Bike The Vote L.A. endorses Daniel Lee and Alex Fisch in the 2018 City Council election set for April 10, 2018.

Culver City has made big strides toward livable streets over the past few years. With leadership on the City Council from 2016 endorsee Meghan Sahli-Wells and “A”-rated Thomas Small, Culver City has worked to integrate bike travel into its evolving character as a transit-friendly community. The City recently added bike lanes that provide a needed connection to the Ballona Creek Bike Path, studied how to encourage and improve transit-oriented development, and is set to open a bike share system sometime in 2018.

With the departure of termed-out members creating two open City Council seats (out of a total of five) in 2018, the City has an opportunity to continue to become more bike-friendly under the right leadership. Bike The Vote L.A. believes candidates Daniel Lee and Alex Fisch are up to the task, and encourages all Culver City residents to cast their votes for these two visionary leaders.

Culver City’s 2018 election is on Tuesday, April 10th, with polling stations open from 7am to 8pm. Use this link for polling locations and voter information: http://www.culvercity.org/city-hall/election-information

Endorsement: Daniel Lee

In 2016, Bike The Vote L.A. awarded Daniel Lee an “A” grade, and he nearly succeeded in his City Council bid, missing out on the third and final seat by fewer than 250 votes. Judging by Lee’s response to our 2018 questionnaire, his understanding of what it takes to build a safe and sustainable transportation system has clearly improved over the last two years. We were particularly impressed with his enthusiastic support for Vision Zero, a bicycle network anchored by protected bike lanes, and Safe Routes to School programs.

Lee says he mainly gets around Culver City on foot, and we welcome his refreshing perspective on how to help people walk safely and with dignity. It’s rare to find a candidate with Lee’s knowledge of the technical details of building livable communities. Culver City will be well-served by his leadership and Bike The Vote L.A. is excited to endorse Daniel Lee for City Council.

[Click HERE for Daniel Lee’s full questionnaire response]

Endorsement: Alex Fisch

As a steering committee member of Bike Culver City, Alex Fisch is no stranger to the livable streets community. His experience as a safe streets advocate and regular bike commuter shines through in his platform on transportation. An ardent supporter of Vision Zero, Fisch articulates a thoughtful, compelling vision of a transportation system centered on walkability and complemented by quality transit and a safe, comfortable bike network for people of all ages and abilities.

Fisch actively participated in Culver City’s recent Transit Oriented Development study, helping to shape the report’s pedestrian and bicycle safety recommendations. Fisch’s experience in listening and communicating to effectively build support is a critical skill that Culver City desperately needs as it works to make its streets safer and more livable for all residents, commuters, and stakeholders. Bike The Vote L.A. wholeheartedly endorses Alex Fisch for Culver City Council.

[Click HERE for Alex Fisch’s full questionnaire response]

Other candidates:
Click HERE for Albert Vera’s full questionnaire response
Bike The Vote L.A. did not receive any response from candidate Marcus Tiggs

In 2016, Bike The Vote L.A. awarded Daniel Lee an “A” grade, and he nearly succeeded in his City Council bid, missing out on the third and final seat by fewer than 250 votes. Judging by Lee’s response to our 2018 questionnaire, his understanding of what it takes to build a safe and sustainable transportation system has clearly improved over the last two years. We were particularly impressed with his enthusiastic support for Vision Zero, a bicycle network anchored by protected bike lanes, and Safe Routes to School programs.

Lee says he mainly gets around Culver City on foot, and we welcome his refreshing perspective on how to help people walk safely and with dignity. It’s rare to find a candidate with Lee’s knowledge of the technical details of building livable communities. Culver City will be well-served by his leadership and Bike The Vote L.A. is excited to endorse Daniel Lee for City Council.

Daniel Lee Questionnaire Response:

1. What would an ideal transportation system for Culver City consist of? What mode options, considerations for people of different ages and abilities, and innovative features would that transportation system include?

Culver City would benefit from installing a network of dedicated protected lanes large enough for adult tricycles and pedicabs, to augment and connect to the Ballona Bike Path and Expo Bike Path; bike lanes on north-south arterial streets are lacking and special attention should be given to Sawtelle, Sepulveda and Overland in the tri-school area. A bike share with smart bike systems and trams – perhaps driverless – would serve to close the gap between work and off- site parking areas and/or between the train stations and bus lines.  Dedicated lanes for buses during peak commuting hours would improve the bus riding experience. Walking in many parts of Culver City has improved, especially in the Downtown and Sepulveda business districts. Safe Routes to Schools curb build outs and enhanced crosswalks have made walking safer and more pleasant near Linwood Howe Elementary School, especially for school-aged children and their families, but also wheelchair and mobility scooter users. We can look forward to more Safe Routes to School upgrades around La Ballona Elementary in the near future and more opportunities like these should be seized as they become available.

2. Culver City is currently considering adopting a “Vision Zero” policy to work towards preventing traffic related deaths through roadway design. Do you support Vision Zero? How do you think Culver City should engage with its community of residents and businesses in order to eliminate roadway deaths?

The concept of Vision Zero was recently approved by the Culver City Council, which sets in motion the process for creating specific benchmarks to achieve Vision Zero goals. I fully support Vision Zero and will promote strong policies and regulations that will help us reach zero serious and fatal accidents within the next 10 years. I have seen people in public meetings become more receptive to the idea of reducing traffic speed, when the link between speed reduction and fewer serious accidents is made.  Public meetings in various parts of Culver City should include brief Vision Zero presentations or updates, as this would educate the public and help to create a large contingent of Vision Zero advocates. In addition to public meetings there should be an educational campaign that could consists of a short video that explains what Vision Zero is, pamphlets that can be handed out at meetings and mailed and robust use of the city’s social media to familiarize the uninitiated with the concept.

