Raymond Bishop’s response to Bike The Vote L.A. is inconsistent. He stated that transit systems should be designed to reduce congestion (rather than to provide a quality mobility option) and he failed to accept that speed is a primary factor in the cause and severity of crashes. His goal of eliminating the use of fossil fuels is admirable, but we would hope to see a stronger platform from him in providing safe and efficient mobility options in order to achieve such a goal.
Bike The Vote L.A. 2018 Primary Grade: C+
(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?
I strongly believe that we must protect our health and environment by the total elimination of our use of products derived from fossil fuels. I would work to see that we continue on the path to ensure that we remove all diesel and gas burning vehicles and eliminate the use of all products that interfere with a clean and healthy environment.
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 along with any additional funding as needed to support this program.
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 do not believe the existing system is in our best interest as Vehicle, Bicycle and Pedestrian travel is not compatible due to the varying speeds. This is an important safety as well as a practical and important public transit problem. Our transit system must provide for the development of full transit-dependent communities.
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?
Yes; to maximize their visibility and safety; however, the safety of a bicyclist should be a priority. Bicycles and Vehicles do not mix. Our California law and funding should provide for specific bicycle lanes separate and apart from vehicles.
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?
No, I do not believe that speed alone is the most common factors in crashes, I believe the difference in speed is the cause along with a lack of focus on driving. I believe that our transportation system is outdated and has not maintained a futuristic outlook to account for greater traffic and other forms of transit. A graduated speed system to allow for commuter flow on the left with slower traffic on the right should be enforced. We should require that slower traffic move to the right and provide that passing should be in on the left only.
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 believe that transit use should be oriented towards the areas of greatest congestion. I do not believe it is in the best interest to build housing based on transit systems, but in building transit systems in areas where we now face the greatest congestion first. Our present experience relating to the reduced use of Metro has demonstrated that this concept has failed and only benefited certain property owners. Transit should be designed to serve the needs of people and should be designed to reduce congestion to provide the travelers to get to the places they wish to travel to. It is also important that travel routes are compatible with a quality of life experience in that persons should be able to enjoy traveling especially such as bicycles where a pleasant and scenic experience is available.