November 2024 Election 2024 Larkspur City Council Candidate Questionnaire
Nearly all bike infrastructure is planned, designed, and implemented by our local governments. Whether our communities become more bike-friendly or stay the same is largely up to elected leaders and the staff they oversee. As such, local elections, which can be won or lost by just a few votes, are a critical opportunity to push your city or town in a positive direction.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Marin County Bicycle Coalition cannot endorse candidates for public office, but we are able to conduct questionnaires so that you can arrive at your own conclusion. Below are the 2024 Larkspur City Council candidates’ responses to our questionnaire on bicycling in Marin. We have made no content changes. Thanks to the candidates for their time and thoughtful answers.
Candidates’ campaign websites may be accessed by clicking on those with a highlighted name. Those who did not provide a campaign website are not highlighted.
Here are the candidates on the November ballot for the City of Larkspur:
CANDiDATE Responded to Questionnaire
Personal Travel
1. Do you ride a bicycle? If so, for what purposes and how often? If you don’t ride regularly, when was the last time you rode a bike (on vacation, for example)?
Sarah Margulies:
I ride bicycles for recreational purposes. Unfortunately, the last time I rode my mountain bike(s) was over a year ago. I have both a Cruiser which I use to run my pups and a 1991 Gary Fisher Mountain Bike. It’s a relic! I rode it a lot on Mt. Tam during COVID. I broke my wrist riding at Tamarancho in 2015 and kind of hung up my mountain bike after that 🙁 That said, my riding days are definitely NOT over but I see a future with a eMTB. 🙂
Lana Scott:
I owned a bike and rode it regularly for fun on the Tiburon Multi-use path, the Mill Valley to Sausalito path and when I lived in San Francisco from San Francisco to Sausalito taking the ferry back. I gave my bike to a friend when I moved to the Skylark Apartments in Larkspur because I did not feel adept enough at riding my bike up and down the steep hill leading to my apartment and decided not to keep lifting it on and off my car’s bike rack.
Vision
2. In your own words, describe your vision for the future of transportation in your city/town and Marin County at large.
Sarah Margulies:
The future of transportation would be on foot, scooter, bike or electric buses/shuttles. When my children were going to Redwood HS, I dreamt about a pedestrian/bike bridge over the creek between Cape Marin and Piper Park. This could also provide opportunities to promote more connection between the incorporated part of Greenbrae and Larkspur. I envision urban infill planning in a way that reduces the need for travel by car. One of the reasons why I love living in Cape Marin. I don’t need to use my car very often!
Lana Scott:
Cars will continue to be the most popular form of travel, like it or not. E-bikes will proliferate as parents like not having to drive their children to school, they decrease traffic congestion, and they are energy efficient. Being able to bike to school influences a child’s independence and teaches them responsibility. As 2035 approaches and the State no longer allows the sale of gas-powered cars, more people will use e-bikes as a preferred method of transportation to get to school, to get to work and especially to travel locally for any reason. While self-driving cars are currently primarily used in cities, they may move to Marin as well, as the population in Larkspur is increasing for those under 14, who will be using e-bikes, and for retirees and those over 65, when they are no longer able to drive, who will use ride share companies and self-driving cars. Our vision has to take into consideration State and Federal funds and grants available to attain Larkspur and Marin’s vision. The focus must be around bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and transit and school bus programs. Any vision for the future has to review the Transportation Authority of Marin’s past plans to see what has been implemented, what should be implemented and what is no longer viable when considering future plans.
Safety
Traffic deaths and injuries are on the rise, both nationally and in Marin (this includes all road users, not just bicyclists). The Transportation Authority of Marin has adopted a “Vision Zero” policy, an explicit goal to eliminate traffic deaths in Marin by 2050. However, some projects that would improve road safety may result in more near-term traffic congestion or less on-street parking.
3. Do you see prevention of injury and death for all road users as the highest priority for Marin’s roads? Or should congestion and delay for drivers be minimized, even where this increases risk for pedestrians and bicyclists? How will you weigh these competing priorities?