3. Culver City’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Action Plan is well under way as a means of updating the city’s vision and implementation plan for livable streets. What do you hope to see from this plan?

The outcome should include all the elements of a strong Complete Streets policy. For pedestrians, this would include built-out corners; intersection and crossing enhancements (e.g. crossing refuge islands); trees, landscaping, parklets, and public seating. For bicyclists, we should aim for contiguous protected and standard bike lanes; shared bus/bike lanes; increased bike parking, a smart bike share system, bike sensors at intersections and overall, an alternative transportation system that closes the last mile between public transportation and home or work.

4. In November, the final Culver City Transit Oriented Development Visioning Study and Recommendations were released, including recommendations to improve pedestrian and bicycle access to and from transit. What components of this plan do you support, and why?

I support the recommendations for improved walkability, especially making Washington Blvd. the walkable spine of the TOD. Because walking is my primary mode of transportation, I have first hand experience and understand the importance of “pedestrian first” intersections, bulb-outs at corners, and increasing the number of safe crossings, especially on longer street sections. I would object to increasing access points for pedestrians on Ballona Creek Bike Path, as suggested in the report, unless the path were widened, or until the south side of the creek path was built, in order to safely accommodate both walkers and riders. I am fully supportive of the Downtown Connector, the protected bike lane connecting Downtown to the Culver City Expo Line station. This important piece of infrastructure is long overdue and I would advocate to make it one of the first recommendations to be implemented.  Improvement of the Venice/National and Venice/Robertson intersections will require coordination with the City of LA and the Metro Authority, as stated in the report, and will be critical for safe walking and biking connections to the train station and bus hubs. I support the neighborhood improvements sited, that would slow traffic and increase safety for walkers and bikers: corner build-outs, raised intersections, and neighborhood traffic circles. Finally, micro-transit that encourages folks to leave their cars outside the city center, is a concept I would support.

5. Since the configuration of most of Culver City public roads was set at a time when the primary concern was moving motor vehicles, improving roadway safety will require some tough trade-offs, including reducing speed limits, and reallocating parking and/or travel lanes to make room for safe biking facilities. How will you prioritize public safety, knowing that some stakeholders may complain about reduced vehicle speeds?

As mentioned above, I have seen the positive response to the concept of traffic slowing measures when people are made aware of the necessity of slowing traffic in order to eliminate serious and fatal accidents. Data that is already available pinpoints specific areas where these accidents cluster, and creates a case that’s difficult to refute. Reducing speeds will make streets safer overall for bicyclists and pedestrians as well as those who choose automobiles as their primary means of transportation. There will be those who are resistant to the changes necessary to reach Vision Zero, so I would work to build consensus among my colleagues on the Council in order to move our community forward. I would work with City staff to ensure that education is provided to the public in multiple formats, such as round tables, world cafés and presentations in multiple locations, easily accessed online resources, social media, pamphlets with infographics, etc.

6. Do you presently bike in Culver City? What are your experiences, or if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable biking on city streets?

I currently bike in Culver City though I primarily walk. My experience has been highly mixed. In some areas the distance between the car lane and the edge of the bike lane (if such a lane exists) is broad enough for me to feel safe as long as I am cautious. In other areas there is no bike lane, the bike lane disappears suddenly or the shape of the curves and construction of intersections makes me avoid certain streets as I bike. To feel absolutely comfortable I would prefer to bike in a protected lane, one that is not isolated but connected to an infrastructure of protected bike lanes. Ideally major intersections would be controlled by separate signals for bicycle traffic and car traffic.

As a steering committee member of Bike Culver City, Alex Fisch is no stranger to the livable streets community. His experience as a safe streets advocate and regular bike commuter shines through in his platform on transportation. An ardent supporter of Vision Zero, Fisch articulates a thoughtful, compelling vision of a transportation system centered on walkability and complemented by quality transit and a safe, comfortable bike network for people of all ages and abilities.

Fisch actively participated in Culver City’s recent Transit Oriented Development study, helping to shape the report’s pedestrian and bicycle safety recommendations. Fisch’s experience in listening and communicating to effectively build support is a critical skill that Culver City desperately needs as it works to make its streets safer and more livable for all residents, commuters, and stakeholders. Bike The Vote L.A. wholeheartedly endorses Alex Fisch for Culver City Council.

Alex Fisch Questionnaire Response:

1. What would an ideal transportation system for Culver City consist of? What mode options, considerations for people of different ages and abilities, and innovative features would that transportation system include?

An ideal transportation system would meet the growing demand for places where car ownership is not necessary.  Such places maximize individual and community wealth, health, and sustainability.  The first step is to focus on walkability, for people of all ages and with respect and consideration for those with mobility-impairments.  We must also expand transit and make it more appealing and useful.  We need a safe and connected network for people of all ages and confidence levels to travel by bicycle.  And we need to use innovative parking and traffic demand management strategies to manage car traffic in ways that minimize impacts to our residential streets.  Specifically, we should:

• improve and expand Culver City’s bus system, in part by coordinating with neighboring jurisdictions to create express bus routes, increase connections, and reduce headways;
• continue to invest in the improvement and maintenance of our streets and sidewalks;
• where the potential for walkability is high, expand sidewalks and improve the streetscape as opportunities arise;
• repaint faded crosswalks with high-visibility treatments;
• encourage neighborhoods to work together to develop traffic management plans;
• employ principles of “tactical urbanism” and “lean urbanism” to find innovative solutions to mobility challenges and test them inexpensively;
• increase bike lanes, focusing on creating a clearly marked, interconnected network of safe and inviting bicycle infrastructure;
• install protected bike lanes on high demand routes;
• implement and expand a bike share program; and
• adopt a traffic demand management (TDM) toolkit and implement TDM strategies.

