Remembering Bill Walton, Friend to CalBike

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There have been lots of remembrances of Bill Walton, who died May 27, 2024, at age 71. He touched the lives of many people. Here at CalBike, we remember him as someone who loved bikes and supported the goal of making our state more bike-friendly.

Known primarily for his legendary career on the basketball court, including national championships at UCLA and as an NBA All-Star, Walton dedicated his retirement to championing the cause of cycling. He was a notable sight on his custom extra-large-framed bicycle and wearing Grateful Dead gear, often seen riding the hills and valleys of San Diego County. 

Walton was active among grassroots bicycling groups around the state, regularly participating in San Diego’s Bike the Bay, attending events for Bike Bakersfield, and speaking out for protected bike lanes. In an interview with San Diego’s Better By Bike page, he said, “Protected bike lanes are fantastic. They give us the sense of safety and security that we must have, your own personal routes and style will vary, but always think safety and security, know and follow the laws/rules, find the best routes with the least traffic, the most safety and greatest protection, and the best pavement.” Walton appreciated the new bike facilities near his home in La Mesa. 

On a bike ride
Bill Walton with CalBike Board member Cindy Parra.
Bill Walton statue

Former CalBike Executive Director Dave Snyder said, “I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Walton in 2015 at a fundraiser for CalBike in his home. He spoke with such love and passion for how bicycling can bring joy and so much more. It was perhaps the most eloquent tribute to our movement I’ve ever heard. He was special. RIP Bill.”

Former CalBike board member Josh Cohen posted this remembrance on Facebook: “We all know what a cool guy and great athlete Bill Walton was, but some don’t know he was also an AVID cyclist. So much so that he opened his house to the 2015 California Bicycle Coalition Board of Directors in-person meeting. I had no idea who he even was — just that he was super charismatic and likeable. And he had drums and Grateful Dead stuff everywhere! He later signed a letter to Paul Koretz in support of protected bike lanes from the Purple Line Extension to UCLA. Thanks for the smiles, Bill Walton! See you on the next lap…”

Through his nonprofit, Bikes for Humanity, Walton demonstrated his unwavering commitment to making bicycles accessible to those who might not otherwise afford them. His work in adaptive bike advocacy opened up the joy of cycling to countless individuals in California and beyond. His career and activism after his time on the basketball court had a profound impact on the lives of many people. He will be missed.

CalBike Commends Legislature for Rejecting Active Transportation Cuts

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For Immediate Release: 5/29/24

Contact: Jared Sanchez, 714-262-0921, jared@calbike.org

SACRAMENTO—The legislature’s budget proposal, released today, rescinds the deep cuts to the Active Transportation Program (ATP) proposed in the Governor’s Budget and plans to backfill those cuts with state highway funding. CalBike thanks the legislature for recognizing the value of the ATP and maintaining funding commitments to critical walking and bicycling projects.

CalBike policy director Jared Sanchez: “I’m glad the legislature recognized the value of the Active Transportation Program. The legislature heard from its constituents and saved a popular program many local communities rely on to fund infrastructure projects.”

CalBike consultant Jeanie Ward-Waller: “The ATP is critical to meeting California’s climate goals and addressing the crisis of rising pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities on our roadways, especially in disadvantaged communities across the state. We commend the Legislature for their strong support of shifting funding from car-centric infrastructure to improve walking and biking.”

Background

The Active Transportation Program is a competitive funding source for projects that support biking and walking safety. It gives out approximately $500 million each two-year funding cycle. 

In 2022, the ATP received a one-time funding boost of $1.05 billion from the general fund budget surplus, which pushed the total for Cycle 6, awarded in 2022, to $1.6 billion. However, the ATP is chronically underfunded and oversubscribed, and even with the extra funds, many worthwhile projects don’t make the cutoff.

In 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed cutting $300 million from the one-time general fund boost to the ATP; the legislature and Governor agreed to backfill the cut from the State Highway Account, and there were no ATP cuts in the final budget.

