Some of the most significant work to further better biking, active transportation, and healthy communities in California happens out of the spotlight. CalBike Insider shines the light on some of these critical developments in Sacramento and beyond. Scroll down for more insider stories.
CalBike Insider: Following Up on the Complete Streets Bill
/by Jared SanchezCalBike does a lot of behind-the-scenes work to encourage state agencies to develop better policies and to follow up on the implementation of bills passed in prior years. One law we’re following closely is SB 960, the Complete Streets Bill. CalBike worked tirelessly for almost a decade to pass a Complete Streets requirement on state […]
CalBike Insider: Design Guidance on Class IV Bikeways
/by Laura McCamyCaltrans issues Design Information Bulletins (DIBs) that set the parameters for specific types of facilities on the state highway network. DIB-89 provides guidance on how to build Class IV bikeways. Class IV lanes are on-street bikeways separated from car traffic by some type of physical barrier. CalBike’s analysis of Caltrans data found that, although protected […]
Inside the Black Box of Appropriations
/by Jared SanchezThis post was originally published on May 10, 2023. It was updated on April 30, 2025. In May, California’s appropriations committees wield their influence in the legislative process, as the state’s budget begins to come into focus. Appropriations committees in both the Senate and Assembly have outsize power and can affect the passage of a […]
CalBike Insider: Digging into the State Highway System Management Plan
/by Jared SanchezThe State Highway System Management Plan (SHSMP) “presents a performance-driven and integrated management plan for the State Highway System (SHS) in California,” according to its webpage. Every other year, Caltrans presents the SHSMP to the California Transportation Commission. CalBike dug into the sections on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and submitted comments, part of our ongoing […]
CalBike Insider: What Does It Mean When CalBike Opposes a Bill?
/by Jared SanchezCalBike’s Legislative Watch chart lists three bills we’re sponsoring this year, eight bills we’re supporting, and 15 bills we’re watching. Our position is oppose on only one bill: AB 612, the Increase Fire Department Authority Bill. We watch a lot of bills but generally oppose very few. Here’s a breakdown of the difference and why […]