Election 2016: State Assembly and Senate Candidate Questionnaires

This blog post was put together by our Advocacy Intern, Tomio Hayase-Izu.Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is a 501c3 non-profit organization and is permitted to educate our members about where candidates for public office stand on our issues, but cannot endorse candidates. The questions below were developed and sent out to all California State Senate and Assembly candidates by the California Bicycle Coalition. They received responses from Mike Kasperzak, Peter Ohtaki and Vicki Veenker from Assembly District 24 (Atherton, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Woodside, Cupertino, Los Altos, Mountain View, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale), Madison Nguyen from Assembly District 27 (Downtown and East San Jose), and Scott Wiener and Jane Kim from Senate District 11 (San Francisco, Colma, Daly City and South San Francisco). Other candidates did not reply. The California State primary election is June 7.If you aren't sure who your local State Assembly or Senate representatives are, you can find out here.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in your district and/or in Sacramento?

• Mike Kasperzak (Assembly District 24): Yes
• Peter Ohtaki (Assembly District 24): Yes
• Vicki Veenker (Assembly District 24): Yes
• Madison Nguyen (Assembly District 27): Yes
• Scott Wiener (Senate District 11): Occasionally, but not on a regular basis. I take transit every day.
• Jane Kim (Senate District 11): Yes

2. If yes, for what purpose(s) and how often? How do you most commonly commute to work?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): I work from home, but either bike or walk to local appointments when time permits.
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): Ride with kids to and from school nearly daily. Work from home office.
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): Recreational. I currently work out of my home.
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): I ride my bike with my daughter. She’s four years old. We ride leisurely. I drive to work.
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): N/A
• Jane Kim (SD 11): I grew up in New York City and my only modes of transit were walking and taking public transportation. I learned to ride a bike six years ago as an adult. As our city grows in density, I believe we must reduce the number of vehicles on the road. I bike and walk as part of my personal commitment to be one fewer car on the road. As a beginning cyclist, I have become comfortable biking to work by myself (it’s a short commute!), but I still don’t feel comfortable biking to other destinations without friends. This experience has only strengthened my resolve to install protected or separated bike lanes, whether it’s Folsom/Howard, 2nd Street, Polk, or other major corridors, and more bike racks to ensure that cyclists can safely and conveniently park their bikes when they reach their destination.

3. If no, what would inspire you, and the 60% of people who are interested in riding, but concerned about safety to ride a bike for transportation?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): Safe bike routes that are not circuitous.
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): N/A
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): N/A
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): N/A
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): I enjoy cycling, but transit is my preferred mode of transportation. I advocate strongly for improved bike infrastructure. I've authored legislation to make this work easier, have shepherded bike projects to completion, and have obtained funding for this work.
• Jane Kim (SD 11): N/A

4. Would you commit to joining a group ride with local advocates along a route that illustrates the bicycle infrastructure conditions of the district you are running for?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): Yes
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): Yes
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): Yes
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): Yes
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): Yes
• Jane Kim (SD 11): Yes

5. Caltrans has established a goal to triple the number of bike trips by 2020. Do you support this goal?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): Yes
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): Yes
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): Yes
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): Yes
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): Yes
• Jane Kim (SD 11): Yes

6. Research has shown that the most effective way to boost the number of people bicycling is to create interconnected “complete bikeway networks” of physically protected bike lanes and traffic-calmed streets. The California Bicycle Coalition is seeking to create a new state program to provide large grants of $25-$50 million to build such networks in the communities which need it most. It will incentivize holistic planning of networks rather than piecemeal planning of one street at a time. Do you support using state funds for a competitive complete bikeway network grant program?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): Yes
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): Yes
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): Yes
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): Yes
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): I support the goals of this program and would be very interested in moving it forward provided we have the budget resources in place.
• Jane Kim (SD 11): Yes

7. Do you support our complete streets provisions in SBX 1-1 of the special session to mandate the inclusion of “new bicycle and pedestrian safety, access, and mobility improvements” in every non-freeway road project funded by the state? It calls for sidewalks and protected bike lanes or bike paths in transit-dense areas on most roads with a speed limit over 25 miles per hour.

