CalBike
  • About Us
  • Get Involved
    • Speak Up for Safe Passage for Bikes
    • Tell the Governor: Daylighting Saves Lives
    • Tell Governor Newsom: Decriminalize Fare Evasion
    • Volunteer
    • Join/Renew
  • What We Do
    • Stay Informed about E-Bike Incentives
    • 2023 Legislative Watch
    • Sign-On Letters
    • More…
  • Resources
    • E-Bike Resources
    • What Is an E-Bike? A Guide to California E-Bike Classifications.
    • California Bicycle Laws
    • Map & Routes
    • Register Your Bike
    • Learn to Bike at Any Age
    • Free Quick-Build Bikeway Design Guide
  • News
    • Blog
    • CalBike In the News
    • Press Releases
    • CalBike Insider
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

In response to criticism from “vehicular cyclists,” some opposed to AB 1193 which created a new class of bikeway, the separated bikeway, the California Bicycle Coalition issued this statement:

The California Bicycle Coalition will advocate for bicyclists’ access to the roadway without fail, regardless of whatever facility might be present. With regards to separated bikeways, we hope they are so well designed that everybody will choose to use them in place of the mixed traffic lanes because they’re superior, and we hope we’re so successful at encouraging bicycling that even well-designed separated bikeways overflow with cyclists into the roadway.

Advocates who oppose cycle tracks were unprepared for their arrival in the U.S., hoping they would go away, and that was a losing strategy. We wanted to encourage cycle tracks, so we wrote legislation to do that, and in so doing, ensured that cycle tracks were defined as a separate class of bikeway instead of a kind of class 2 (which would have been mandatory) and adjacent to, rather than a part of, the roadway (so that the requirement to ride as far to the right as practicable would not have compelled cycle track use). If not for us, cycle tracks would have come and been considered bike lanes and therefore mandatory. No other state did that. It was a bold maneuver to preserve cyclists’ right to the roadway when a cycle track is present. You’re welcome.

Finally, the language we use to refer to separated bikeways in public is unimportant. Thanks to us, these are class 4 bikeways not class 2 bike lanes, and that’s what matters. If the public calls them protected bike lanes — and that’s what the public will call them because that’s what they look like — it won’t change their legal status. Yes, the cops will sometimes ticket against behaviors that are not against the law, like riding outside of a cycle track, just like they currently ticket you for not riding in the gutter even though the law is clear that it’s not required. Changing that requires education of the cops (and getting lots more bicyclists out there so that cops’ family members are regular riders). Pissing into the wind calling them “separated bikeways” in public won’t make one iota of difference in getting cops not to ticket against riding in the roadway. That’s why we call them, in public, protected bike lanes, and will continue to do so, because that’s what they seem to be. Legally they’re different, thanks to us.

Latest News

  • train passengerTell Governor Newsom: Decriminalize Fare EvasionSeptember 26, 2023 - 3:45 pm
  • Daylighting to Save Lives: Ask Governor to Sign AB 413  September 26, 2023 - 2:33 pm
  • Adding new bike laneActive Transportation Slate Goes to GovernorSeptember 25, 2023 - 9:52 am
Follow a manual added link

Get Email Updates

Follow a manual added link

Join Calbike

  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Twitter
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Mail
  • Link to Instagram
About Us

Staff
Board
Financials & Governance
Local Partners
State & National Allies
Careers
Contact Us