Sarah Margulies:
Prevention of injury and death for all road users is the highest priority for Marin’s roads. An approach through traffic management and mitigation, eg. using algorithms on traffic lights to time them more effectively or replacing the lights with roundabouts in some places, could result in minimizing prevention of injury and death. Ultimately, the city needs more, improved pedestrian and bike lanes for main thoroughfares, eg, Sir Frances Drake Blvd, while leveraging side streets if alternate non-vehicular paths are unavailable. Ideally, bikers and pedestrians share paths with designations for each and pedestrian/bike lanes on the main thoroughfares provide substantial safety buffers to mitigate vehicular traffic from crossing over into the pedestrian/bike lanes.
Lana Scott:
Prevention of injury and death for all road users should be the highest priority for Marin’s roads. The State does not see traffic congestion as a reason for delaying or denying a housing development, so congestion and delay are already being minimized. I think signage, clearly defined routes and public information through the Police Dept., schools and the DMV should decrease the risk to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Climate Change
The California Air Resources Board has stated that, even with the aggressive adoption of electric cars, Californians need to drive 25% less by 2030 to achieve the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
4. What concrete policies and projects in your city/town would improve mobility for people of all ages and abilities while reducing overall driving?
Sarah Margulies:
Developing more affordable and market rate housing near transit hubs to limit VMT and the need for use of vehicles to get to work, shopping, school etc. Introducing shared electric bicycles with residential permit access which can be used to get from the Larkspur Landing transit hub to key spokes throughout Larkspur, eg. Bon Air, Downtown Larkspur, Trader Joe’s, Redwood HS and North Magnolia.
Lana Scott:
I think encouraging the use of carpooling, using ride share companies and eventually self-driving cars would reduce driving especially for an aging population. E-bikes and electric vehicles involve driving so I would not try to reduce all driving when that method is environmentally sound. Larkspur and Marin need to look at how to improve the public transportation system whether that be increasing frequency, changing routes, and/or reducing rates for certain segments of the population. State and Federal funds and Grants need to be considered. Transit oriented development is important for people of all ages and abilities, allowing them to walk, bike or drive a short distance to SMART or the ferry. Encouraging online purchases for groceries, prescriptions and anything else would also reduce driving as would having the community’s needs met by including a grocery or drug store in a new development.
TRAILS
In the birthplace of mountain biking, there are few legal single-track trails for people who bike. MCBC and our partners at Access4Bikes are working to expand access to trails for people riding mountain bikes.
5. Do you support building new or opening up existing single-track trails on public lands to mountain bikers? Please explain your answer.
Sarah Margulies:
Yes, I support opening more single track trails for mountain bikers. It will alleviate the current poaching that exists and the resulting erosion, one of the reasons for closing single track off to mountain bikers. There’s room for everyone to recreate on the mountains. A network of single track trails for bikes only can coexist with trails for pedestrians only.
Lana Scott:
I do not feel I can give an informed answer without seeing the results of a pilot project and knowing if it is within CEQA guidelines. This is not an issue the Larkspur City Council has ever had to address.
Wrap Up
6. Why should people who ride bikes (or those who might want to ride but don’t currently) vote for you?
Sarah Margulies:
Bikers and non-bikers alike should vote for me because I will represent everyone and work hard to find smart solutions that serve competing interests while preserving and protecting its natural resources and unique history. My approach will be to lead with an environmental lens and to ensure Larkspur has affordable living options for our workforce, while promoting inclusivity and safety.
Lana Scott:
Years ago, when San Francisco was proposing bike lanes and there was a lot of public opposition to them, I supported them stating bikes were a great form of exercise and energy efficient. Since that time, I have come to realize that for young children biking is a way to become more independent, learn responsibility and understand safety regulations before they are old enough to drive. It helps to understand the importance of following the rules of the road. I am still for bikes as a means of transportation and support bike lanes in Larkspur. I think Larkspur has shown support for those who ride bikes as evidenced by the excellent bike lanes and bike and pedestrian paths. Larkspur is bike friendly as am I.
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