We know that cities that invest in multimodal transportation options are more prosperous and less expensive to maintain, and inspire more creativity and joy, than those that are wholly reliant on the automobile.  The cities that provide a variety of safe, useful, comfortable, and interesting ways for people travel will be the cities that prosper in the 21st century.

2. Culver City is currently considering adopting a “Vision Zero” policy to work towards preventing traffic related deaths through roadway design. Do you support Vision Zero? How do you think Culver City should engage with its community of residents and businesses in order to eliminate roadway deaths?

I strongly support Vision Zero.   Approximately 37,000 people were killed by cars in the US last year.  Nearly 6,000 of those killed were pedestrians.  The pedestrians who are killed are disproportionately seniors and children.

Implementing Vision Zero will require a public rejection of this dull drumbeat of preventable deaths and an embrace of safety, sustainability, and livability. We must broadly communicate the connection between design, engineering, education, enforcement, and the weight of loss from roadway deaths. While advocacy groups will always do much of this work, the support of elected officials is essential.

3. Culver City’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Action Plan is well under way as a means of updating the city’s vision and implementation plan for livable streets. What do you hope to see from this plan?

This is the first update of Culver City’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Action Plan.  From the experience of the first Plan, I believe that we need broad and deep community engagement to develop a high-quality and actionable updated Plan. Additionally, City Council must be diligent in implementing the Plan.

I hope that the updated plan will prioritize the creation of a network of safe routes connecting residents, visitors, businesses, and high quality transit facilities. For example, building a protected bikeway from the Culver City Expo Line station to the downtown businesses would close a gap in the regional Expo Line bikeway, bring more visitors to downtown Culver City businesses without increasing pollution or car congestion, make bike share exponentially more useful, and provide a safe route for children who currently do not have a convenient way to get to Culver City schools. Additionally, I believe that Fox Hills is underserved and lacks safe and appealing active transportation connections to the rest of Culver City.

4. In November, the final Culver City Transit Oriented Development Visioning Study and Recommendations were released, including recommendations to improve pedestrian and bicycle access to and from transit. What components of this plan do you support, and why?

I attended most of the Visioning Study meetings and, with my neighbors, helped develop pedestrian and bicycle safety recommendations that ultimately were incorporated into the Visioning Study and Recommendations (Report).  

There is a checklist of specific components beginning at page 114 of the Report, along with general guidance on the timing and sequencing of, and objectives served by, each recommendation. I agree with most components of the Report, provided that each step is tested and reviewed using objective data, and that the plan is adapted based on real world experience and unforeseen developments.

I strongly support the short term recommendations, which focus on implementing traffic demand management strategies, protecting residential neighborhoods from high speed traffic, establishing a mobility fund to pay for future projects, testing innovative microtransit, and building a protected bikeway between the Expo Line and downtown Culver City.

5. Since the configuration of most of Culver City public roads was set at a time when the primary concern was moving motor vehicles, improving roadway safety will require some tough trade-offs, including reducing speed limits, and reallocating parking and/or travel lanes to make room for safe biking facilities. How will you prioritize public safety, knowing that some stakeholders may complain about reduced vehicle speeds?

Our streets must serve the needs of all users. With robust public outreach and careful implementation, redesigning streets for reduced vehicle speeds and dedicated, separate, safe space for bikes and pedestrians can garner enthusiastic public support.  Every road or transit intervention must go through a community outreach process and should involve the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee. City staff and advisory committees must work to tailor each project to meet the needs of our businesses and residents. Each project should be analyzed and adjusted as it is implemented and thereafter so that our streets work better over time for all users, and fairly balance everyone’s interests as our overall transportation system evolves.  

6. Do you presently bike in Culver City? What are your experiences, or if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable biking on city streets?

I commute by bike to and from my office in downtown Los Angeles at least once per week, and I regularly complete local trips by bike. I would love to make more trips by bike with my wife and young children. Based on how much fun they have and how far they ride at CicLAvia, I know that more and better bike infrastructure would make that possible.

Below is 2018 Culver City Council candidate Albert Vera’s full questionnaire response to Bike The Vote L.A.:

1. What would an ideal transportation system for Culver City consist of? What mode options, considerations for people of different ages and abilities, and innovative features would that transportation system include?

I believe it is important for our city to look at a variety of different transportation options, including not only bicycles but also buses, shared-ride options and, of course, pedestrian pathways. The key is to be sure that whatever transportation system we support is easy to use, connects well with other modes of transportation and is efficient, safe and reliable. Today, we could create a much more robust bus system that travels down the center lane of our busiest roadways, more effectively moving large groups of people. Projects like this are eligible for a variety of government grants and set aside money. Looking to the future, technology will enable us to collect real-time data from vehicles that can be used to adjust signal timing, add additional buses to routes during heavy use periods and more effectively time connections to/from light rail, buses and shared-use vehicles. In addition, implementation of a bike-share and car-share program could augment individual vehicle usage, and shared autonomous shuttles could be another element of an effective transportation system.

2. Culver City is currently considering adopting a “Vision Zero” policy to work towards preventing traffic related deaths through roadway design. Do you support Vision Zero? How do you think Culver City should engage with its community of residents and businesses in order to eliminate roadway deaths?

