Who Can Walk the Walk?

David Ziskind crossed the intersection to meet me on the corner of Tilly Mill Road and Mt. Vernon in the Metro Atlanta city of Dunwoody, Georgia. It’s the most dangerous intersection I cross every day, and I usually walk my bike and hold up my camera while crossing to discourage drivers from cutting me off.

A week later, current city councilor Rob Price, whom David is opposing in the upcoming local election, waved to me as I walked up a steep hill to the same corner. Yes, I know a big upgrade is planned at this intersection in another year or so, but it’s deadly now. Today. Our city fails specifically at addressing problems in the short term while longer-term solutions are being planned and executed, and that is one of the things I wanted to talk with both of them about.

On each walk, we walked for two hours over the same two miles — past some micro examples of macro issues in our city. More dangerous and missing crosswalks. Three spots where ghost bikes would now be if my two friends and I had not survived the drivers who hit us while riding our bikes. The side of the street (or is it the other? I can’t keep up with the flip-flops) where the path may or may not ever happen, and the spot where the public works director met me 15 years ago and told me no positive safety changes were possible until repaving. The road was finally just repaved, with no changes. And so much more.

Lest you think I harp on the bad when there is lots of good happening in our city, I don’t. In fact, that’s why I keep showing up and speaking out — because I believe we could be the best. We are missing leadership that inspires people, and places, to greatness, however, and I am looking for it.

I asked about priorities, purpose, passion. I listened for a tendency toward excuses — or action. I questioned what kind of skin they have in the game.

Councilor Price has a strong sustainability track record and proven ability to work with the rest of council and city staff — but there are still far too many plans in our city that win awards but sit on shelves. I’m tired of constantly having to fight, fight, fight for things that we all already agreed to. More than shared values are needed in this role. Does he have the ability to truly make things happen? Maybe.

David has younger children (so more urgency for safety, perhaps) and is a small business owner here in this city, plus he is an engineer, which means maybe he can help bust the bull when “no, it’s not possible” replies come from city hall bottlenecks. He knows that road as well as I do, as only a walker or bike rider can (he served as a lead on the Bike Ride Across Georgia several times so he knows how it feels to see your life pass when you get close-passed). He seems to have a lower tolerance for bureaucracy than Councilor Price (and why are we so bureaucratic after just 17 years as a city? Where did the entrepreneurial energy go? And why are we not iterating when things aren’t working rather than accepting “better-than-nothing” mediocrity? Ahh, but I digress . . .)

I have just one small vote in just one small election this year. But very few people vote during an “off” year, so every vote counts. And, speaking of skin in the game, the person who wins will have the power to increase or decrease my chances of surviving when I ride my bike as transportation each and every day here. So, yes, I take this election very seriously. No ghosts bikes in this city, please. Here’s a PSA I created years ago, and I haven’t stopped speaking out about safety issues since:

At the end of our walk, Councilor Price and I ran into this woman walking her bike up that big hill on the sidewalk. Her name is Marianne. She rides 10 miles a day, as part of her recovery from a car crash (which occurred while she was in a car herself). We saw about six people on bikes on our walk, by the way. This isn’t just about me.

I wrote a list of citizen expectations for city leaders in a changing world when our city first started operating. It’s still what guides my voting decisions, year in and year out:

Councilor Price and David seem both like nice guys who aim to do good things, although I had some red flags with each of them. However, I don’t necessarily think I can go wrong with either. But in two years the power will shift. The mayor will be at her term limits. Other seats will be up for grabs, and the entire focus of the city could change in ways that increase the possibilities for the gutter of failed imagination and compromises that kill. My little decision this year could make a difference. Which candidate can really walk the walk?

It’s up for debate, I guess. In fact, there will be a debate. I may have a question or two.