In January 2024, the governor initially proposed cutting $200 million from the ATP. He raised that to $600 million in the May Revise, a deep cut that could delay and jeopardize projects awarded in Cycle 6 and would likely eliminate a full future cycle of ATP grants. 

No corresponding cuts were proposed to funding for highway projects that increase vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions. There is no deficit in California’s transportation budget, which receives ample federal funding in addition to state funds.

CalBike Legislative Update: Bike Friendly Bills at the Midpoint

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For Immediate Release: 5/29/24

Contact: Jared Sanchez, 714-262-0921, jared@calbike.org


SACRAMENTO – May 24th marked the halfway point for Active Transportations Bills in the California Legislature this year. All bills had to be voted out of the house where they originated. 

Here’s where CalBike-supported bills stand halfway through the 2024 legislative session.

CalBike Priority Bills Moving Forward

2024 Complete Streets Bill: Passed by the Senate, headed for the Assembly

SB 960, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, would require Caltrans to implement safe infrastructure for people bicycling and walking when it repaves a state route that serves as a local street. The 2024 version includes transit upgrades, which is a welcome addition.. We need everyone’s help to make sure legislators know this bill has strong support. Find the latest action on CalBike’s Complete Streets Campaign page.

Safe Vehicles Save Lives Bill: Passed by the Senate, headed for the Assembly

SB 961 is the second half of Senator Wiener’s safer streets package, along with the Complete Streets Bill. The requirement for truck side guards, a cheap fix that would make truck collisions less deadly, was removed, due to lobbying by the trucking industry. The provision requiring intelligent speed assist (ISA) software on new vehicles starting in 2027 survived, though it was changed from speed limiters, which would prevent speeding, to warnings that alert drivers when they exceed the speed limit. CalBike still strongly supports this bill as a measure to move California closer to Vision Zero. We hope truck side guards will come back to the legislature in the future.

Quicker and Better Bikeways Bill: Passed Assembly, headed for the Senate

AB 2290 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman will limit state funding for Class III bikeways (or bike routes marked with sharrows rather than separated bike lanes) to streets with speed limits under 20 mph, remove loopholes.It will also strengthen requirements for creating Complete Streets on state and local street projects funded by the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program created by SB 1, and create a quick-build pilot at Caltrans. It passed the Assembly but may be headed into opposition in the Senate. 


CalBike Also Supports – Leaving their First House

AB 2086, Schiavo, Caltrans Accountability and Transparency Bill: Passed Assembly, in Senate

This bill will bring greater transparency to how Caltrans spends its budget and enhance a public dashboard to make it easier to access agency data.

AB 2259, Boerner, California Bike Smart Safety Handbook: Passed Assembly, in Senate

This bill requires the DMV to create a bicycle safety handbook that includes information on, among other things, existing laws regulating bicycles and e-bikes. 

AB 2583, Berman, Lowering Speed in School Zones: Passed Assembly, in Senate

This bill would establish a default speed limit of 15 miles per hour in school zones during certain hours. 

AB 2669, Ting, No Bridge Tolls for People Walking and Biking: Passed Assembly, in Senate

This bill ensures that people walking or bicycling across a toll bridge in California will never pay a fee. It makes permanent a temporary measure that sunsets next year and primarily affects bridges in the Bay Area.

SB 689, Blakespear, Bike Lanes in Coastal Areas: In Assembly

This bill would make it easier to convert an existing motorized vehicle travel lane into a dedicated bicycle lane near the coast, ending requirements for a traffic study to process a coastal development permit or an amendment to a local coastal program.

SB 1216, Blakespear: Passed Senate, in Assembly

Prohibiting Class III Bikeways: This bill would prohibit public agencies and the ATP from installing a Class III bikeway (sharrows) on a street that has a posted speed limit greater than 30 miles per hour. It duplicates a provision in the Quicker Better Bikeways Bill that will be reconciled as both of these bills move forward. 

