Candidate campaign page: https://heartfeltfilms.wixsite.com/patreapatrick-ca39
Documentary filmmaker and environmental activist Patrea Patrick identifies as a regular cyclist, and expresses enthusiastic support for more bicycle infrastructure and tax credits for people using active transportation. Her response to our questionnaire didn’t clearly show a depth of understanding of the challenges to provide safer streets within California, but she nevertheless offers a positive platform on active transportation for voters within the northeastern San Fernando Valley.
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?
To be working towards fossil free California we need more safe and direct bike lanes. A tax break/ refund for those using bicycles should be given. Bicyclists could be rewarded with credits. Affordable housing is part of this conversation that considers bicyclist get first claim on housing closer to work as they are not contributing to annual carbon emissions.
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
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
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
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?
YES
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?
YES. It is essential to have a clean California. All new construction of affordable housing should include traffic/ housing plans geared toward cleaner transit and to empower more residents to get around on transit, on foot, and by bike by having high-quality transit near to them. As Assembly-member I would work with the city as well so it would receive incentives to allocate land for this betterment of the community.