Candidate campaign page: http://www.votetepring.com/
Dr. Tepring Piquado clearly communicated that she recognizes the role that transportation plays in California’s climate policy. To that end, she expressed support for dedicated funding for active transportation and for reducing the amount of driving. While she fell short of full commitments to support clarifying the rights of people on bikes under the vehicle code or methods to reduce speeding on California roads, her response shows a promising approach to transportation policy.
Bike The Vote L.A. 2018 Primary Grade: B+
(See below for full candidate questionnaire response)
1. The California Air Resources Board estimates that transportation accounts for 37% of California’s annual carbon emissions. What actions would you take as assemblymember to ensure that California creates a more sustainable transportation system?
Last year the Air Resources Board warned that California can’t meet its climate goals without reducing emissions from transportation. We need to provide Californians with safe options to get around without driving in the here and now. The good news is that the mileage reductions we need to meet our commitments under AB32 and successor legislation are pretty modest–the LA Times calculated that Southern Californians need to cut daily mileage from about 22.8 to 20.2–just over 10%.
I will work with local officials and advocacy groups to make it safe and accessible for people to walk or bike for their local errands like to the bank or the post office instead of driving. If we can make people feel safe walking or biking our kids to school or ourselves to work that reduces some miles. We can work toward this.
2. Cap & trade funds offer a unique opportunity to prioritize sustainable transportation, particularly in low-income neighborhoods negatively affected by pollution caused by cars. Do you support dedicating a portion of cap and trade funds towards the Active Transportation Program to help fund better pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure?
Yes, safe pedestrian and cycling infrastructure needs to be an important part of climate strategy.
3. In Los Angeles, low-income communities of color are disproportionately burdened by the impacts of streets designed primarily for cars, without receiving proportional funding for their mobility modes like walking, biking, and public transit. Would you support legislation to add a ‘complete streets’ policy to SB 1, California’s newly augmented gas tax, to require all street and highway projects to incorporate the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists and transit-dependent communities?
Yes, I fully support developing safe pedestrian and cycling opportunities.
4. California law regarding the position bicyclists can occupy in a traffic lane is written in a confusing manner. The typical condition – in which the rightmost lane is too narrow for a car and a bicycle to travel safely side-by-side and the bicyclist is thus allowed to use the full lane – is written as an exception rather than the default standard. As a result, despite public information campaigns such as “Every Lane Is A Bike Lane,” there is frequently confusion from the general public and even law enforcement agencies on the legality of bicyclists riding in traffic lanes on California roads. Do you support re-wording traffic law to clarify the right of people on bikes to ride to maximize their visibility and safety?
I fully support engaging with communities to educate drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to make it safe for all commuters. Public safety should be our top priority as we share the road.
5. A recent study by the National Transportation Safety Board found that speeding was one of the most common factors in crashes, and one of the highest contributors towards fatal crashes. Despite this fact, speed limits across California are consistently raised due to a state law that sets speed limits at the 85th percentile of measured driving speeds. Do you support reform to the 85th percentile rule to give local jurisdictions the ability to set speed limits to better promote safe driving?
My approach to specific statewide legislation is to clearly state the problem, engage stakeholders and subject matter experts and gather information to make the best decision possible grounded in context. Public safety must be a top priority for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers as we design transportation policies.
6. California’s ongoing housing crisis challenges cities and communities to provide solutions towards meeting California’s demand for housing. Do you support efforts at the state level to accommodate smart growth, transit-oriented development, and sustainable communities that empower residents to get around on foot, by bike, and on quality public transit? What specific policies you would pursue to promote sustainable and affordable living for Californians?
I would seek a housing-first policy that focuses on equitable access to housing and methods of transportation including walking, biking and public transportation to work and community activities. Development of sustainable communities is important as we continue to grow the economy.