As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition cannot endorse candidates for public office, but we are able to share information so that you can arrive at your own conclusion. Below are responses from State Assembly and State Senate candidates to our questionnaire on bicycling in Sonoma County. Thanks to the candidates for their time and thoughtful answers!
NOTE: Chris Rogers is a member of SCBC.
MIKE GREER, State Assembly, District 2
CHRIS ROGERS, State Assembly, District 2
CECELIA AGUIAR-CURRY, State Assembly, District 4
DARREN ELLIS, State Assembly, District 4
DAMON CONNOLLY, State Assembly, District 12
Do you ride a bicycle for transportation or recreation? How would you characterize the experience of cycling in your district? I ride a bicycle for both transportation and recreation. Last month, I documented one of my car-free trips up to Sacramento where I rode my bicycle from my home to the San Rafael Transit Center and took a bus to BART, then the Amtrak up to the Capitol, followed by biking to my office. During my time as a Marin County Supervisor, I hosted a month out of every year (#RideWithDamon) in which I traveled exclusively by bike, transit, and carpool, and invited community members to commute by bike to the Civic Center with me to work. Overall, the cycling experience in my district is good, but differs depending on the region. We are seeing improvements, for example, in connection with the build-out of the SMART multi-use path, something I have been working on for years. More work needs to be done. This includes improving and building more bike paths, expanding pedestrian and non-vehicular walkways, as well as safety measures to keep community members safe.
What are your district’s biggest transportation challenges, and how does bicycling fit into your vision of future development? Transportation challenges in Assembly District 12 are predominantly centered on the ability for all residents to access reliable and safe methods of transportation outside of single occupancy vehicles. I strongly believe in a multimodal future of development. In our district, that means continuing to expand access to public transit like buses and SMART, as well as the ferry service that many commuters use. An important part of this vision is clean energy transportation, helping transition to sustainable electric options.
Bicycling is a key component of this vision that complements the expansion of public transit and will provide residents with greater access to non-vehicular options. I believe this is a fundamental piece of improving the health and well-being of our district, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving this vision will take targeted investments from transportation funding sources to improve and construct infrastructure that is bicycle-friendly. Pedestrian access should be combined with these projects, where applicable, to build more walking paths and pedestrian bridges in areas that are lacking options for non-vehicular travel.
If elected, what will you do to improve cycling safety and encourage more people in the area to ride? As the State Assemblymember for the 12th district, I have encouraged more people in our region to ride by example through participating in organized, public bicycle rides and documenting local travel options in the project I described above. Most importantly, as a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, I championed saving funding for The Active Transportation Program (ATP), which is the state’s primary funding source of local projects that encourage increased use of active modes of transportation, such as walking and biking. The Governor’s budget proposal cut ATP by $559 million. Three projects in the North Bay were at risk of losing funding under this cut, including: the San Rafael Canal Crossing Project, Central Marin Regional Pathways Gap Closure Project in Corte Madera, and the Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancements Project. The Legislature rejected this proposal and preserved funding for ATP and its projects. I believe strongly in pursuing Vision Zero policies, and I will always be an advocate for bike-friendly roads and the creation of dedicated pathways.
Our visions and goals are often tempered by available budgets, staff time and public focus. How will you seek to balance improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and safety with your other policy priorities? I remain focused on supporting state budgets and policy proposals that are supportive of active transportation. In the Assembly, I have advocated for ensuring transportation investments help create a future where prioritization shifts from traditional freeway building and freeway expansion to supporting pedestrian infrastructure, safety, and bicycling options. Saving ATP funding will help advance that goal and I will continue to advocate for maintaining this program and advancing its goals.
Are there any specific active transportation projects in your jurisdiction – either planned or imagined – that you are particularly excited to see implemented? Several projects I am particularly excited about are the items under ATP that were in jeopardy, but now will continue after the passage of the 2024-25 Budget Act. These include the San Rafael Canal Crossing Project, Central Marin Regional Pathways Gap Closure Project in Corte Madera, and the Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancements Project. I am excited about continued efforts to improve safety and access for bikes along Petaluma streets and pathways and the ongoing build out of the SMART multi-use path in Sonoma and Marin counties.