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): Yes
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): Yes
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): Yes
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): Yes
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): Yes
• Jane Kim (SD 11): Yes

8. The Active Transportation Program (ATP), the sole state funding source for biking, walking, and safe routes to school improvements, was created by the Brown administration in 2013 with the stated intention to increase it continually. However, the Governor’s latest budget proposes no increase for the third straight year. Current funding levels on a per capita basis place California in the middle of the pack among states who provide dedicated active transportation funding. To reflect Caltrans’ goal to triple biking and double walking trips by 2020, do you support doubling the ATP?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): Yes
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): Yes
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): I support increasing the ATP. I need to learn more about the program costs and funding needs in order to consider what constitutes an appropriate increase.
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): I would need to see more information before committing to double the ATP, but I would generally support increased funding for the program.
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): Yes
• Jane Kim (SD 11): Yes

9. Bike sharing programs are spreading throughout California, but they often do not reach low-income neighborhoods. Do you support providing state funds to allow these programs to serve all Californians who could reasonably benefit, in the same way that public transit serves the public?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): Yes
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): Yes
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): Yes
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): Yes
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): Yes
• Jane Kim (SD 11): Yes

10. About 3,000 people are killed on California streets every year. Do you support a “Vision Zero” goal of zero traffic fatalities by a certain date?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): Yes
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): Yes
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): Yes
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): Yes
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): Yes
• Jane Kim (SD 11): Yes

11. The California Air Resources Board estimates that 38% of California’s 447 million metric tons of carbon emitted every year comes from the transportation sector, which along with other emissions, results in thousands of deaths and millions of dollars in wasted health care spending. What do you feel are the three most important actions the state should take to reduce carbon emissions from transportation?

Mike Kasperzak (AD 24):

1. Better and more innovative last mile connections for transit
2. Create local incentives to shift mode share
3. Explore a fuel carbon tax

Peter Ohtaki (AD 24):

1. More mass transit.
2. Encourage hybrid/electric cars
3. More safe routes to schools

Vicki Veenker (AD 24):

1. Pass the crucial petroleum reduction goal of 50% by 2030 that was taken out of SB 350 last year and pass SB 32 which requires 80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050
2. Provide incentives for municipalities to deploy electric/zero emission public buses
3. Provide incentives for hybrid or electric/zero emission cars and provide more charging stations with preferential parking

Madison Nguyen (AD 27):

1. Investing in public transportation. As San Jose’s representative on the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Board, I strongly supported bringing BART to San Jose. We need to make California more accessible and sustainable
2. Implement land use planning that will encourage integrated development and transit oriented development so people can live near where they work, shop and play. Smart planning can create vibrant walking and biking communities that do not require auto use
3. Improving pedestrian and bike safety. We need to create new paths and safe street options, and also make sure our public transit supports bicycles

Scott Wiener (SD 11):

1. A dramatic increase in investment in public transportation and resulting improvements to transit capacity, frequency, and reliability
2. Strong investment in active transportation infrastructure in order to increase the number of people who bike and walk on a regular basis
3. Increasing access to other types of transportation options - such as car sharing and ride sharing - so that people can more easily live without a car

Jane Kim (SD 11):

1. Reduce car commutes by creating jobs where people live and vice versa
2. Support public transportation infrastructure
3. Support policies and programs that encourage people to travel on bicycle

12. Should cap-and-trade funds be used for highway congestion relief projects that expand road capacity?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): No
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): Depends if HOV/Electric vehicle capacity
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): No
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): Yes
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): No
• Jane Kim (SD 11): Yes, if the projects get more people out of cars and expand bicycle capacity on roads.

13. If you could send out one tweet to the bike community that you think would win over their support, what would it say?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24): Bike for Life
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24): N/A
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24): Let’s stop cycling on bicycling and take action to double bike miles with more ATP for complete streets!
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27): Public transit ridership #’s are @ record levels, but we can’t leave cyclists unable to bring bikes on board. Let’s find solutions. #bikeCA
• Scott Wiener (SD 11): #Biking key to low carbon future. We need better infrastructure for safe biking & we need to design streets for all users, not just cars.
• Jane Kim (SD 11): Biking is the future. We need to do more to create a protected bike infrastructure throughout CA! #bikeCA

14. Do you have any other comments or questions about how you have supported or would support the California Bicycle Coalition’s mission of enabling more people to bicycle for healthier, safer, and more prosperous communities for all?