I am certainly a supporter of safety measures designed to reduce traffic fatalities. In looking at the 10 vehicle fatalities in Culver City since 2013, many were single-vehicle accidents that could not have been avoided by eliminating traffic lanes in favor of bicycle lanes. Inattentive or reckless driving was most often the cause of these accidents. I believe education is a critical component in keeping people from using their phones, doing their make-up, etc. while driving and encouraging them to pay more attention to their speed and their surroundings. I also believe many of the elements of Vision Zero could have a positive effect in eliminating roadway deaths, and I wholeheartedly support elements such as pedestrian refuge areas on main boulevards; additional, lighted crosswalks; speed feedback signs; bicycle boxes at intersections, curb extensions, etc. One of the first things I will ask for when I am on the council is a community meeting of transportation experts, representatives from police and fire service, activists and advocates, as well as policy makers to work to achieve the goal of making our streets as safe as possible.

3. Culver City’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Action Plan is well under way as a means of updating the city’s vision and implementation plan for livable streets. What do you hope to see from this plan?

I am hopeful that this plan results in additional safety elements along our streets and provides a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists while at the same time balancing the needs of drivers and business owners. How and where to strike that balance remains the challenge but it is important to make sure that our streets are effective transit corridors for modes of all kinds while at the same time protecting our most vulnerable road users, including children, older adults, and people walking and bicycling.

4. In November, the final Culver City Transit Oriented Development Visioning Study and Recommendations were released, including recommendations to improve pedestrian and bicycle access to and from transit. What components of this plan do you support, and why?

I agree with many elements of the TOD Visioning Study recommendations, including redesigning intersections for pedestrian priority, increasing the width of sidewalks where possible, developing neighborhood protection plans to address cut-through traffic and establishing micro-transit options throughout the district. I don’t believe eliminating vehicular traffic lanes is the most effective method of balancing the needs of all modes of transportation. I am concerned that if we reduce lanes on streets like Washington Boulevard, those cars will seek the path of least resistance and increase the level of cut-through traffic on our residential streets. We already have issues with cut-through traffic because of apps like Waze, so eliminating lanes will only exacerbate that problem. Instead, I would work to improve and advance alternative transportation options, encourage more ride sharing and use of public transportation, including existing bus service, while encouraging developers and businesses to embrace micro transit options and private ride sharing technologies. I also support implementing a bike share program, adding additional connections to the Ballona Creek Bike Path and working with the county and the Army Corps of Engineers to more effectively maintain, beautify and enhance the bike path by adding additional lighting and emergency call boxes.

5. Since the configuration of most of Culver City public roads was set at a time when the primary concern was moving motor vehicles, improving roadway safety will require some tough trade-offs, including reducing speed limits, and reallocating parking and/or travel lanes to make room for safe biking facilities. How will you prioritize public safety, knowing that some stakeholders may complain about reduced vehicle speeds?

Creating safe streets is more than just making room for safe biking facilities. Eliminating travel lanes to make room for additional bike lanes is not a solution to the traffic and congestion issues that plague Culver City (and virtually all of Los Angeles County). I believe there are options available in our safety toolkit to address safety concerns while still allowing commuters to get to and from work in a timely manner and business owners to continue to flourish. Reducing speeds makes sense in many areas, but eliminating lanes and capacity simply shifts the problem elsewhere and would have a detrimental effect on our smaller residential streets that are not designed to handle significant amounts of traffic.

6. Do you presently bike in Culver City? What are your experiences, or if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable biking on city streets?

My home is less than 100 yards from my work. I walk. I only bike recreationally, not as a commuter, and while I don’t feel uncomfortable biking on city streets, I recognize the need to make traveling by bicycle as safe and efficient as possible. I am fortunate to live and work in a very walkable neighborhood, and I believe our city needs to strive to create more such areas. I am hopeful that by implementing many of the safety recommendations presented in the TOD Study, we can effectively balance the needs of all types of commuters and modes of transportation.

Candidate campaign page: http://vote4meghan.com/

The diverse and vibrant community of Culver City sits at a turning point. With new light rail access to Downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica, walkable residential and commercial districts, and a location near L.A.’s traffic-choked Westside, the City is well-positioned  to forge a healthy and sustainable path on mobility. Unfortunately, according to the most recent rankings from the Governor’s Office of Traffic Safety, Culver City currently ranks 11th worst of 92 peer cities statewide for pedestrian injuries and 17th worst for bike-related injuries. Some important decisions lie ahead that will affect safety and quality of life for residents, workers, and visitors: whether to adopt Vision Zero, how to bring a bike share system to the city, and whether to provide protected bike connections between the Expo Line and the City’s thriving Downtown (to name just a few). With three of five seats on the Culver City Council up for grabs, the April 12, 2016 election will determine the approach the City takes on all of these issues.

Several weeks ago, Bike The Vote L.A. sent questionnaires to all seven candidates for City Council to ask them where they stand on the issues and how they would tackle the challenges surrounding sustainable transportation in Culver City. Several candidates impressed us with their responses. Scott Wyant reminded us of his role in getting key bicycle connections included in an Expo-adjacent development project during his time on the Planning Commission. Daniel Lee emphasized the need for the City’s transportation system to provide low-cost alternatives to driving. And Thomas Small voiced strong support for protected bike lanes, even if it means making tough choices to reallocate street space currently devoted to cars. Livable streets-minded voters are fortunate to have such a great slate of candidates from which to choose this year.