What We Do

California Bicycle Summit
E-Bike Advocacy
2023 Legislative Watch

Take Action

Current Projects
Past Projects
Donate
Volunteer
Join or Renew

Resources

Maps & Routes
Crash Help and Legal Resources
Quick Build Guide
All Resources

News

CalBike Blog
CalBike in the News
Press Releases
CalBike Insider

© California Bicycle Coalition 2023

1017 L Street #288
Sacramento, CA 95814
© California Bicycle Coalition 2023

Marin Museum of Bicycling OpensA Letter Regarding our Theme — Equity in Motion
Scroll to top
Font Resize
Accessibility by WAH
  • $2 Billion for Bikes
  • 2020 Legislative Watch
  • 2023 Legislative Watch
  • About Us
    • Social Media
    • Who We Are
      • Board of Directors
      • Local Partners
      • Staff
      • State and National Allies
    • Strategic Plan
    • Our History
      • Past Policy Wins
    • Financials & Governance
    • Sign-On Letters
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Contact Us
  • Become A Corporate Partner
  • Become A Corporate Partner
  • Better Street Design
  • Bicycle Safety Stop Campaign
  • Biking Is Not a Crime
  • Business Member
  • Business Members
  • CalBike Community
  • CalBike Equity Statement
  • CalBike In the News
  • CalBike Insider
  • CalBike Seeks Interim Deputy Director
  • California Bicycle Coalition: Celebrating 25 Years
  • Car Donation FAQs
  • Celebrate our 25th Anniversary
  • Climate Ride for CalBike
  • Climate Ride for CalBike
  • Corporate Partners – Take Action Now
  • COVID-19 and Bicycling
    • FAQs About Bicycling Safely During COVID-19
    • Learn to Bike at Any Age
    • Tips and Tricks for Happy Biking
    • Bike Match
  • Details
  • Donate
    • Donate by Mail
  • Donate Campaign
  • Donate Monthly
  • Donate to the California Mobility Fund, Tax-Deductible
  • Donate, Tax-Deductible
  • E-Bike Purchase Incentives
  • E-Bike Resources
  • Edgerunner 11i Giveaway – OP
  • End Parking Minimums — Yes on AB 1401
  • Events
    • Agenda Reveal Party
    • California Bicycle Summit
      • Guide to an Inclusive and Equitable Summit 2022
      • Location
      • Rides & Tours
      • Schedule
      • Scholarships
      • Steering Committee
      • Virtual Summit
      • Virtual Summit
      • Workshops & Presenters
      • Advance Symposia for the California Bicycle Summit
      • Public Statement of Equity and Inclusion 2022
      • California Bicycle Summit Steering Committee
      • Past Summits
        • 2019 California Bicycle Summit: Intersections
        • 2022 California Bicycle Summit
        • 2019 California Bicycle Summit Program
        • 2019 California Bicycle Summit Guide to an Inclusive and Equitable Summit
        • 2017 California Bicycle Summit
        • 2015 California Bicycle Summit: Equity in Motion
        • 2015 California Bicycle Summit program
        • 2013 California Bicycle Summit
        • 2011 California Bike Summit
    • Advocacy Day
    • California Dream Ride
    • California Dream Ride
    • House Parties
    • Past Events
      • Advocacy Week
      • CalBike Chipotle Chowdown: May 31st, 2018!
      • California Dream Ride
      • California Dream Ride
      • Free Webinar: Gearing Up For A Winning ATP Application
      • Low Carbon Fuel Standards Workshop
      • Transportation Equity Summit
      • Transportation Equity Summit & Advocacy Day
      • Transportation Equity Summit 2017
      • Webinar: E-Bike Grant Opportunity in ARB Car-Sharing Pilot Program
      • Webinar: The Why & How of Protected Bike Lanes
      • Webinar: Ticket Diversion Programs
  • Fake Map Demo
  • FAQs
  • Footer
  • Freedom to Walk Campaign
  • Fundraising Essentials
  • Go For a Ride
    • California Bicycle Laws
    • California Bicycle Laws (2021 Update Draft)
    • Crash Help
    • Map & Routes
    • Why Ride?
  • History Archive
    • 2012 Legislative Year in Review
    • 2012-2017 Strategic Plan
    • 2013 Legislative Year in Review
    • 2014 Year in Review
      • Govenor Signs Protected Bikeway Act
    • 2015 Year in Review
      • 2015 Leg Tracker Wrap-Up
      • E-bike Prohibitions Removed
      • Stop the Helmet Mandate
