Candidate campaign page: https://www.kamlagerforassembly.com/
Sydney Kamlager currently serves as district director to State Senator Holly Mitchell (who Bike The Vote endorsed in 2014), and holds an impressive platform on transportation. In her response to Bike The Vote L.A., Kamlager expressed support for encouraging Californians to do less driving, and committed to providing dedicated funding for active transportation. We would have liked Kamlager to offer more fully fleshed-out ideas for implementing transit oriented development, but her overall platform on transportation appears strong. It’s clear that she understands the important position that active transportation plays in helping California to meet its climate goals and eager to engage with safe streets advocates should she be elected.
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?
Californians, specifically those living near highways, continue to be harmed by car pollution. The massive reliance on fossil fuels and gas powered cars are making it very challenging to fight climate change in California. If elected, I will sign bills that encourage fuel diversification and reduce vehicle miles traveled.
I have worked to help make the Crenshaw light rail line a reality in the district, and will fight for a full build out of LA’s mass transit system. I will support a robust infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles.
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. The law needs to be more clear and better enforced. This is a matter of public safety.
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. I support it.
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. Climate change is real and we need to get California moving away from gas fired power plants to 100% clean energy. I believe that the state government can not only play a more effective role in monitoring regulations that empower residents to get around on foot, by bike and on quality public transit but also bringing local residents and organizations like Bike the Vote LA to the table to come up with a more comprehensive plan toward sustainability. I welcome Bike The Vote LA’s thoughts and suggestions on specific policies to get us there.