Archive for category: Press Release

Active Transportation Bills to Watch This Week 

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For Immediate Release: 5/18/22

Contact:
Jared Sanchez, CalBike (714) 262-0921, Jared@CalBike.org

CalBike: Active Transportation Bills to Watch This Week

SACRAMENTO – The California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike) is following multiple bills in Sacramento this year that address issues of concern for Californians who walk, bike, and use our streets for active transportation. 

Eight bills essential to preserving California’s climate, increasing equity, and making our communities safer for residents of all ages will be heard by the California Assembly Appropriations Committee this week.

“Bills are often killed in the Appropriations Committee,” said CalBike Senior Policy Advocate Jared Sanchez. “That’s why this week’s hearings are so critical. These bills represent a major step forward to make it safer to bike and walk, improve air quality, reduce climate-killing pollution, and advance transportation justice.”

Bills being considered on 5/18 at the Assembly Appropriations Committee

AB 2438 (Friedman) – Transportation Funding and Climate Goals: The Bike to the Future Bill

This bill requires all transportation projects funded at the local or state level to align with the California Transportation Plan and the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure adopted by the Transportation Agency. This effort will codify California’s efforts to align transportation funding with our climate goals.

AB 1778 (C. Garcia) – Ending Freeway Expansion: The Restoring Healthy Communities Bill

This bill will prohibit any state money from funding or permitting freeway widening projects in areas with high rates of pollution and poverty. As decades of research have shown, low-income communities of color are most burdened by highway pollution that causes unnecessary cases of asthma and other major health issues. 

AB 1975 (Nazarian) – California Bus Shelter Bill: The Safe Bus Stops Bill

The bill would ensure that bus and pedestrian shelter and street furniture is treated as a critical and funded infrastructure asset to prioritize shade as an essential need for all Californians.

Bills being considered on 5/19 at the Assembly Appropriations Committee

AB 2147 (Ting) – Safe Street Crossings: The Freedom to Walk Bill

This bill is the sequel to the Freedom to Walk legislation that passed the assembly and senate last year. After Governor Newsom’s veto, Assemblymember Phil Ting revamped the bill to address the governor’s concerns. The revised version will direct police not to ticket for safe pedestrian mid-block crossings while keeping jaywalking laws on the books. Ending enforcement of safe midblock crossings will reduce opportunities for police encounters that too often become violent for people of color.

AB 2237 (Friedman) – Sustainable Regional Planning: The Plan for a Better Tomorrow Bill

This bill would bring local transportation planning and funding into alignment with sustainable community strategies (SCS) and the state’s climate and air quality standards. California has struggled to align land use with the need to reduce vehicle miles traveled and the corresponding emissions that cause air pollution and climate change. AB 2237 would require regional or county transportation agencies to rank their transportation projects and prioritize them according to adherence to sustainable communities strategies and state climate and air quality standards. Most importantly, funding would follow that prioritization, so that the projects that most support clean mobility (many bike projects) would be the first implemented. Projects that undermine climate and air quality standards would not be funded.

AB 2336 (Friedman) – Automated Speed Enforcement Pilot Program: The Speed Kills Bill

This bill establishes an automated speed enforcement pilot program in a few cities.

AB 1919 (Holden) – Free Student Transit Passes: The Transit Access Bill

This bill requires each transit agency to offer free transit passes to every person under the age of 26 years. This lack of a statewide program leaves millions of low-income and diverse youth without affordable or accessible transportation options. It also forces many to be dependent on greenhouse gas-emitting personal vehicles to the detriment of their communities’ environmental health. 

AB 2264 (Bloom) – Pedestrian crossing signals – advance signals: The Step Ahead Bill

Requires Caltrans and cities to update all pedestrian control signals to operate giving a pedestrian a head start between 3 to 7 seconds to enter an intersection with a corresponding circular green signal.

California Ranks Fourth Most Bicycle Friendly State in 2022

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For Immediate Release: 4/19/22

Contact:
Dave Snyder, CalBike, 916-251-9433, dave@calbike.org

California Ranks Fourth Most Bicycle-Friendly State in League of American Bicyclists 2022 Report

Sacramento, Calif. – California took 4th Place in the annual ranking of Bicycle Friendly States by the League of American Bicyclists released today in Washington, D.C.

