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CalBike’s blog — sharing the biking news you need to know
Stay informed about the bicycling movement in California by reading this blog and subscribing to our monthly newsletter, the CalBike Report. Keep apprised of which bills we are supporting with our Legislative Watch page, which we update regularly.
E-Bike Purchase Incentives FAQs
/by Laura McCamyCalifornia’s E-Bike Purchase Incentive Project is distributing vouchers in a series of application windows. We will post upcoming application windows here and on our e-bike campaign page. Pedal Ahead, the administrator of this program for the California Air Resources Board (CARB), has published its own FAQs. Note: We update these FAQs as new information becomes […]
Bike Riders’ Right to Safe Streets Tested in Court
/by Kendra RamseyThe question of whether municipalities have a responsibility to maintain safe streets without hazards that could injure people riding bikes has been raised in California recently. CalBike joined an amicus brief in a court case that could have let cities off the hook if injured bike riders had signed a third-party waiver. Thankfully, the California […]
My Mother Rode a Bike
/by Kendra RamseyOne of the constants growing up, as far back as I can recall, was my mother’s silver bicycle. It was a well-loved road bike from the 1970s, with black handlebar tape, tan leather toe cages, and a set of panniers. It still lives in my garage. It holds so many memories, I can’t part with […]
Fate of Quick-Build and Bike Highways in Suspense
/by Jared SanchezCalBike’s two priority bills will likely end up in the Suspense File in the Assembly Appropriations Committee shortly because both have price tags that require scrutiny in Appropriations. The Quick-Build Bill (AB 891, Zbur) provides Caltrans with an opportunity to incorporate quick-build methods, thereby improving safety for vulnerable road users. The Bike Highways Bill (AB […]
Inside the Black Box of Appropriations
/by Jared SanchezThis post was originally published on May 10, 2023. It was updated on April 30, 2025. In May, California’s appropriations committees wield their influence in the legislative process, as the state’s budget begins to come into focus. Appropriations committees in both the Senate and Assembly have outsize power and can affect the passage of a […]
NYBC: Bicycle Programs Are the New Student Movement
/by CalBike StaffThis guest post was written by Joshua from the National Youth Bike Council. Learn more about this youth-led group. The latest movement started by post-secondary students has an unorthodox approach: on-campus bicycle programs, offering DIY repair space, repair services, or bike rentals. Imagine a dedicated space on campus that is open to students in the […]
Building an Alliance Between Firefighters and Street Safety Advocates
/by Laura McCamyBike and pedestrian safety advocates, including CalBike, were disappointed by the introduction of the Increase Fire Department Authority Bill (AB 612) by Assemblymember Chris Rogers. The bill gives greater veto power to fire departments, which sometimes oppose new bikeways on the basis that they could impede firefighting and EMS operations and potentially slow response times. […]
CalBike Insider: Digging into the State Highway System Management Plan
/by Jared SanchezThe State Highway System Management Plan (SHSMP) “presents a performance-driven and integrated management plan for the State Highway System (SHS) in California,” according to its webpage. Every other year, Caltrans presents the SHSMP to the California Transportation Commission. CalBike dug into the sections on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and submitted comments, part of our ongoing […]
What to Know About the Next California E-Bike Voucher Application Window
/by Kendra RamseyThe California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced a second application window for its E-Bike Incentive Project on April 29. There will be some changes to make the process smoother this time around. Here’s what you need to know about the application process. What has changed In the first application window, nearly 100,000 people logged […]
E-Bikes on the Agenda for California Legislature in 2025
/by Jared SanchezCalBike has 14 bills on its legislative watchlist this year, and almost half of them (six) are e-bike regulations. As we have documented repeatedly over the past couple of years, the swift rise in the popularity of e-bikes has led to an equally swift backlash. Local leaders have conflated legal e-bikes with illegal e-motorcycles improperly […]
Clean RIDES Network Launches in California
/by Kendra RamseyClean RIDES is a multi-state coalition working to make our transportation systems greener and more equitable. CalBike is part of this effort, which involves more than 100 organizations. By creating a network of state-focused organizations supporting the same mission, Clean RIDES seeks to build a powerful, national movement to effect the kinds of change CalBike […]
Gearing Up for Bike Highways
/by Jared SanchezThe Bike Highways Bill, AB 954, one of CalBike’s sponsored measures, would create a pilot to build connected, protected bike networks in two California regions. This sounds exciting, but since California doesn’t have any bike highways yet, it’s helpful to step back and explain the concept. What is a bike highway? The most basic definition […]