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CalBike’s blog — sharing the biking news you need to know
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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.
3 Active Transportation Bills to Watch this Week
/by Brian SmithFor Immediate Release: 9/11/23 Contact: Jared Sanchez, Policy Director, CalBike, (714) 262-0921, Jared@CalBike.org CalBike – Legislation Watch, End of the Session 2023 SACRAMENTO – As the California state legislature approaches its final days to send bills to the Governor’s Desk in 2023 (September 14), CalBike is prioritizing three bills. “Biking is not a crime. California has […]
Preventing E-Bike Battery Fires
/by Laura McCamyThis post was updated to correct some technical information. Thank you to PeopleForBikes for providing additional information about lithium batteries and safety certifications. E-bikes aren’t inherently dangerous on the road and may even be safer in some situations if the electric boost allows a rider to escape a dangerous traffic situation. Much of the current […]
Active Transportation Slate Hangs in Suspense in CA Senate
/by Jared SanchezAs we near the end of the legislative calendar, it’s crunch time for bills that aim to make biking and walking safer for all Californians. CalBike supports a slate of six bills currently in the Suspense File in the Senate Appropriations Committee. We only have until September 1, 2023, to move them forward, or these […]
What Is an E-Bike? A Guide to California E-Bike Classifications.
/by Kevin ClaxtonNote: This information was compiled in August of 2023. California laws and regulations are subject to change. Please consult the California Vehicle Code (CVC) sections governing e-bikes for the most up-to-date information. Some of the recent furor over the increased presence of e-bikes on California streets has centered on mobility devices sold as e-bikes that […]
Media Guide: How to Report on Collisions Involving E-bikes
/by Jared Sanchez“Teens Are Dying on E-Bikes. Should California Regulate Them?” This recent New York Times headline exemplifies a disturbing trend in reporting on e-bike safety. Headlines like this imply that e-bikes are lethal (not motor vehicle drivers colliding with people on e-bikes) and perpetuate the dehumanization of people who ride bikes and make invisible the role […]
CalBike Response to New York Times E-Bikes Article
/by Jared SanchezMatt Richtel’s July 29, 2023, New York Times article on the “dangers” of e-bikes draws exactly the wrong conclusions from the tragic death of an Encinitas, CA, teen (who, the article admits, “did everything right”) killed by a driver in a van. This irresponsible piece suggests electric bicycles are responsible for increased collisions between e-bike […]
Joint Statement on E-Bike Safety from California Bicycle Advocates
/by Jared SanchezCalBike Announces New Executive Director
/by Brian SmithFor Immediate Release: August 2, 2023 Contact: Kevin Claxton, 909-274-0137, kevin@calbike.org CalBike Announces New Executive Director, Kendra Ramsey Sacramento, CA – After a year-long search with many outstanding candidates, Kendra Ramsey, AICP (she/her), will become the new Executive Director of the California Bicycle Coalition and the California Mobility Fund. Ramsey most recently worked as Active […]
Meet CalBike’s New ED: Kendra Ramsey
/by Laura McCamyAfter a year-long search with many outstanding candidates, we’re delighted to announce that Kendra Ramsey (she/her), AICP , will be joining the California Bicycle Coalition and the California Mobility Fund as our new Executive Director! Ramsey is a seasoned active transportation and land use professional with over 15 years of experience in planning, policy development, […]
Talking Back to Bikelash
/by Kevin ClaxtonAt CalBike, we hear it all: Bike riders get in the way of car drivers. We should get off the road. Why are we promoting dangerous behavior, like the Safety Stop? If only those crazy bicyclists wouldn’t… We’re sure you hear variations of this, too, ranging from rude (uninformed comments from acquaintances) to downright scary […]
California Falls Behind on Complete Streets
/by Jared SanchezIn Smart Growth America’s list of The Best Complete Streets Policies for 2023, only one California city made the top 10 (Sacramento, at number 10). California was bested by cities in Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Florida, and Louisiana. Most of those aren’t states you think of when you think about forward-thinking active transportation policies. […]
Active Transportation Slate in Senate
/by Brian SmithFor Immediate Release: 7/7/23 Contact: Jared Sanchez, policy director, (714) 262-0921, Jared@CalBike.org CalBike’s “Active Transportation Slate” faces Senate Committee, Tues 7/11 Sacramento – On July 11, 2023, the California Senate Transportation Committee will consider a slate of active transportation bills supported by the California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike). “Taken together, these five bills will improve safety and […]