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 28^th 

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.