As we reviewed the responses, however, it was clear that there was one candidate whose record, policy positions, and commitment to the cause of safe and sustainable streets made her worthy of special recognition: Meghan Sahli-Wells.

The only incumbent Councilmember in the race as well as the City’s immediate past Mayor, Sahli-Wells is familiar to livable streets advocates as a co-founder of the Culver City Bicycle Coalition and out on the road as a daily bike commuter. On the Council, she’s been a strong ally for residents who care about healthy, sustainable mobility. She worked to bring CicLAvia to the City in 2013 and 2015; voted against the removal of crosswalks on Jefferson Blvd; worked to implement Safe Routes to School improvements to reduce speeding and enhance safety near Culver City schools; and supported implementation of the City’s Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan, which she helped to craft prior to her election to the Council. She’s taken on leadership roles that touch transportation issues beyond the City’s borders, serving on the Expo Line Construction Authority Board and on the Energy and Environment Committee of the Southern California Association of Governments.

In her response to our questionnaire, Sahli-Wells put forward a compelling vision of Culver City’s transportation future, from modest improvements like signage and bicycle loop detectors, to more ambitious undertakings like protected bike lanes and a Vision Zero initiative to work toward the elimination of all traffic deaths. She reminded us of her role in advancing the City’s participation in the coming Westside bike share system, which is now in the feasibility planning stage. Perhaps most importantly, she showed a commitment to prioritizing the safety of vulnerable street users in her willingness to dedicate street space to install protected bike lanes and in her focus on lowering vehicle speeds on neighborhood streets.

For these reasons, Sahli-Wells is best positioned to provide leadership in implementing Complete Streets in Culver City. We hope that, once Culver City residents have cast their votes on April 12, she will be returned to the City Council and joined by two other livable streets-minded colleagues who will stand with her when the time comes to make difficult decisions. We wholeheartedly endorse Meghan Sahli-Wells as an exceptional leader who will continue to make Culver City a more livable and vibrant community.

Bike The Vote L.A. sent out a 6-point questionnaire to all 7 candidates running for Culver City Council. We asked candidates to be succinct in their responses, in hopes that they might better outline for voters what their positions were on making streets safer and more livable for all who use Culver City streets.

With 3 seats open on Culver City’s 5-seat City Council, this election will determine whether the City continues to build on work to calm traffic on residential streets and in proximity to schools, and whether the City will provide needed bicycle connections between new transit options and business districts.

A group of our members has reviewed the responses and graded candidates for their positions on livable streets. See below summaries of what each candidate has to offer to continue to make Culver City a more vibrant community, and click through below to see full candidate responses.

Culver City’s election is on Tuesday, April 12th. Polling stations are open on 4/12 from 7am to 8pm. Check here for polling locations and voter information: http://www.culvercity.org/city-hall/election-information

Meghan Sahli-Wells

Incumbent Culver City Council Member and former Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells has a superb record of leadership in making Culver City streets safer for everyone. From her early work in co-founding the Culver City Bicycle Coalition, to developing a Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan for the City, to bringing CicLAvia to Culver City, and her depth of experience as a bike commuter; there is nobody who has worked harder to make Culver City a better place for people who bike or walk. Her response to our questionnaire displays a deep knowledge of the issues the City faces in implementing Complete Streets and articulates a detailed and practical vision for how to get there. In four years on the City Council, Meghan Sahli-Wells has been a consistent bike-friendly vote, a knowledgeable ambassador for bicycling, and an energetic advocate working to improve the safety and livability of Culver City streets. Residents have reaped many benefits from her outstanding work, and she deserves a chance to continue that work with another term in office.

Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: A+

[Click HERE for Meghan Sahli-Wells’ full questionnaire responses]

Thomas Small

A frequent bike-commuter and member of the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission, Thomas Small shows an exceptional grasp of the concepts of – and need for – livable streets. In his response to Bike The Vote L.A, Mr. Small strongly declares that Culver City “need(s) more bike lanes and paths that are separated entirely and protected from cars,” and displays a willingness to make tough decisions to ensure quality bike infrastructure, including to “seriously consider dedicating the space from on-street parking” to create protected bike lanes. Mr. Small supports expeditiously bringing a bike share system to Culver City and to coordinate its implementation with current and future transit-oriented development. In consideration of recently removed crosswalks on Jefferson Blvd, Mr. Small makes it clear that pedestrian and bike access should be prioritized for the benefit of Culver City residents over desires vehicular throughput. Thomas Small is a superb candidate with a vision to improve livability and increase mobility options in Culver City.

Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: A

[Click HERE for Thomas Small’s full questionnaire responses]

Daniel Lee

Environmental advocate and social welfare activist Daniel Lee offers a bold and fresh vision for Culver City coupled with solid support for implementation of livable streets. In his response to Bike The Vote L.A.’s questionnaire, Mr. Lee demonstrates that he is ready to make the tough decisions needed to implement connected bicycle infrastructure, support for implementing bike share, and for adopting a Vision Zero policy to end traffic deaths in Culver City. Mr. Lee understands the dual benefits of improved bicycle infrastructure in improving quality and safety for current bike commuters, as well as in providing a greater range of healthy, sustainable mobility options for people who aren’t currently commuting by bike. Mr. Lee also shows that he understands the importance of maintaining a convenient and walkable City through his opposition to recent removal of crosswalks on Jefferson Blvd. Daniel Lee is a thoughtful and needed voice for safer streets for Culver City.

Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: A

[Click HERE for Daniel Lee’s full questionnaire responses]

Scott Wyant

Scott Wyant has a keen understanding of the long-term goals to provide Culver City with more diverse mobility options. As a Culver City Planning Commissioner, he supported incorporating needed bicycle connections into the design for the Expo Line-adjacent Ivy Station development project. Also a former member of the committee overseeing development of Culver City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, Mr. Wyant has deep knowledge and experience with the opportunities and challenges for implementing livable streets in Culver City. We have some concerns with Mr. Wyant’s hesitancy to prioritize the safety and mobility needs of vulnerable road users above the convenience of drivers passing through Culver City, and hope to see him continue to develop a platform and strategy that puts safety first. With his depth of experience and understanding, Scott Wyant will make a strong advocate for a more multi-modal Culver City.

Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: A-

[Click HERE for Scott Wyant’s full questionnaire responses]

Göran Eriksson

Göran Eriksson presents a strong, bike-friendly platform through support for a Vision Zero policy in Culver City, support for a bike share system, and the need to provide access to transit for bicycle commuters, particularly between the Expo Line and Downtown Culver City. As a Culver City Chamber of Commerce board member, there’s no doubt that Mr. Eriksson understands the ways in which a connected, safe, and convenient network for bicycle transportation helps local businesses and the local economy. We were troubled by Mr. Eriksson’s support for removing crosswalks on Jefferson Blvd, where we would prefer to see priority placed on the mobility needs of local residents aiming to commute and/or get exercise on foot. We also would like to see more prioritization and urgency from Mr. Eriksson for bicycle infrastructure, including making the sometimes difficult decision to reallocate roadway space to make it safer to bike and walk. But we have faith that Mr. Eriksson’s vision for a safe and convenient transportation system – and his knowledge of European models for bicycle infrastructure – will make him a thoughtful advocate on the City Council of a more bikeable and safer Culver City.

Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: B+

[Click HERE for Göran Eriksson’s full questionnaire responses]

Marcus Tiggs

Marcus Tiggs carries a depth of knowledge of bicycle infrastructure and the benefits of a transportation system that offers options to different modes. We greatly appreciate his support for Vision Zero, the need to reduce speeding in order to improve roadway safety, and his desire to bring bike share to Culver City. Two items give us pause in Mr. Tiggs platform: 1) his support of an unbalanced plan that removed crosswalks from Jefferson Blvd. to prioritize speeding traffic through Culver City, and 2) his lukewarm support for protected bike lanes. We hope to see Mr. Tiggs develop these positions as the need for quality pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure becomes a more clear component of improving roadway safety, and as protected bike lanes become more and more common as a proven, safety-enhancing design treatment. We look forward to seeing Marcus Tiggs as an advocate for a balanced transportation system in Culver City.

Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: B+

[Click HERE for Marcus Tiggs’ full questionnaire responses]

Jay Garacochea

While we appreciated that former Culver City Detective Jay Garacochea responded to our questionnaire, we were disappointed with the positions he articulated. In the most recent 2013 Governor’s Office of Traffic Safety study, Culver City ranked 11th worst in California of 92 peer cities for pedestrian injuries & fatalities and 17th worst for bike-related injuries & fatalities. When Mr. Garacochea explains, “I feel as though our current public transit system is the best the city has to offer,” he displays no urgency or resolve to address the important challenges that Culver City faces to improve safety for its most vulnerable road users. In his answers to Bike The Vote L.A, Mr. Garacochea notes he supports inconveniencing residents’ access on foot in order to prioritize car traffic through Culver City. Mr. Garacochea is hesitant to support a needed safe bike connection between the Expo Line and Downtown Culver City or even to support bringing bike share to Culver City. We are encouraged that he expresses an interest in seeing an increase in bike lanes throughout the City, but considering his reluctance to put safety first in roadway design, Mr. Garacochea makes it clear that he does not currently hold positions that would make him a bike-friendly candidate.

Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: C-

[Click HERE for Jay Garacochea’s full questionnaire responses]

Candidate campaign page: http://www.vote4meghan.com/

Incumbent Culver City Council Member and former Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells has a superb record of leadership in making Culver City streets safer for everyone. From her early work in co-founding the Culver City Bicycle Coalition, to developing a Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan for the City, to bringing CicLAvia to Culver City, and her depth of experience as a bike commuter; there is nobody who has worked harder to make Culver City a better place for people who bike or walk. Her response to our questionnaire displays a deep knowledge of the issues the City faces in implementing Complete Streets and articulates a detailed and practical vision for how to get there. In four years on the City Council, Meghan Sahli-Wells has been a consistent bike-friendly vote, a knowledgeable ambassador for bicycling, and an energetic advocate working to improve the safety and livability of Culver City streets. Residents have reaped many benefits from her outstanding work, and she deserves a chance to continue that work with another term in office.

Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: A+

(See below for full candidate questionnaire response)

1. What would an ideal transportation system for Culver City consist of? What mode options, considerations for people of different ages and abilities, and innovative features would that transportation system include?

Sahli-Wells: An ideal system in Culver City would fully embrace Complete Streets and improve transportation for everyone: children with and without accompanying adults, elderly and disabled residents, those using wheelchairs, and cyclists of all ages (8-80 rule). As Vice-Chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, before my election to the City Council, I helped craft the current Bike & Ped. Master Plan which mandates a Complete Streets approach. We must update and continue implementing the Plan, and:

• expand our current bus system;
• activate our TOD as a truly accessible active transportation hub;
• prioritize upgrading and keeping our roads and sidewalks in good repair;
• repaint worn crosswalks with high-visibility treatments;
• place bicycle loop detectors at all intersections;
• install protected bike lanes;
• increase bike lanes and accompany them with clear signage;
• and implement a bike share program

2. With so many people on foot and on bike killed each year while commuting in Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles recently adopted a “Vision Zero” policy to work towards eliminating traffic deaths in the City of L.A. by 2025. Would you support adopting Vision Zero for Culver City?