SB 1271, Min: E-Bike Battery Standards: Passed Senate, in Assembly

This bill sets certification requirements for batteries on all e-bikes sold, rented, or leased in California, mirroring some local statutes. A provision to clarify e-bike classifications was dropped from this bill; we hope that comes back because the market would benefit from more clarity about what is an e-bike vs. a moped.

SB 1509, Stern: Unsafe Speed Penalties: Passed Senate, in Assembly

This bill would increase accountability for reckless drivers who endanger the lives of pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers by speeding. Specifically, it would increase the number of points a driver is given by DMV if they are caught driving more than 25 mph over the speed limit on roads with a speed limit of 55 mph or less.

Two-year Bills Now in Second House

AB 6, Friedman, Regional Prioritization for Clean Transportation
This measure requires regional transportation agencies to prioritize and fund transportation projects that significantly contribute toward regional and state climate goals.

AB 73, Boerner/Friedman, Bicycle Safety Stop
This bill would legalize stop-as-yield for bike riders over 18.

AB 833, Rendon, Neighborhood Unification Bill
This bill requires Caltrans to prepare a plan for adding caps to freeway segments to reunite disadvantaged, underrepresented urban communities.

Bills that Died

The No Freeway Expansions for Freight Bill, AB 2535 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, would have taken away one of Caltrans’ justifications for adding new freeway capacity. We need fewer highways, not more; every new lane induces new demand and increases GHG emissions. Unfortunately, this excellent bill died in committee.

The Bike Lane Protection Act, AB 2744, aimed to protect bike riders from right hooks, but solving this problem with dedicated space for bikes approaching intersections is complex. This was a valiant effort to create safer intersections, and though it died in committee this year, we hope it keeps getting developed and returns in the future.

Legislative Update: Bike-Friendly Bills at the Midpoint

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On Friday, May 24, bills had to be voted out of the house where they originated. Only two of the bills we supported died in committee, and one we opposed was amended so we were able to switch our position to neutral. The legislative process includes many amendments along the way, and we continue to fight for changes to make our measures stronger as our legislative agenda passes to the next house.

Here’s where our bills stand at the halfway point of the 2024 legislative session.

Bills moving forward

2024 Complete Streets Bill: Passed by the Senate, headed for the Assembly

SB 960, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, would require Caltrans to implement safe infrastructure for people bicycling and walking when it repaves a state route that serves as a local street. The 2024 version adds transit, which is a welcome improvement. CalBike is working behind the scenes for a strong bill that will require Caltrans to meet its obligations to vulnerable road users. We need everyone’s help to make sure legislators know this bill has strong support. Find the latest action on our Complete Streets Campaign page.

Safe Vehicles Save Lives Bill: Passed by the Senate, headed for the Assembly

SB 961 is the second half of Senator Wiener’s safer streets package, along with the Complete Streets Bill. The requirement for truck side guards, a cheap fix that would make truck collisions less deadly, was removed, due to lobbying by the trucking industry. The provision requiring intelligent speed assist (ISA) software on new vehicles starting in 2027 survived, though it was changed from speed limiters, which would prevent speeding, to warnings that alert drivers when they exceed the speed limit. We still strongly support this bill as a measure to move California closer to Vision Zero. We hope truck side guards will come back to the legislature in the future.

Quicker and Better Bikeways Bill: Passed Assembly, headed for the Senate

AB 2290 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman will limit state funding for Class III bikeways (or bike routes) to streets with speed limits under 20 mph, remove loopholes and strengthen requirements for creating Complete Streets on state and local street projects funded by the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program created by SB 1, and create a quick-build pilot at Caltrans. It passed the Assembly but appears headed into opposition in the Senate. Stay tuned for opportunities to take action in support of this excellent bill.