The state Report Card found in today’s report praises California for…
“…significant advances in bicycle policy in recent years, but those advances must be institutionalized more thoroughly in local Caltrans offices and in funding decisions made by Caltrans and the state legislature. For example, while California’s Active Transportation Program has expanded in recent years, it still fails to meet the demand for biking and walking investments with a nearly $2 billion gap in funding in the last application round.”

CalBike’s $2 Billion for Bikes campaign aims to fill the funding gap identified by the League. Many excellent projects in the Active Transportation Program didn’t get funded in the last cycle due to lack of budget. Governor Newsom and the legislature have, so far, tentatively committed to $1.1 billion in additional funding for biking and walking infrastructure in the next fiscal year, which is an encouraging first step, but California needs more. 


Dave Snyder, executive director of CalBike, said of the League’s report:

“California being named the fourth most bike-friendly state is wonderful news. But California can and should be the MOST bike-friendly state in the nation. The pandemic showed us that Californians love to bike recreationally. But more Californians would love to use bikes for commuting and shopping too, if they felt the streets were safe enough. 

“While funding for bicycles in California has increased recently, we are still ranked at 39th in per capita spending and 23rd in safety nationwide. To catch up, let’s invest $2 billion in safe bikeways that reach destinations where people want to go. By vastly expanding our bike infrastructure, California can become the climate and equity leader we claim to be.“

Transportation Committee Considers Historic Slate of Seven Active Transportation Bills March 28th 

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For Immediate Release: 3/25/22

Contact: Jared Sanchez, CalBike (714) 262-092, Jared@CalBike.org

CALBIKE: Transportation Committee Considers Historic Slate of Seven Active Transportation Bills March 28th 

Sacramento – A slate of seven bills that will support safer streets, better biking, and active transportation will be considered in the Assembly Transportation Committee on Monday, March 28, 2022.

Dave Snyder, executive director of CalBike, said, “Taken together, these seven bills represent a big step toward protecting our climate, creating more livable communities, and making our streets more equitable and safe for all Californians.”

Some of the bills were introduced in 2021 and are now coming back for a second try at becoming law. Two of the measures passed the legislature but were vetoed by the governor. New versions attempt to address the Governor’s concerns as expressed in his veto statements.

These seven bills will be considered at the Transportation Committee hearing on Monday, March 28: 

  • The Bicycle Safety Stop (AB 1713, Boerner Horvath): As written, the bill allows all bike riders aged 18 and over to treat stop signs as yields. CalBike asks the committee to amend the bill to lower the age to 16. If someone is old enough to drive, they are mature enough to responsibly practice the Bicycle Safety Stop.
  • Legalize Safe Street Crossings (AB 2147, Ting): This measure is a critical step forward in reducing the over-policing of Black and brown Californians. It eliminates jaywalking ticketing for safe midblock crossings.
  • The Bikes Belong Bill (AB 1909, Friedman): This bicycle omnibus bill ensures e-bikes can use paved bike paths, requires motorists to change lanes when passing, allows bikes to cross with the “Walk” signal, and prohibits unnecessary bike registration schemes. It’s California’s endorsement of the idea that bikes belong on our roads and streets.
  • Leading Pedestrian Crossing Signals (AB 2264, Bloom) A measure that would require a headstart for pedestrians before traffic can move when a light turns green, which improves pedestrian safety. 
  • Bicycle Highways Bill (AB 2237, Friedman): This measure requires regional transportation plans to be written to include visionary elements such as 15-minute neighborhoods[link] and bicycle highways.
  • Speed Camera Pilot (AB 2336, Friedman): Speed kills on California streets and this bill creates a pilot program to study speed cameras for better and more equitable enforcement of speed limits. 
  • Transportation and Climate (AB 2438, Friedman): If this bill becomes law, all transportation projects will have to align with California’s climate goals in order to receive state or local funding, which means putting active transportation and public transport at the center of California’s transportation future.

CalBike is California’s state bicycle advocacy organization. It strongly supports all seven of the bills in this Active Transportation Slate. If passed into law, these measures represent a critical step toward decarbonizing California’s transportation infrastructure and creating healthier, safer neighborhoods for all Californians.

CONNECTING: California Bicycle Summit

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For Immediate Release: 3/1/22

Contact: Jared Sanchez, CalBike (714) 262-0921, Jared@CalBike.org


CONNECTING: California Bicycle Summit

In-Person April 6-9, 2022 Oakland

Oakland, CA – The California Bicycle Summit (one of the nation’s leading bicycle-advocacy conferences) returns this year as an in-person and on-wheels event. The 3-day Summit will be held in Uptown Oakland, April 6-9, 2022.

