iking Brookline invited all candidates in the May, 7, 2024, Town Election for Select Board, School Committee, Brookline Housing Authority Commission, and Town Meeting to respond to bicycling-related questions. We received replies from all five Select Board candidates, fifty-one Town Meeting member candidates, all four School Committee candidates, and two of the three Brookline Housing Authority Commissioner candidates.

You can access the candidate’s responses at these links: Select Board, School Committee, Brookline Housing Authority, and Town Meeting Members.

You can read the background information that the Select Board and Town Meeting Member Candidates were provided at this link.

Biking Brookline invited all candidates in the May, 2, 2023, Town Election for Select Board and and Town Meeting to respond to bicycling-related questions. We received responses fromall three Select Board Candidate and from 57 Town Meeting candidates.

You can access the candidates’ responses at these links: Select Board and Town Meeting.

Biking Brookline invited all candidates in the May, 2, 2022, Town Election for Select Board and and Town Meeting to respond to bicycling-related questions. We received responses from the single Select Board Candidate and from 134 Town Meeting candidates.

You can access the candidates’ responses using this link.

Candidate Responses

Biking Brookline invited all candidates in the May, 4, 2021, Town Election for Select Board, Town Moderator, and Town Meeting to respond to bicycling-related questions. We received responses from all Select Board and Town Moderator candidates and from 47 out of 104 Town Meeting candidates.

You can access the candidates’ responses using these links:

Select Board

Town Moderator

Town Meeting

These documents also describe the roles and responsibilities of each position.

Biking Brookline's Observations About Candidates’ Responses

Overview

We are pleased with the level of interest that the candidates showed in their responses. The fact that we received responses from all the Select Board candidates, both Moderator candidates, and 47 Town Meeting candidates reflects wide recognition of the important role that bicycling can serve in addressing many of Brookline's critical needs.

The candidate responses are thoughtful and largely reflect an understanding of what needs to be done to improve bicycling as a form of transportation in Brookline.

Most candidates agree with the Bicycle Advisory Committee's assessment that our bicycle infrastructure is falling behind neighboring communities.

We are encouraged that many candidates reported that they get around Brookline and the Boston area by bicycle. However, others stated that they would like to be able to get around by bicycle, but do not feel that it is safe for themselves or their children to do so with our current roadway configurations.

Select Board

The Select Board influences transportation policies in Brookline through its power to appoint the Transportation Board, hear appeals of Transportation Board decisions, and its overall role as the Town’s executive branch of government.

Miriam Aschkenasy is a former bicycle commuter whose response to the questionnaire indicates that she clearly understands the importance of improving bicycling infrastructure in Brookline on key routes. We believe Miriam would be a strong supporter of making bicycling more accessible in Brookline.

Zoe Lynn is the Town’s former Sustainability Administrator. Zoe led the working group that drafted and guided Warrant Article 31 through Fall 2019 Town Meeting. This article established sustainable transportation priorities and time-sensitive goals for achieving a shift to sustainable modes of transportation. We believe Zoe would be a strong supporter of making bicycling more accessible in Brookline.

Donelle O'Neal is a former bike commuter. He provided limited responses to the questionnaire.

Incumbent Select Board member Bernard Greene has previously opposed some important bicycling initiatives. Although his response indicates a growing willingness to go on record to say that he recognizes bicycling’s importance, he has tended to support Transportation Board candidates who prioritize private motor vehicle transportation. In his response, he rationalizes Brookline’s slow progress in implementing bicycle infrastructure by saying: “Neighboring communities sometimes are better situated to develop good bicycle infrastructure while accommodating other modes of transportation for many reasons. Those reasons include their governing structures and the availability of conveniently located spaces that can be developed for safe commuter biking.” We disagree and believe Brookline can make better progress in improving bicycling accommodations notwithstanding existing frameworks.

Incumbent Select Board member Nancy Heller has previously opposed some important bicycling initiatives and has tended to support Transportation Board candidates who prioritized private motor vehicle transportation. Her response indicates a growing recognition of the value of safe bicycle routes and an acknowledgement that our public ways do not yet meet Brookline’s goals of being safe, accessible, convenient, and comfortable for bicycling by people of all ages and abilities. However, she also attributes Brookline’s falling behind neighboring communities to our roadway configurations and financial constraints. We believe Brookline can make better progress in improving bicycling accommodations notwithstanding these constraints.

In her response, Nancy wrote “I would prefer to see special bike routes on our less used streets.” We believe that bicycle users already travel on less used streets where practical, but a comprehensive, connected, and direct bicycle network, as described in the Town’s Complete Streets policy, requires protected infrastructure along some key arterial routes.

Town Moderator

In addition to presiding over Town Meeting, the Town Moderator appoints the Advisory Committee and other special committees that make recommendations to Town Meeting. These appointments can determine how well the advice of these committees aligns with Town policies and values, and how well it reflects the input of advocates for bicycling and other forms of sustainable transportation.

Scott Ananian was one of the petitioners on Warrant Article 31, described above, as well as on other climate-change related warrant articles.

Kate Poverman has opposed some important sustainable transportation initiatives, including the buffered bike lane on the outbound side of Beacon Street between Marion Street and Washington Street, the Covid-19-related “expanded sidewalks”, and the Gateway East priority bus lanes.

Biking Brookline invited all candidates in the June 9, 2020, election for Brookline Select Board and Town Meeting to respond to three bicycling-related questions.

We received responses from all three Select Board candidates and responses from 31 Town Meeting candidates.

The three candidates (Heather Hamilton, Eric Hyett, and John VanScoyoc) ran for two Select Board seats. There were a total of 103 Town Meeting candidates in 16 precincts, with contested elections in Precincts 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14.

You can access the candidates’ responses using these links:

Select Board

Town Meeting