Nithya Raman is a once-in-generation candidate. As our partners at Bike the Vote L.A. say, “Raman articulates one of the most progressive transportation platforms ever put forward by a Southern California candidate for elected office.”

CalBike enthusiastically endorses Nithya Raman for her commitment to bike safety and equity. We don’t usually endorse candidates for local office, but we have made an exception for this LA City Council race. This is a powerful local office and Raman will be a much better leader than the incumbent she is running against.

In Raman’s support for a Green New Deal in LA, she places protected bus lanes, protected bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly design at the center of the actions needed to address Los Angeles’ worsening air quality. Raman has the progressive courage to stand up to special interests and the experience to become a leader in the LA City Council. As a grassroots candidate with a long track record of advocacy and community organizing, we trust that her transportation justice vision will bring safe streets to all.

The biggest impediment to building out the bike network is the “city’s reluctance to part with on-street parking on major boulevards. There are simply better uses for the space, and no excuses not to have bike lanes on Hollywood and Wilshire Boulevard.” – Nithya Raman

Council District 4 includes the Silver Lake, Mid City West, and Los Feliz neighborhoods. Although it is a very densely populated district, there are few bike lanes. Where bike lanes do exist, they are discontinuous and come nowhere close to being a useful bike network. Raman intends to change that. In her response to Bike the Vote L.A.’s questionnaire, she said she fully supports the Mobility Plan 2035 bike plan. In her view, the biggest impediment to building out the bike network is the “city’s reluctance to part with on-street parking on major boulevards.” She added, “There are simply better uses for the space, and no excuses not to have bike lanes on Hollywood and Wilshire Boulevard. There isn’t a recommendation in the Plan that I wouldn’t fight for.”

The rest of her questionnaire responses are equally impressive for their breadth and depth of knowledge. For these reasons, CalBike is excited to endorse Nithya Raman to replace the bike-unfriendly incumbent in the CD 4 race. We look forward to seeing her provide the leadership needed to work toward safer and more sustainable transportation alternatives for all of the city’s residents. Please vote for Nithya Raman by November 3, 2020. 

You can directly support Raman’s campaign this Sunday, September 20, from 2-4 pm, by joining Bike the Vote L.A. in a phonebank campaign for Nithya. You can make calls from home through the campaign’s system using your computer or phone. No experience is needed – Nithya’s campaign team will show participants how to make calls and provide resources to support you in making calls. Please RSVP.

Volunteer or donate to support Nithya Raman.

Click here to see Nithya Raman’s full questionnaire responses from Bike the Vote L.A.