The California Bicycle Summit draws advocates, city officials, planners, and everyday Californians who want to strengthen and grow the movement for sustainable transportation.

“For 2022, we have prepared a fantastic program in a gorgeous venue, with a jam-packed schedule of expert presentations, plenary sessions, parties, demos, bike tours, and plenty of space and time to connect, make new friends, and catch up with old ones,” said Dave Snyder, executive director of CalBike.

The California Bicycle Summit is a can’t-miss event for people who care about biking. It connects people who are passionate about creating sustainable transportation options for all Californians to share ideas, inspiration, and practical solutions to create safer streets.

CONNECTING Banner California Bicycle Summit

CONNECTING: California Bike Summit 2022

Speakers at the 2022 California Bicycle Summit will include community activists, California decision-makers, bicycle advocates, industry leaders, and planners designing the next generation of safer streets. They will present more than 30 exciting breakout sessions on a wide range of topics, including:

  • The promise and reality of Caltrans shift to support active transportation
  • Success stories of intersectional bike advocacy
  • Access to biking for people with disabilities
  • Two design symposia where engineers and planners will share cutting edge street designs
  • Accounts from the leaders of ride-outs, the grassroots biking events spreading across the country
  • The importance of community bike shops: how to make them excellent, how to support them
  • Black and POC-rooted solutions for mobility and empowerment
  • The still-growing impact of e-bikes
  • The intersections of active transportation with housing policy and climate action
  • Reports from Finland, Latin America, and across California about how to improve bicycle mode share

The Summit will also include bike rides and social events:

  • Tours of infrastructure in the East Bay and San Francisco, including visiting the state’s only edge lane road
  • Visits to outstanding community bike shops
  • Recreational rides on the Bay Area’s beautiful backroads
  • A chance to join the famous and fabulous East Bay Bike Party, a rolling celebration of biking, music, and dancing that takes place every second Friday
  • A movie night featuring California’s best bike-themed short films


Summit Agenda and registration here: calbike.org/summit

The Summit will be held in beautiful Uptown Oakland. Plenary sessions will be in the gorgeous 1926 art deco California Ballroom; the breakout sessions venue is the OakStop, a top-notch locally- and Black-owned event center. Telegraph Avenue, in front of the venue, will be closed to cars and open for socializing during the Summit.

CalBike advocates for equitable, inclusive, and prosperous communities where bicycling helps to enable all Californians to lead healthy and joyful lives.

CALBIKE Opposes AB 371

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DATE: updated 3/02/2022 [edited from original 2/22/22]

CONTACT: Dave Snyder, CalBike, 916-251-9433, dave@calbike.org

CALBIKE Opposes AB 371 – Save Bike-Share!


Sacramento – The California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike) opposes AB 371 by Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer. This bill would impose an unprecedented cost on bike share and scooter share systems by forcing the provider to carry insurance to pay for damage caused by the user. It would put most, if not all, shared micromobility systems out of business, and make it fiscally impossible to subsidize an expansion of the system so that it serves everyone equitably, and not just the privileged residents in wealthy downtowns. CalBike helped defeat a similar provision in the 2020 legislature. 

Eliminating shared micromobility programs would be a disaster for California’s climate. They provide affordable transportation and help to reduce vehicle miles traveled by providing an alternative to the car for short trips. Bike and scooter sharing systems also extend the reach of existing transit systems by giving riders a way to get from a transit station to a destination that is out of walking distance.

“We’ve only begun to see the potential of low-cost shared bikes and scooters to enhance public transit and provide low-impact, safe mobility for people who can’t afford cars or who prefer not to drive,” said Dave Snyder, CalBike’s Executive Director. “We should be expanding bike-share, not killing it.”

The bill is currently in the Senate Insurance Committee.

AB 371 imposes an unprecedented insurance burden on shared mobility systems

AB 371 would require micromobility operators (public and private) to acquire insurance that covers negligent conduct of a device rider. This requirement would be a legal anomaly. Rental car companies are not liable for the negligence of their drivers. Basketball court owners aren’t required to carry insurance for injuries caused if a fight breaks out among players. Roller skate shops don’t have to pay for insurance to cover the costs of someone injured by one of their skating customers.