Sahli-Wells: Absolutely. When I was Mayor, I accepted USDOT’s Mayor’s Challenge for Safer People Safer Streets, and more recently joined SCAG’s efforts to improve traffic safety as a spokesperson for their Go Human Campaign. I’ve learned that California has the nation’s highest number of fatalities involving people walking and bicycling, and traffic safety is one of the top causes of injury and death in the SCAG region. This is unacceptable. Cities have the power to change this horrifying trend, because we are in charge of designing our streets. In European countries, such as Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, where Vision Zero has been in place for many years, traffic speed has been significantly reduced, streets have been engineered for all road users, and countless lives have been saved. Culver City should adopt a Vision Zero policy and embrace this simple premise: no life should be lost in a traffic accident.

3. Culver City is considering implementing protected bike lanes – bike lanes separated from vehicles by a physical barrier – in two key locations: 1) on National Blvd to close the gap between the two halves of the Expo Bike Path that extend to USC/Expo Park to the East and Santa Monica to the West, and 2) on Washington Blvd connecting the Expo Line Culver City station to Downtown Culver City. Do you support these projects, which may require a dedication of developer land and/or a reduction of on-street car parking spaces?

Sahli-Wells: Yes, I support these important safety improvements, and have consistently voted in favor of them. As a cycling advocate and resident who uses a bicycle as my primary mode of transportation, I have firsthand experience travelling to and from the Expo line using these two boulevards; it is clear to me that protected lanes would provide safe access to the station and are long overdue.

4. Would you support bringing a bike share system to Culver City, and if so, what will you do to expedite its installation?

Sahli-Wells: Absolutely. In fact, in the last budget cycle, I approved funding for a bike share feasibility study, which will help Culver City find the right system (CycleHop / BTS), the right locations and funding opportunities. The current Council has given clear direction to City Staff that we will pursue bike share in Culver City. Bike sharing systems have been successful in the United States in cities such as DC, New York, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Portland and now, Santa Monica. On a personal note, I lived in Paris when Velib was introduced, and frequently used it there. It will be a marvelous addition to the transportation options Culver City enjoys.

5. The City Council recently voted to prioritize vehicular travel through Culver City over providing pedestrian access for local residents to businesses and Culver City Park. Do you support the removal of crosswalks at Duquesne & Jefferson and Summertime Lane/Jordan Way & Jefferson?

Sahli-Wells: As a current member of the Culver City Council, I voted against the removal of these two crosswalks. There are better ways of improving traffic flow without reducing safe crossing zones for pedestrians. During the vote, I made it clear that we should focus on reducing vehicle speed and not on increasing vehicle throughput.

6. Do you presently bike in Culver City? What are your experiences, or if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable biking on city streets?

Sahli-Wells: I bike daily in Culver City and beyond. My primary vehicle is a bicycle.

Candidate campaign page: http://www.thomas4culvercity.org/

A frequent bike-commuter and member of the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission, Thomas Small shows an exceptional grasp of the concepts of – and need for – livable streets. In his response to Bike The Vote L.A, Mr. Small strongly declares that Culver City “need(s) more bike lanes and paths that are separated entirely and protected from cars,” and displays a willingness to make tough decisions to ensure quality bike infrastructure, including to “seriously consider dedicating the space from on-street parking” to create protected bike lanes. Mr. Small supports expeditiously bringing a bike share system to Culver City and to coordinate its implementation with current and future transit-oriented development. In consideration of recently removed crosswalks on Jefferson Blvd, Mr. Small makes it clear that pedestrian and bike access should be prioritized for the benefit of Culver City residents over desires vehicular throughput. Thomas Small is a superb candidate with a vision to improve livability and increase mobility options in Culver City.

Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: A

(See below for full candidate questionnaire response)

1. What would an ideal transportation system for Culver City consist of? What mode options, considerations for people of different ages and abilities, and innovative features would that transportation system include?

Small: The design and enhancement of our sidewalks, walking paths, bike lanes and bike paths must be advanced to a higher priority. Every destination in our city must be safely and easily accessible by bike and by foot. Culver City should become the most innovative and advanced community in the world in regard to connectivity and transit options for the “last mile” from the Expo Train stations to all the other destinations in our city. Bike sharing, Zip Cars and other car sharing services, electric scooter sharing (http://www.scootnetworks.com/) as in San Francisco, Pedi cabs, shuttles, corporate and other volume discount agreements with Uber and Lyft, Uber pool arrangements, and other innovative strategies will be imperative to the vitality of our city. All of these options need to be integrated into a master plan including the new developments and the school district.

2. With so many people on foot and on bike killed each year while commuting in Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles recently adopted a “Vision Zero” policy to work towards eliminating traffic deaths in the City of L.A. by 2025. Would you support adopting Vision Zero for Culver City?

Small: Yes. The transportation system needs to evolve and be upgraded with the system described above so that car traffic can slow down a little to make it safer for bikes. We also need more bike lanes and paths that are separated entirely and protected from cars.

3. Culver City is considering implementing protected bike lanes – bike lanes separated from vehicles by a physical barrier – in two key locations: 1) on National Blvd to close the gap between the two halves of the Expo Bike Path that extend to USC/Expo Park to the East and Santa Monica to the West, and 2) on Washington Blvd connecting the Expo Line Culver City station to Downtown Culver City. Do you support these projects, which may require a dedication of developer land and/or a reduction of on-street car parking spaces?