In addition to our top three priority bills, these bills CalBike supports have passed their first house:

  • AB 2086, Schiavo, Caltrans Accountability and Transparency Bill: Passed Assembly, in Senate
    • This bill will bring greater transparency to how Caltrans spends its budget and enhance a public dashboard to make it easier to access agency data.
  • AB 2259, Boerner, California Bike Smart Safety Handbook: Passed Assembly, in Senate
    • This bill requires the DMV to create a bicycle safety handbook that includes information on, among other things, existing laws regulating bicycles and e-bikes. 
  • AB 2583, Berman, Lowering Speed in School Zones: Passed Assembly, in Senate
    • This bill would establish a default speed limit of 15 miles per hour in school zones during certain hours. 
  • AB 2669, Ting, No Bridge Tolls for People Walking and Biking: Passed Assembly, in Senate
    • This bill ensures that people walking or bicycling across a toll bridge in California will never pay a fee. It makes permanent a temporary measure that sunsets next year and primarily affects bridges in the Bay Area.
  • SB 689, Blakespear, Bike Lanes in Coastal Areas: In Assembly
    • This bill would make it easier to convert an existing motorized vehicle travel lane into a dedicated bicycle lane near the coast, ending requirements for a traffic study to process a coastal development permit or an amendment to a local coastal program.
  • SB 1216, Blakespear: Passed Senate, in Assembly
    • Prohibiting Class III Bikeways: This bill would prohibit public agencies and the ATP from installing a Class III bikeway (sharrows) on a street that has a posted speed limit greater than 30 miles per hour. It duplicates a provision in the Quicker Better Bikeways Bill that will be reconciled as both of these bills move forward. 
  • SB 1271, Min: E-Bike Battery Standards: Passed Senate, in Assembly
    • This bill sets certification requirements for batteries on all e-bikes sold, rented, or leased in California, mirroring some local statutes. A provision to clarify e-bike classifications was dropped from this bill; we hope that comes back because the market would benefit from more clarity about what is an e-bike vs. a moped.
  • SB 1509, Stern: Unsafe Speed Penalties: Passed Senate, in Assembly
    • This bill would increase accountability for reckless drivers who endanger the lives of pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers by speeding. Specifically, it would increase the number of points a driver is given by DMV if they are caught driving more than 25 mph over the speed limit on roads with a speed limit of 55 mph or less.

Three bills from 2023 became two-year bills and are already in their second house. The crucial hearings and votes for these bills will be in the next month. We are closely watching AB 73, the Safety Stop Bill, which we hope will get revived before the end of this session.

  • AB 6, Friedman, Regional Prioritization for Clean Transportation: This measure requires regional transportation agencies to prioritize and fund transportation projects that significantly contribute toward regional and state climate goals.
  • AB 73, Boerner/Friedman, Bicycle Safety Stop: This bill would legalize stop-as-yield for bike riders over 18.
  • AB 833, Rendon, Neighborhood Unification Bill: This bill requires Caltrans to prepare a plan for adding caps to freeway segments to reunite disadvantaged, underrepresented urban communities.

The ones that didn’t make it

The No Freeway Expansions for Freight Bill, AB 2535 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, would have taken away one of Caltrans’ justifications for adding new freeway capacity. We need fewer highways, not more; every new lane induces new demand and increases GHG emissions. Unfortunately, this excellent bill died in committee.

The Bike Lane Protection Act, AB 2744, aimed to protect bike riders from right hooks, but solving this problem with dedicated space for bikes approaching intersections is complex. This was a valiant effort to create safer intersections, and though it died in committee this year, we hope it keeps getting developed and returns in the future.

CalBike’s legislation watchlist

The one bill we opposed, AB 2234 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, is no longer a statewide e-bike licensing bill. It has been amended to a local pilot of e-bike age restrictions and an education diversion program for tickets. CalBike has gone from oppose to neutral on this bill, but we will continue to watch it as it moves through the Senate.

Among the other bills we’re watching but haven’t taken a position on, most are advancing to the next house.

CalBike watchlist bills moving forward

These bills were two-year bills waiting to be heard or advanced out of their house of origin.

