Kimberly Gillette

Q1: How do you get around and what has your experience been?

I primarily use my car to get around about five days a week and walk the rest. I push a carriage to Malden Center often, and it highlights just how hard our sidewalks are to utilize for someone with mobility impairments. My small business depends on alternative transportation because of parking restrictions on busy roads. My oldest is an avid bike rider, gets around on a non-motorized trick scooter, and uses the MBTA more than I do these days. I think making the streets safer for people to get around is one of the most important things we can do as a society in big cities. In my opinion, building safer streets increases community and commerce as well as safety. I’m not satisfied with the city of Malden’s progress in making our streets accessible but I’m hopeful the conversation is turning towards solutions.

Q2: What street or intersection would you most like to see improved for safety?

There are several concrete actions Malden can and should take within the next two years in order to improve the safety of streets and sidewalks for people not in cars. We need a city-wide intensive traffic study that ultimately guides so many of our current issues. This intricate of a study would probably need to come from grant money, and that takes time. We can invest in the traffic light infrastructure to make sure it’s working for our needs today. I would like to see the city plan for tree roots so that our sidewalks last longer once they are made passable, while continuing to grow our tree canopy. The planning department can consolidate construction and decrease traffic interruptions in our most congested areas.

The current bike lanes are important, and I think there’s room for improvement in the design. I think we should be planning for neighborhoods to connect to the main bike lanes/path, and to their neighborhood schools. Malden was designed such that the neighborhoods all had their own convenience stores, restaurants, and shops as well as schools. The unique charm each “square” had growing up around here is lost in the parking lot we have created. I know that I contribute to the problem, and I also know that I can’t operate more than a few days a week without a car the way things are.

Q3: How would you support safe routes to school programs?

I think the city plays a major role in making Malden a community where more people are encouraged to get around easily and conveniently by foot, on bicycles, and on public transit. Malden is meant to be accessible, and the city planning should reflect that in every way. At the school committee level, I would push for programming about street safety in our schools, events that promote safe routes, and encourage/work with schools’ PTOs to develop Bike Buses and Walking School Buses within their schools’ communities. Winter conditions are a major factor in any planning we do and creating safe travel after winter storms is hard with a dwindling budget.

Q4: How would you reduce drop-off and pick-up traffic at schools?

I would like to bring back a small budget/grant for buses/vans/transportation for the families that are most affected by not attending their neighborhood schools. Families that must travel across town are isolated from community building experiences like Bike Bus or Walking School Buses. Their individual travel adds to the congestion during peak hours. Designated bus stops that cater to children in one area can drastically decrease how many stops the bus makes on small side roads. Children can walk a similar distance as their peers in the morning and afternoon, contributing to overall health and wellness. Buses can stay on the main roads and utilize bus lanes while dropping 40 cars worth of kids to a couple of schools across the city in several directions in a fraction of the time. It also gives families the opportunity to meet other families in their own neighborhood out walking around. I think this kind of solution is more equitable than no buses for everyone.

Q5: Would you support walk/bike to school programs?

I fully support the SRTS program and would be excited to implement community practices promoted by SRTS that help families and children get to school. I think schools are a great place to start to bridge the gap between health and transportation. I look forward to learning more about the specific program ideas for Malden and how I can help.