Comparing this proposal to existing requirements for motor vehicles is instructive. Motorists must carry $30,000 in insurance for their own liability. If AB 371 passes, bike- and scooter-share operators would be required to carry $500,000 in insurance for injuries caused through no fault of their own. That disparity is hard to justify when you compare the difference in weight and speed of bikes and scooters compared to motor vehicles.

Pedestrian Safety, Social Equity, and our Climate, are Threatened

Bike share systems have the potential to serve low-income communities with high-quality transportation that is as affordable as public transit but healthier, usually faster, and sometimes even fun. This vision will require the massive deployment of bikes and e-bikes and scooters, substantial subsidy to make it affordable, and the development of safe bikeways. It’s part of a future with much fewer cars, and therefore a safer future, without most of the 15,000 serious pedestrian injuries caused by cars in California last year. This future is not only possible, it’s required if we are to meet our climate goals. In 2021, the Air Resources Board recognized the importance of bike and scooter share systems for low-income people by granting millions of dollars in its Clean Mobility Options program to bike-sharing. This measure would end the programs funded by state grants, putting California at odds with itself. Cities like San Francisco that are considering expanding bike share operations by taking a more active role would have to scuttle those plans.

CalBike urges the legislature to stop AB 371 and save bike-share.

Newsom Vetoes Freedom to Walk in California

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For Immediate Release: October 11, 2021

Contact:
CalBike: Jared Sanchez, jared@calbike.org |  714-262-0921
California Walks: Caro Jauregui, caro@calwalks.org | 562-320-2139
Los Angeles Walks: John Yi, john@losangeleswalks.org | 213-219-2483

Newsom Vetoes Freedom to Walk in California

Movement to End Unjust Jaywalking Laws Will Continue

SACRAMENTO – In a setback for the movement for more equitable streets, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the Freedom to Walk Act (AB 1238, Ting). The law would have ended penalties for safe mid-block pedestrian crossings. CalBike and a coalition of more than 90 groups and individuals supported the repeal of ‘jaywalking’ laws.

“The governor’s veto rests on the belief that police enforcement or the threat of jaywalking tickets will somehow prevent pedestrian fatalities in the future when that has consistently failed in the past. Continuing to criminalize people’s rational, predictable responses to poor infrastructure is simply unjust,” said Jared Sanchez, CalBike Senior Policy Advocate.

Inequities in neighborhood design and street infrastructure leave many lower-income California neighborhoods less than pedestrian-friendly. Because of this, policing jaywalking often amounts to punishing people for the lack of government services in their community. 

Legalizing mid-block crossings would have helped protect vulnerable pedestrians against racially biased, pretextual policing, inequitable fees and fines, and unnecessary and potentially lethal interactions with law enforcement.

John Yi, Executive Director of Los Angeles Walks, said, “The Governor’s recent veto represents continued condescension of pedestrians. To think we can penalize our parents, seniors, and students to bow to high-speed traffic at the cost of their own dignity, ease, and safety is draconian and deeply misunderstands the needs of those walking every day. We cannot begin to ask why it is we jaywalk if we are already criminals in the eyes of the state.”

“This is a tremendous loss not only for racial justice across California but also for active transportation as a whole as Governor Newsom failed to recognize the importance of non-automobile modes of travel,” said CalBike’s Sanchez. “But the Freedom to Walk Act has helped spark a national conversation about unjust jaywalking laws that can’t be stopped by one misguided veto.”

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Governor Newsom Vetoes Bill to Improve Bike Safety

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For Immediate Release: October 11, 2021

Contact: 

Dave Snyder, 916-251-9433, dave@calbike.org

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

Governor Newsom Vetoes Bill to Improve Bike Safety

Sacramento – The Bicycle Safety Stop Bill (AB 122 – Boerner Horvath, Friedman, Ting) had broad support from the Assembly, the Senate, and people who ride bikes. CalBike is disappointed that Governor Newsom vetoed a bill that would make it legal for people on bikes to treat stop signs as yields. 

Similar laws are on the books in 10 other states and have been proven to reduce collisions and improve conditions for bike riders. CalBike created a video to explain how the bicycle safety stop works, and more than 75 organizations across the state signed a letter supporting the bill.