  • AB 832 – Cervantes: California Transportation Commission Membership
  • AB 1447 – Flora: E-Scooter Classification
  • AB 1774 – Dixon: E-Bike Modifications
  • AB 1777– Ting: Autonomous Vehicles
  • AB 1778 – Connolly: E-Bike Restrictions in Marin County
  • AB 1953 – Villapudua: Vehicle Weight Limits
  • AB 2234 – Boerner: E-Bike Pilot Age Restrictions
  • AB 2286 – Aguiar-Curry: Autonomous Vehicle Safety
  • AB 3061 – Haney: Autonomous Vehicle Safety
  • SB 50 – Bradford: Stop Pretextual Policing
  • SB 768 – Caballero: VMT Study
  • SB 915 – Cortese: Autonomous Vehicle Local Control
  • SB 936 – Seyarto: Study for Road and Safety Improvements
  • SB 1031 – Wiener/Wahab: San Francisco Bay Area Local Revenue Measure

CalBike watchlist bills that died

Three of our watchlist bills didn’t make it:

  • AB 1773 – Dixon: Banning Bikes on Boardwalks
  • AB 2869 – Friedman: Caltrans Trail Access
  • AB 3147 – Garcia: California Trails Conservancy

There are many bills impacting active transportation this year, and we’re heavily involved in budget negotiations to restore Active Transportation Program funding. There will surely be more twists and turns before the legislative session ends. Stay up to date on bike-friendly legislation on CalBike’s Legislative Watch page and track our progress on the budget on our Invest/Divest page.

California Has a Climate Deficit

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Bike Month Is Also Mental Health Awareness Month

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At CalBike, we work hard to make riding a bike safe and accessible for more Californians. But we don’t forget one of the reasons for our passion: joy. Because riding a bike, on a good day with a nice stretch of pavement and a well-oiled chain, is pure joy. 

May is Bike Month, and it’s also Mental Health Awareness Month, so we want to take a moment to celebrate the benefits of biking on mental health. The term “mental health” encompasses your psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Our mental health affects how we act, think, and feel. 

We all know physical health is important if we want to live a good life, but most of us don’t place the same importance on our mental health. This might be because we don’t understand how poor mental health can affect our overall health and directly reflect on our physical health. 

Research has shown that conditions such as depressive disorders can lead to long-lasting conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. The CDC estimates that more than 1 in 5 adults in the United States lives with a mental illness, and surprisingly, the same trend is seen in youth aged 13-18. 

Riding a bicycle improves blood circulation and releases endorphins. It can reduce anxiety and depression. Biking to the office can be as stimulating and mood-elevating as a morning cup of coffee, without the caffeine. Exercising makes the brain release chemicals that can help improve cognitive processes, reduce stress, and control pain. 

Plus, riding a bike can feel like flying. Getting where you need to go without worrying about parking or traffic jams, under your own power — it’s delightful.

Of course, there are elements of riding a bike that can induce stress and anxiety, such as inadequate bikeways, close calls with cars, and other road hazards. CalBike is working toward a world filled with not only bicycles but also separated bikeways and paths, protected intersections, and traffic-calmed streets. We’re fighting for a California where no one has to fear police harassment when they ride somewhere because of the color of their skin, where we invest in Complete Streets for every neighborhood, and everyone can experience the joy of riding a bike.

How to Be a Complete Streets Ambassador

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CalBike Response to May Budget Revise

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Sign On to Support the Complete Streets Bill

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Final E-Bike Incentive Work Group Reveals New Details About the Program

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On May 1, 2024, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held what we hope is the last work group meeting about the California E-Bike Incentive Project before a launch date is announced and the first application window opens. The meeting was dominated by bike manufacturers and retailers and largely centered around the new program requirement that all eligible e-bikes have UL- or EN-certified batteries.

From the meeting, combined with a session on the program’s soft launch and follow-up questions to the program administrator and CARB, the shape of the program is beginning to emerge. Here’s what we know now.