    • Better Bikeways for All
    • Getting More Bike Lanes Just Got a Whole Lot Easier
    • Governor Signs Protected Bikeways Act
    • Governor’s Transportation Agency increases bike funding by 35%
    • Reforming the CTCDC
    • SSTI Review of Caltrans Scathing and Hopeful
    • Stop AB 738
    • Summary of 2011 Legislation
  • Holiday Fundraising Opt-Out
  • Humpback
  • Invest/Divest
  • Join CalBike and Get Special Gifts
  • Join CalBike and Get Special Gifts, Ed Fund
  • Join the CalBike Mailing List
  • Landing Page
  • Landing Page
  • License Plate
    • Bicycle Awareness License Plate FAQ
  • Newsroom
    • Press Releases
  • OmniBike Bill AB 1909
  • Our Initiatives
    • Bike Education
    • Bike Share
    • Full Lane for Safety
    • Fund California’s Bikeways
      • Walk-Bike Networks
    • Legalize Hand-Holding: Riding Two Abreast
    • Open Streets
    • Protected Bike Lanes
    • Quick-Build Bikeway Networks for Safer Streets
      • Order a Quick-Build Promotional Brochure
    • Three Feet for Safety
    • What We Did: Past Campaigns and Projects
    • Transportation Justice
      • Breaking Down the Silos
      • CTC Assessment
      • Mobility Justice Labs
      • SB 1 Campaign
        • SB 1: Program by Program
    • Streets for Everyone
      • Better Bikeway Design
      • Complete Streets Campaign
        • Call Your Assembly Member to Support Complete Streets Bill, SB 127
        • Support the CalBike Complete Streets Campaign
        • Complete Streets Supporters
      • Low-Stress Bikeway Networks
    • Central Valley Bikeways Project
      • Central Valley Bikeways Survey
      • Project Plans and Resources
      • Project Maps
      • Fresno
      • Bakersfield
      • Merced
    • Healthy Climate and Communities
      • Autonomous Vehicles Must Make Biking Better
      • Bike Sharing
      • Bike Tourism for Economic Development
      • Community Bike Shops
      • E-Bike Campaigns
        • SB 400 E-Bike Voucher FAQs
    • A Stronger Movement
      • Electing Allies to Office
      • The Untokening
      • Walk Bike Youth Leaders
  • Plan for the Future Campaign
  • Recurring Donations
  • Register Your Bike
  • Resources
    • Design Best Practices
      • Bike & Pedestrian Plan Inventory
      • Webinar: Complete Low-Stress Bike Networks
    • Fact Sheets and FAQs
      • Complete Streets Fact Sheet
      • E-Bikes Fact Sheet
      • Give Me 3 FAQ
      • Helmet Mandates Fact Sheet
      • Protected Bikeways Act FAQ
      • Safe Routes to School
    • Funding Sources
      • Active Transportation Program Resources
      • Webinar: How to Access State Funding for Bike-Share and Micromobility
    • Get our Beautiful Jersey
    • Other Resources
    • Our Video Channel
  • Salsa test page
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
  • Summit Thank You Page
  • Support the INVEST in America Act
  • Take Action
    • $10 Billion for a Bikeable Bay Area
    • Bike the Vote
    • Call the Assembly to Support AB 3153
    • Complete Streets Petition
    • Connected Bikeway Networks Petition
    • Drive Less-Bike More Petition
    • Dutch Reach Petition
    • National Transportation Funding Petition
    • Reform Traffic Law Enforcement
    • Save Bike-Share!
    • Show Your Organization’s Support for SB 127
    • Sign the Petition: $10M E-Bike Affordability Program
      • Thank you for supporting affordable e-bikes for Californians
    • Tell Governor Newsom to Sign the Complete Streets Bill Today!
    • Tell the Assembly to Support E-Bikes
    • Tell Your Senator to Support the Bike Parking Bill
    • Visionary Transportation Planning: AB 1147
    • YES on AB 117
    • Yes on AB 1238
    • Yes on SB 288 for More Bike Lanes
    • Tell the State Health Officer that Bike Repair Shops Are Essential
  • Tell the State Health Officer that Bike Repair Shops are Essential
  • Temp
  • Thank You
  • Thank you
  • Thank you
  • Thank You
  • The Latest
  • The Latest
  • Yes on AB 43 for Slow Streets
  • Driver Cut Off
  • Driver Left Turn
  • Driver Right Turn
  • Entering the Roadway
  • Passing