“Governor Newsom showed today he doesn’t understand the needs of people who use bikes for everyday transportation. This commonsense law would have reduced conflict between bike riders and car drivers,” said Dave Snyder, Executive Director of CalBike. “I’m disappointed that, while climate change ravages our state, the governor blocked a popular measure that would have helped more people choose carbon-free transportation.”

CalBike Senior Policy Advocate Jared Sanchez said, “CalBike hears complaints every year about punitive sting operations that have nothing to do with safety and are sometimes used as a pretext to stop Black and Latinx people. These police interactions too often have tragic results. The Bicycle Safety Stop Bill would have been a step towards making the streets safer for every Californian.” 

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath, the bill’s original author, said, “We know from the example of other states that when riders are allowed to yield at stop signs, they choose safer streets and will spend less time in dangerous intersections. It’s time for California to live up to its values and start encouraging — not penalizing — smart riding in our state.”

In Delaware, a recent study found that collisions involving bicycles at intersections decreased by 23% after the state made the safety stop legal. The governor’s veto prevents California from joining a long list of states that have implemented the safety stop: Idaho, Delaware, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Arkansas, Utah, Oklahoma, and North Dakota. None of those states have reported any safety problems after implementing this rule.

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CA Freedom to Walk Act Passes Senate

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For Immediate Release: 9/8/21

Contact:
CalBike: Jared Sanchez, jared@calbike.org |  714-262-0921
California Walks: Caro Jauregui, caro@calwalks.org | 562-320-2139
Los Angeles Walks: John Yi, john@losangeleswalks.org | 213-219-2483

CA Freedom to Walk Act Passes Senate

SACRAMENTO – The Freedom to Walk Act, a bill designed to reform California’s “Jaywalking” laws, passed the California Senate today with a vote of 22-8.

AB 1238, which would make it legal for pedestrians in California to cross mid-block provided they don’t interfere with traffic, was authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting of San Francisco. CalBike and a coalition of more than 90 groups and individuals support the repeal of ‘jaywalking’ laws.

AB 1238 will not change existing laws that require pedestrians to avoid potentially hazardous situations on the roadway. Instead, it legalizes the safe street crossings that pedestrians make every day. Everybody ‘jaywalks’—nobody should be penalized for a safe street crossing.

Jared Sanchez, CalBike Senior Policy Advocate, said, “CalBike applauds the Senate for supporting this crucial legislation to make California’s streets safer and more accessible for everyone. We will now work with Governor Newsom to secure his support for the freedom to walk.”

Inequities in neighborhood design leave lower-income neighborhoods less pedestrian-friendly than others. Because of this, policing jaywalking often amounts to punishing people for the lack of government services and improper land use planning in their community. People should not be penalized for decades of infrastructure neglect and auto-first street design. AB 1238 will help protect vulnerable pedestrians against racially biased, pretextual policing, inequitable fees and fines, and unnecessary and potentially lethal interactions with law enforcement.

“The Freedom to Walk Act legalizes safe walking,” Sanchez said. “Governor Newsom now has a chance to advance racial justice by repealing jaywalking laws. In the absence of safe and accessible pedestrian infrastructure, residents do their best to access school, work, grocery stores, or parks. Continuing to criminalize rational, predictable responses to poor infrastructure is unjust,” 

Also, enforcing low-level infractions, like ‘jaywalking,’ can have a substantial cost for law enforcement. So, decriminalizing safe street crossings has the potential to conserve considerable resources for agencies across the state.

The Freedom to Walk Act WILL NOT:

  • Make it legal to obstruct traffic or endanger other road users.
  • Send crowds of pedestrians into the streets. People who walk have the same common sense and desire for self-preservation as anyone else. Pedestrians will continue to do what they already do: assess traffic conditions and cross when it’s safe to do so.
  • Lead to increased hazards for walkers. Reckless driving and unfriendly infrastructure are the main dangers that pedestrians face. There is no evidence that jaywalking laws help pedestrians and the laws do nothing to solve those problems.
  • Take money from local coffers. Many jaywalking fines are never collected, so the cost of police and administrative time for enforcement is often higher than the money collected.

The Freedom to Walk Act WILL:

  • Legalize common, safe street crossings that most Californians make regularly.
  • Reduce potentially lethal police interactions for Black Californians.
  • Free low-income people from the financial burden of jaywalking fines and fees.
  • Allow police officers to spend their time more effectively, increasing public safety.

