SB 569, authored by Senator Catherine Blakespear and sponsored by CalBike, will not become law in 2026. The bill sought to establish a clear public process and stronger safety standards before local agencies could remove existing bikeways.

While the bill did not advance, the Legislature included a provision in a separate budget bill addressing the Santa Fe Drive project in Encinitas, which inspired SB 569. That provision requires that removal of the bikeway constructed with General Fund dollars leave a safe and accessible environment for bicyclists. Its scope is limited to this project, but it affirms the principle behind our campaign: public investments in safe bikeways deserve the same presumption of durability as other roadway investments.

Removing one segment can undermine an entire network, leaving a dangerous gap in a route to school or cutting off a connection to transit. Communities that spend years planning, funding, and building safer streets should be able to count on those investments lasting.

CalBike thanks Senator Blakespear for championing SB 569 and everyone who contacted legislators and supported the bill. We will continue working to protect California’s safe bikeways and explore opportunities to advance these protections as part of a broader legislative effort in 2027.