Thankfully, Seattle’s elected officials have spoken out for world-class bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. What they need to do now is take the vital next step to fund it.

Here’s what they’ve said:

Seattle City Council

Among their priorities for 2010, the city council has declared that it will:

“Identify funds for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, work towards an all electric transit system, including light rail, streetcars, and electric trolley buses, and strive for a fairly allocated source of funds for bus service connecting Seattle neighborhoods and connecting Seattle with job centers in other parts of King County.”

The Mayor’s Office

Back on the campaign trail, Mayor McGinn said this:

“An economically and environmentally sustainable city requires a great local transit system. But this won’t happen if we don’t have the right priorities and make good decisions now.”

Individual Statements

Members of City Council support better streets for Seattle.  This sampling of public statements shows that they share our vision.  Now it’s up to us to give them the support they need to follow through.

Councilmember Richard Conlin, Chair of Regional Development and Sustainability

“I am strongly supportive of full funding for bicycles and walking, and endorse full implementation of the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan and the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan.  I am very comfortable with doing so and reducing funding for new roads and capacity for cars.”

Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Chair of Transportation Committee:

“The comments on transportation that I am hearing from communities over and over again are more transit, more crosswalks, more sidewalks and better pedestrian and bicycle facilities.”

Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of Energy, Technology, and Civil Rights

“I’ll work for more bicycle trails and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.”

Councilmember Tim Burgess, Chair of Public Safety and Education

“Speaking for myself, not for my colleagues, although I think this is broadly held on the Council, and that is that doing things like complete streets and adding bike lanes and street dieting and all of those things that are moving us toward a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly streetscape, I think there’s strong political will on the Council to keep moving that direction.”