Bicycle Safety Stop Bill Passes Senate

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For Immediate Release Contact: Dave Snyder, 916-251-9433, dave@calbike.org

Tuesday, August 31, 2021 Jared Sanchez, 714-262-0921, jared@calbike.org

Bicycle Safety Stop Bill Passes Senate

SACRAMENTO – On August 30, the California Senate passed the Bicycle Safety Stop Bill (AB 122, Boerner Horvath, Friedman, Ting) with a bipartisan 31-5 vote. The bill allows people on bikes to treat stop signs as yields, including giving the right of way to pedestrians. More than 75 organizations across the state signed a letter in support of the bill. 

CalBike is thrilled that the Senate has shown its support for commonsense biking. A recent study in Delaware found that collisions involving bicycles at intersections decreased by 23% after the state made the safety stop legal. If the Bicycle Safety Stop Bill becomes law, California will join a long list of states that have implemented the safety stop: Idaho, Delaware, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Arkansas, Utah, Oklahoma, and North Dakota. None of those states have reported any safety problems after implementing this rule.

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath, the bill’s original author said, “We know from the example of other states that when riders are allowed to yield at stop signs, they choose safer streets and will spend less time in dangerous intersections. It’s time for California to live up to its values and start encouraging — not penalizing — smart riding in our state.”

“Bicycling is good for California in so many ways: it improves our health, our economy, and our environment. We’re grateful to the thousands of Californians who encouraged their State Senators to remove this nonsensical obstacle to safe and reasonable biking,” said Dave Snyder, Executive Director of CalBike.

The Bicycle Safety Stop Bill doesn’t change existing right-of-way laws. People on bikes will still have to take their turn at intersections. AB 122 makes it legal for bike riders to slow down at intersections, wait for other traffic to clear, then proceed without coming to a full stop. It will improve predictability at intersections and mutual respect among road users. CalBike has created a video to explain how the bicycle safety stop works.

Unnecessary laws that are disregarded can become a pretext for unfair enforcement. CalBike hears complaints every year about punitive sting operations that have nothing to do with safety, and are sometimes used as a pretext to stop Black and Latinx people. These police interactions too often have tragic results.

Freedom to Walk Act Moves to Senate Floor Vote

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For Immediate Release: 8/27/21

Contact:

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

California Walks: Caro Jauregui, caro@calwalks.org | 562-320-2139

Los Angeles Walks: John Yi, john@losangeleswalks.org | 213-219-2483

Freedom to Walk Act Moves to Senate Floor Vote

SACRAMENTO – The Freedom to Walk Act, a bill designed to reform California’s “Jaywalking” laws, passed out of the California Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, on a 5-2 vote.

The bill AB 1238, would make it legal for pedestrians in California to cross mid-block provided they don’t interfere with traffic. The bill was authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting of San Francisco. CalBike and a coalition of more than 85 groups and individuals support the repeal of jaywalking laws.

Jared Sanchez, CalBike Senior Policy Advocate said, “The State Senate and Governor now have a chance to advance racial justice by repealing jaywalking laws. In the absence of safe and accessible pedestrian infrastructure, residents do their best to access school, work, grocery stores, or parks. At times, this may involve jaywalking. Continuing to criminalize rational, predictable responses to poor infrastructure is unjust.”

The Bill would not change existing law that already requires pedestrians to avoid potentially hazardous situations on the roadway. Instead, it will protect vulnerable pedestrians against racially biased, pretextual policing; inequitable fees and fines; unnecessary, and potentially lethal, interactions with law enforcement.

By decriminalizing safe-street crossings, the bill will reduce unnecessary police enforcement of jaywalking. Enforcing low-level infractions, like jaywalking, can have a substantial cost for law enforcement. Given this, decriminalizing safe street crossings has the potential to conserve substantial resources for agencies across the state.

Punishing the Poor for Bad Street Design

Inequities in neighborhood design leave lower-income neighborhoods less pedestrian-friendly than others. Because of this, policing jaywalking often amounts to punishing people for the lack of government services and improper land use planning in their community. People should not be penalized for decades of infrastructure neglect and auto-first street design.

There is no evidence that jaywalking laws keep people safe. In fact, we know that these laws make many Californians unsafe by exposing them to pretextual policing and unnecessary encounters with law enforcement. California is in the process of reforming its laws regarding the use of public spaces. Several categories of infractions have already been eliminated in recent years at the state level, including vending without a permit and possession of marijuana. It’s time to add jaywalking to this list. 

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