A.Brown: ✅
J.Brown: no answer
DeLeon: ✅
Domb: 🚩🚩(at the forum he said yes, but on his questionnaire he said he supports a comprehensive network of bike “paths” off road but no promise for on-road infrastructure, he also says in his questionnaire that he cannot commit to 29 miles of new trails)
Green:✅
Gym:✅✅
Parker: no answer
Rhynhart:✅
In 2025, SEPTA will hit a financial cliff due to the exhaustion of federal relief money. One option to address this is state legislation allowing regional or municipal taxes to fund public transit directly – transit needs a new funding source.
Bloom:✅
A.Brown: ✅
J.Brown: no answer
DeLeon: 🚩
Domb: 🚩🚩
Green:🚩🚩(he said no during the forum but said he would consider dedicated funding for public transit on his questionnaire)
Gym:✅
Parker: no answer
Rhynhart:🚩
Bonus Points:
In the Feet First Philly Questionnaire, Jimmy DeLeon mentioned creating an Amber alert like system for hit and runs, current legislation we have been advocating for years!✅
In the Better Mobility Forum and meeting with the coalition, Derek Green has shown he is aligned with the Livable Communities plan by making sure “seasoned” citizens and people with physical and mental disabilities are included in all conversations about mobility✅
In the Better Mobility Questionnaire, Helen Gym mentioned a plus to expanding automated speed enforcement is reducing the need for police stops ✅
In the Feet First Philly Questionnaire, Rebecca Rhynhart response to improving the Vision Zero program by including daylighting of intersections AND redesigning roads align with our thinking ✅
CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA
Submission of different Questionnaires or attendance at the Better Mobility 2023 Forum
Warren Bloom Sr. (D)
• Better Mobility Forum
Amen Brown (D)
• Better Mobility Forum
Jeff Brown (D)
• 5th Square Questionnaire
• Grid Magazine
James DeLeon (D)
• Feet First Philly
• Grid Magazine
• Better Mobility Forum
Allan Domb (D)
• 5th Square Questionnaire
• Better Mobility Questionnaire
• Feet First Philly
• Grid Magazine
• Better Mobility Forum
Derek S. Green (D)
• 5th Square Questionnaire
• Better Mobility Questionnaire
• Feet First Philly
• Grid Magazine
• Better Mobility Forum
Helen Gym (D)
• 5th Square Questionnaire
• Better Mobility Questionnaire
• Feet First Philly
• Grid Magazine
• Better Mobility Forum
Cherelle Parker (D)
• Grid Magazine
Rebecca Rhynhart (D)
• 5th Square Questionnaire
• Better Mobility Questionnaire
• Feet First Philly
• Grid Magazine
• Better Mobility Forum