Support for battery certification

The recently added requirement that bikes eligible for vouchers have batteries certified to UL or EN (European) standards sparked passionate responses on both sides. While many of the speakers at the work group, including a number of bike retailers, were supportive, some bike manufacturers were upset by the change so close to implementation. 

Two manufacturers noted the high cost and long timeline to get UL certification. One said his company had taken other steps to comply with the program requirements so its bikes could qualify for vouchers and was angry the new requirement meant his brand wouldn’t be able to participate in the program.

It seems that battery certification is baked in, especially with SB 1271 working its way through the legislature. The bill, which CalBike supports, will require all e-bikes sold in California to have certified batteries. Low-quality or after-market batteries have caused several structure fires in New York because they can overheat and catch fire during charging, so the requirement for higher-quality batteries will help ensure e-bike safety.

Higher incentive amounts

The work group introduced a proposal to raise the incentive amounts. The previous incentive structure was a $1,000 base incentive with $250 extra for people making 225% of the federal poverty level or less or living in an environmentally burdened community and another $750 additional for people buying cargo or adaptive bikes.

CARB proposed changing this to two voucher amounts: a $1,750 base incentive for standard, cargo, or adaptive bikes and $2,000 for those qualifying as priority applicants under the categories above. The change was prompted by the higher cost of e-bikes with certified batteries. CARB noted that the soft launch had shown that it was hard for retailers and the program administrator to determine whether to call an e-bike standard or cargo, since many models have modifications to carry cargo or passengers.

People can also use the vouchers to pay for sales taxes and items such as locks, racks, and helmets. CARB stated that accessories would need to be purchased at the same time as the bike and from the same retailer.

Most speakers voiced support for the increased incentive amounts, though there was some concern it might mean fewer people would get vouchers. CARB estimates the program will still distribute around 15,000 vouchers with the current $31 million funding available since many people would have qualified for higher incentive amounts under the original incentive structure.

Timing and demand

CARB unveiled a proposed launch plan that includes six release windows of 2,500 vouchers each, starting in Q2 of 2024—so before the end of June—and extending through August 2025. The application portal will close after the first 2,500 applicants in each launch window; there will be no waiting list. If not all 2,500 vouchers are used within the allowed window of 45 days with an option to extend for an additional 45 days, the extra funds will roll into the next window. 

CalBike strongly urged CARB to double the number of incentives released in each window and distribute all $31 million in available funding in 2024. The program is already very delayed in its launch, and demand is extremely high. The first-come-first-served model CARB is following will lead to a mad dash to get onto the website at the moment it opens, and we expect 2,500 applications to come in within a very short time.

For a state the size of California, $30 million is a reasonable annual amount to distribute in e-bike incentives, and CalBike will advocate for continuing funding for this in-demand program. We will be reaching out to CARB to follow up on the timing of voucher distribution.

A presentation on the soft launch at the recent California Bicycle Summit demonstrated the great need for this program. A pilot in San Diego that was run entirely through a local community-based organization distributing paper applications got 150 applications for the 30 vouchers it had to distribute. That’s a 5-to-1 ratio of applicants to incentives; we believe the ratio could be higher for the statewide launch, especially if CARB limits each window to 2,500.

How you can prepare for the statewide E-Bike Incentive Project

If you’d like to apply for an e-bike incentive, now is the time to start gathering paperwork to verify your income qualification using documentation from this list. People who don’t file taxes can use other documents to prove income eligibility. You can also find an approved retailer near you and research e-bikes. 

And, sometime soon, you should be able to create a profile on the program website. At the moment, only bike retailers can create a profile, but the administrator has told us applicants will be able to create a profile ahead of time to save time when submitting an application once the portal opens. We encourage everyone interested in getting a voucher to create a profile ahead of time.

For more on the current status of the program, see Streetsblog’s recap of the work group meeting.

CalBike will continue to advocate for more funding and more e-bike vouchers, and we’ll be asking for your help to gather data and pressure legislators to fully fund this essential program.

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