Tucson's new transportation director accepts an award honoring his 25 years of service to the city of El Paso.

People who have worked with Tucson’s new transportation director Daryl Cole say the city is in good hands even if you walk and bike.

Two people who have worked with Cole responded by email about what cyclists and pedestrians should expect with him at the helm. Here’s what they had to say.

Marty Boyd, an avid cyclist and a Texas transportation employee, said she has worked with Cole a lot. El Paso was working on a smart growth plan and finally got it approved and ready to implement. El Paso is also working on a bicycle plan.

Here’s what Boyd had to say:

I can’t speak for the City, but my experience with Daryl has been a pleasure.

I was really looking forward to seeing the plan implemented and Daryl was the person perfect to execute that.

Sad to see him go, but I know Tucson is getting a wonderful Transportation Director, willing to work with all types of transportation and one of his many talents is being able to bring agencies and communities together and get the job done.

Ted Marquez was Cole’s deputy transportation director in El Paso:

Mr. Cole has gone through the training and is an accredited member of The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) which places an emphasis on creating walkable, sustainable development.

For years Mr. Cole has been an advocate of incorporating bicycle lanes, trails and bike and hike lanes in City projects. He has also been constructing sidewalks, pedestrian paths and removing accessibility barriers on all projects under his purview.

Bottom line I believe that Tucson has hired a very well rounded Transportation Director.

 

11 thoughts on “Former colleagues say Cole good fit for Tucson”
  1. Seems like a good well rounded candidate but can’t help feeling that Tucson needs someone who is actually a cyclist so they have a clue about what is really needed to make this city bike friendly.

  2. We’ll see.  I’m deeply skeptical.  The good news is, with all these published statements, Tucson Velo will now serve as a documentary reminder of who is and who is not totally full of bullshizzle.  The question remains, however: will the Tucson alternative transportation community be critical enough to distinguish between their allies and the car culture charlatans?

  3. Quoth rynsa: The question remains, however: will the Tucson alternative
    transportation community be critical enough to distinguish between their
    allies and the car culture charlatans?

    To which I say: One of the things we can do is stop sucking up to the charlatans. And we all know who they are.

    Call the charlatans on their bullshizzle, and do it often.

  4. Keep in mind that Tom Thivener’s vacant bike/ped position hasn’t been filled. So, work on Daryl Cole if you want but at the end of the day it’s going to come down to Richard Miranda and Mayor and Council. Suggest you don’t beat up on the guy just yet…he’s caught in the middle of a lot of things.

  5. Let’s just hope his pay doesn’t match his body type! Somewhere along the line, city and state governments started paying wages far better than the private sector. I wish we had a say in stuff like that!

  6. Says a lot about how far the private sector has fallen in this country. I can remember a time when government jobs didn’t pay worth shhhhhh…

    …you know what I mean.

    As for the body type, one of my best friends in bicycling has the same build. Guy can ride like nobody’s business.

  7.  Okay, Mike, we have a new Tucsonan for you to befriend and mentor in the weight loss department.

    Mike, meet Daryl. Daryl, meet Mike. Enjoy some wonderful rides, and be sure to invite us along now and then. We’d like to be part of Daryl’s weight loss cheering section.

  8. As Mr. Natural used to say, it ain’t the meat but the motion. While it would seem more logical that a cyclist would have the job, we have run with what we got. Let’s keep a civil relationship, however the political power is the public. Recall how the Dutch got their cycling needs recognized by civil protest actions. Momentum is on now the side of urban cycling.  While it is becoming more apparent the civil design work so far, 4th Ave underpass to streetcar, shows a lack of cyclist concerns. . Not surprising considering civil engineers.  Future design must have more input from cycling users. 

    And yes, the streetcar clearances with parking appear to have had little if any concern for cyclists. Again, an amazing of lack of design expertise.  Was there anyone on the design team that rides? 

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