The Freedom to Walk Act will repeal jaywalking laws in California. It will legalize safe, commonsense street crossing, when traffic permits, whether or not a pedestrian is within a marked/unmarked crosswalk or the walk cycle of a traffic signal. It will remove a pretext for over-policing that has disproportionately hurt Black and Latinx Californians. It will eliminate burdensome and inequitable fines. It will restore dignity and convenience to people using our public roadways to visit friends, catch the bus, walk to work, and enjoy their community.
On an e-bike, hills are flattened, distances shortened, and strenuous trips are made easy. Getting e-bikes into the hands of more people can dramatically increase bicycling, as people who wouldn’t normally bike are able to forego their cars. California offers financial incentives to people who buy electric cars; it should provide the same for people who buy e-bikes. CalBike is sponsoring AB 117, the E-Bike Affordability Bill, plus a $10 million allocation in the budget process, to provide purchase incentives to help Californians buy e-bikes.
The Bicycle Safety Stop, sometimes called the Idaho stop, legalizes commonsense bicycling behavior. People on bikes slow as they approach stop signs and look both ways. If there is traffic, they stop; if not, they roll safely through the intersection. This is safe and smart bike riding; legalizing this move will make the road safer for all users. It will also reduce opportunities for police harassment of BIPOC Californians. CalBike is sponsoring AB 122, the Bicycle Safety Stop Bill, to make our streets safer and more equitable.
Every year, legislators introduce nearly 3,000 bills to change state law. The California Bicycle Coalition monitors each one of those bills. We are your voice to support the good ones and oppose the bad ones. You can watch, too. We update our Legislative Watch page regularly.
CalBike has partnered with Alta Planning + Design to create a guide for projects that can be built quickly and with minimal expense. This free guide will help California communities build the safe streets we need now. Download your free copy.
Streets are not just for cars, but too often state DOT officials forget about everything else when they repair or repave state-owned roads. Thanks to CalBike’s relentless pressure on lawmakers and engagement with officials at every level of Caltrans, biking and walking safety are finally being considered on most projects. We have a long way to go before safety gets the priority it deserves and we need you to help us make this change.
Everyone needs a bike shop nearby. In disadvantaged neighborhoods, nonprofit community bike shops are often the first and only option for purchase, repairs, and maintenance. They offer cheaper alternatives to mobility. They create jobs and promote community. Join us to support these vital organs of our communities across California.
Bike tourism is a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Bike campers, families with kids in tow, and people on day rides all support local businesses and foster community and cultural understanding. Thanks to a state grant, CalBike and the county governments of Tuolumne, Alpine, Calaveras, San Joaquin and Stanislaus are collaborating to identify opportunities to improve bicycling for visitors and residents alike.
Every two years, voters send 120 Assembly Members and Senators to Sacramento to make policy on behalf of 40 million Californians. The California Bicycle Coalition engages in key districts to help get bike-friendly candidates elected, and to remove opponents. We also weigh in on key ballot measures. Democracy requires informed voters; CalBike delivers the information so you can make an informed choice.
Every two years, CalBike brings together movers and shakers in sustainable transportation: planners, government officials, politicians, agency staff, bicycle activists. During three jam-packed days of presentations, panels, lively discussions, and fun social events, people from across California’s diverse communities come together to learn, listen, and share. The next Summit will be held in October of 2021. Explore our past summits.
California is investing billions in new train stations in the Central Valley but, so far, nearly nothing to make it safe to ride your bike to the stations! Thanks to a state grant, CalBike is working with Caltrans and the Kern County Council of Governments to fix this glaring oversight, improve bike share in Bakersfield, and develop a long-distance intercity bike route from Merced to Bakersfield.
Why are streets designed to make it safe to drive fast but dangerous to cross on foot? Why are bike lanes in the door zone? The answer: that’s what the design manual says. CalBike is a leader in pushing for progressive changes to our state’s dangerously outdated roadway design guidelines. In 2014, we legalized protected bike lanes—lanes with a physical barrier between bike and car traffic.
Bike share can transform transportation for disadvantaged communities. It makes transit convenient by bridging that last mile. It’s affordable, safe, and healthy. But our reliance on for-profit companies for bike share means it only exists in the state’s richest communities. Public agencies should subsidize bike share like transit, providing affordable service everywhere it’s needed.
If you have a car, the least you can do to support better bicycling is to show your support on your license plate by ordering a “Bicycle for a Healthy California” specialty license plate. Proceeds from plate sales will generate millions of dollars for bike advocacy in communities throughout California.
Past CalBike campaigns and projects.
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California Bicycle Coalition | 1017 L Street, #288, Sacramento, CA 95814 | 916-258-5189
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