Small: Yes. We need to require this and work with the developers to accomplish it – all of them whose projects are in the immediate area to make both of these projects happen. The bike lanes need to be prioritized. The Lowes Company at Ivy Station, the Platform, Access Culver City, and the new development at Surfas all need to collaborate with the Culver City Public Works, Metro, Los Angeles, and any other agencies and jurisdictions to make this happen. The overly narrow sidewalk on the west side of National south of Washington also needs to be widened and the light poles need to be removed. We should seriously consider dedicating the space from the on-street parking to these projects.

4. Would you support bringing a bike share system to Culver City, and if so, what will you do to expedite its installation?

Small: Yes. We need to study the systems promoted by Metro and being used in Santa Monica to determine which system would be best for Culver City, and mandate collaboration with the TOD developer and the other developers of new projects. The City Council should move forward with this immediately.

5. The City Council recently voted to prioritize vehicular travel through Culver City over providing pedestrian access for local residents to businesses and Culver City Park. Do you support the removal of crosswalks at Duquesne & Jefferson and Summertime Lane/Jordan Way & Jefferson?

Small: I think that decision was a mistake. We need to move forward on the alternative transportation options as outlined above so that we are less dependent on private cars to get around the city. And we need to prioritize pedestrian and bike access.

6. Do you presently bike in Culver City? What are your experiences, or if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable biking on city streets?

Small: I ride my bike regularly as does my wife and my two 8-yr old third graders at Linwood Howe Elementary School. We built our sustainably designed house on Carson St near downtown specifically to be able to walk and bike to downtown, to school, to the Expo Station, to Helms Bakery, to several parks and to many other locations in Culver City. I often take my scooter to the train and then ride it to meetings or concerts in downtown LA after taking the Metro. There are many places in Culver City that do not have good bike access, where the bike lanes and paths are not well designed, and where the design favors the car traffic over bikes and pedestrians. When I ride to City Hall, the bike lanes through downtown Culver City are particularly bad, as they are in West Culver City as well. Let’s fix it.

Candidate campaign page: http://danielwaynelee.com/

Environmental advocate and social welfare activist Daniel Lee offers a bold and fresh vision for Culver City coupled with solid support for implementation of livable streets. In his response to Bike The Vote L.A.’s questionnaire, Mr. Lee demonstrates that he is ready to make the tough decisions needed to implement connected bicycle infrastructure, support for implementing bike share, and for adopting a Vision Zero policy to end traffic deaths in Culver City. Mr. Lee understands the dual benefits of improved bicycle infrastructure in improving quality and safety for current bike commuters, as well as in providing a greater range of healthy, sustainable mobility options for people who aren’t currently commuting by bike. Mr. Lee also shows that he understands the importance of maintaining a convenient and walkable City through his opposition to recent removal of crosswalks on Jefferson Blvd. Daniel Lee is a thoughtful and needed voice for safer streets for Culver City.

Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: A

(See below for full candidate questionnaire response)

1. What would an ideal transportation system for Culver City consist of? What mode options, considerations for people of different ages and abilities, and innovative features would that transportation system include?

Lee: An ideal transportation system would be low cost to free, frequent, highly used and not dependent on cars. We already have the expo line, the culver transit center and we are very close to the west la transit center. Culver City needs to make sure that these transit options and the Culver City, Santa Monica and Metro buses are easily connected and accessible for young, old and disabled. A low cost system would encourage people to live work and play in Culver City.

2. With so many people on foot and on bike killed each year while commuting in Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles recently adopted a “Vision Zero” policy to work towards eliminating traffic deaths in the City of L.A. by 2025. Would you support adopting Vision Zero for Culver City?

Lee: Definitely.

3. Culver City is considering implementing protected bike lanes – bike lanes separated from vehicles by a physical barrier – in two key locations: 1) on National Blvd to close the gap between the two halves of the Expo Bike Path that extend to USC/Expo Park to the East and Santa Monica to the West, and 2) on Washington Blvd connecting the Expo Line Culver City station to Downtown Culver City. Do you support these projects, which may require a dedication of developer land and/or a reduction of on-street car parking spaces?

Lee: I support both of these projects as they promote bike riding and safety. There are a number of people who both bike and drive and it may be the encouragement needed to bike more.

4. Would you support bringing a bike share system to Culver City, and if so, what will you do to expedite its installation?

Lee: I would support a bike share system in Culver City if it were based around downtown Culver City, the Expo Line Station and the Ballona Creek Bike path. The city in general should take steps to become more bike-able and walkable but I would want to make sure that all options were considered prior to approval.

5. The City Council recently voted to prioritize vehicular travel through Culver City over providing pedestrian access for local residents to businesses and Culver City Park. Do you support the removal of crosswalks at Duquesne & Jefferson and Summertime Lane/Jordan Way & Jefferson?

Lee: I do not support the removal of crosswalks at Duquesne or Summertime Lane and I was at the city council meeting when the vote to remove both crosswalks went through. I was disappointed in the presentation from city staff as they did not satisfactorily explain how removing the crosswalks would actually significantly improve traffic. Some of the other street improvements could have gone ahead without removing the crosswalks.

6. Do you presently bike in Culver City? What are your experiences, or if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable biking on city streets?

Lee: I sparingly bike in Culver City. I mostly walk. If there were more dedicated bike lanes in the city that were clearly identified (with color perhaps) I would feel more comfortable biking in Culver City.