• Mike Kasperzak (AD 24):
  • I have been very supportive of all the transportation changes we have been making in Mountain View, including adding protected bike lanes, requiring shifts in mode share for the Google campus area to at least 10% Bike/Ped.
• Peter Ohtaki (AD 24):
  • I have voted for more bike lanes throughout Menlo Park during my terms on the city council.
• Vicki Veenker (AD 24):
  • I saw the Coalition’s goals lived out in Copenhagen, Denmark, when we visited last summer. Despite having far worse weather than California, they have built dedicated, raised bike lanes along most major thoroughfares and bicycling is a major commuting option.
• Madison Nguyen (AD 27):
  • Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this questionnaire. I’m proud of the work I’ve done to support the cycling community in San Jose. We have wider and colored bike lanes in our city streets and we’ve worked hard to improve paths for bikes and pedestrians.
  • As a strong advocate for expanding access to public transit, I am a firm believer that we need to make cycling and public transit seamlessly integrated. We need to solve the “first and last mile” issue in transportation – where people are a mile away from their public transportation station or their station is a mile from their destination. Biking is perfect for that first and/or last mile. As an Assemblymember, I will support efforts for cyclists to bring their bikes on board transit or store them safely at the station. I am confident we can find common solutions to these issues and therefore increase transit ridership and the number of bikes on the road.
• Scott Wiener (SD 11):
  • As a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, I am a leading advocate for non-auto transportation. I fight for better funding for transit and bike/pedestrian projects. I authored a successful ballot measure (Prop B) tying transit funding to population growth and dedicating the increased spending to transit as well as bike/pedestrian projects. I authored legislation requiring residential developers to pay transit impact fees. I authored an amendment to our fire code to remove an obstruction to street safety projects. And I work regularly with the San Francisco Bike Coalition and Walk San Francisco on many different transportation issues. More information about my transportation work is at www.scottwiener.com.
  • As a State Senator, transportation will be among my highest priorities. I will fight for increased funding for transit as well as bike/pedestrian projects. I will work to make state law an ally of complete street projects rather than an obstacle. The California Bike Coalition will always have an ally and open door on these and other issues.
• Jane Kim (SD 11):
  • I have led a citywide campaign to reduce our traffic fatalities on San Francisco streets to zero by 2024 through increased enforcement, education, and engineering of City streets. Sixty percent of our city’s collisions occur on 6% of our city streets, much of it in the District I represent which sees the highest number of traffic collisions and fatalities in the City. San Francisco has the highest percentage of pedestrian/vehicle collisions in the state of California. Our office convenes a monthly D6 pedestrian and bike safety workgroup, bringing together our diverse constituents, including single-room-occupancy tenants, condo homeowners, seniors, and working class Latino and Filipino families. A citywide coordination effort is critical to change this culture with a mix of immediate interventions and long-term improvements that the City can take to save lives.
  • We must get people out of cars and on public transit, bikes, and their feet, and we must do so safely. I will continue to push a culture shift within City agencies and the public through funding, implementing, and monitoring Vision Zero. Working with SFBC, WalkSF, and our District 6 Pedestrian Safety Workgroup, our office has garnered increased commitments from SFPD and SFMTA in District 6 where the majority of pedestrian/bike and vehicle collisions occur. We must continue to balance long-term safety improvements and near-term pilots in our highest injury corridors.
  • I support a downtown congestion pricing plan. The majority of office and residential development is occurring in District 6, and I will work to ensure greater secured bike parking and car share slots, less private vehicle parking, and investments in pedestrian safety improvements near the development, including bulb outs, new signalized crosswalks, wider sidewalks, and even funding for traffic enforcement.
  • I have been a staunch supporter of protected bike lanes in the Second Street and Polk Street Improvement projects, despite clear public pushback to these bike lanes. Polk Street and Second Streets are important north/south corridors connecting a variety of neighborhoods. I fought for $4.85M in replacement funds for the Second Street project after critical federal funds were reallocated to other projects. I believe in a highly participatory process in developing our streetscapes and I am comfortable making value decisions on what I believe is best for the City, including the value of saving lives and encouraging more residents to get out of their car.
  • I support a Vehicle License Fee and supported the Population Growth Charter Amendment and the General Obligation Bond for Transportation in 2014.