What the Defund the Police Movement Means for Bicycling

CalBike supports the efforts of community leaders across California to reduce or eliminate the role of police in traffic enforcement. Inspired and educated by these leaders, and focused on changes to state policy, we have drafted six recommendations to advance that cause while improving transportation safety. We will continue to work with local leaders to prioritize and take action on the most important recommendations.

City leaders across California and the nation are hearing loud calls to “defund the police” after popular protests have highlighted the failure of reform efforts to reverse a history of police violence against Black people. While some use the phrase as a call for the abolition of police, most traffic safety advocates in California are agreeing on a more moderate appeal. This includes a call to reduce police budgets and redirect resources to social workers, homeless advocates, healthcare providers, and others who could better address community needs.

CalBike supports this shift in funding and focus because we believe it will do more to keep us safe, while bringing us closer to the goal of eliminating violent anti-Blackness from our streets and civic spaces. 

CalBike believes that a shift in traffic safety focus and funding away from policing and towards community resources is a more effective way to create safe streets.

CalBike has developed six policy proposals to reform traffic policing for more equity and safer streets:

1. Redirect funding from the CHP budget to street redesign
2. Redirect funding from the CHP to automated enforcement
3. Divert Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) funding from police departments to community efforts
4. Decriminalize biking and walking
5. Make public transportation, including bike and scooter share, free
6. Implement income-adjusted traffic fines

Read more about CalBike’s proposals to reform traffic policing.

Read Police-Free Systems Are Possible by one of our local partners, Bike East Bay.