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pedalpower2008 April 30 - May 1, 2008 Sacramento
Bicycling offers proven, effective solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing California today: rising gas prices, congested roadways, the impacts of global warming, local air pollution, and the growing public health costs of inactive lifestyles.
Help promote the benefits of bicycling at the State Capitol by joining advocates and bicycle industry representatives for Pedal Power 2008, the California Bicycle Coalition's 4th annual legislative training and lobbying days.
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| Legislation |
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Safety tops CBC's 2008 legislative agenda
More than 20 percent of all traffic fatalities in California involve bicyclists and pedestrians, yet less than one-half of one percent of California's overall transportation dollars are spent on bicycle and pedestrian safety. CBC is seeking more equitable funding through new legislation dubbed Fair Share for Safety.
Assembly Bill 2971, carried by Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Mark DeSaulnier and Van Nuys Assemblymember Lloyd Levine, would require Caltrans to determine annually the fatality rates for each mode of travel and to apportion $100 million in federal transportation safety funds proportionately. These funds are needed for implementing the recommendations for bicyclist and pedestrian safety contained in the state's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (see next article).
The bill was approved 5-1 in its first hearing before the Assembly Local Government Committee on Apr. 9 and received an 8-4 party-line vote on Apr. 14 in the Assembly Transportation Committee. The next hearing is in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Meanwhile, CBC's Complete Streets Act, Assembly Bill 1358, continues to move through the Legislature. Authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno of San Francisco, the bill would require the transportation component of all city and county general plans to address the needs of pedestrian and bicyclists. Approval by the Senate - the bill's last hurdle - is expected this summer, and then it's on to the governor for his signature.
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| California Strategic Highway Safety Plan |
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New safety plan aims to reduce bicyclist fatalities
The tragic news last month that two Northern California cyclists had been killed and a third gravely injured by a dozing driver belied some grim facts of life about bicycling in California. According to the California Highway Patrol, 123 bicyclists were killed in vehicle collisions in 2004, a bicyclist fatality rate that is 23 percent higher than the national rate.
CBC has been helping with development of a plan for reducing bicyclist deaths and other roadway fatalities. The California Strategic Highway Safety Plan, to be unveiled next month in Anaheim and Sacramento, was created under the 2005 federal law known as SAFETEA-LU (the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users). The plan aims to make roadways safer by 2010.
CBC board member Jim Baross co-led the group that drafted strategies for reducing the number of bicyclists killed in vehicle collisions by 25 percent from their 2000 level.
"The fact that this plan even addresses bicycling is an indication of how far we've come," said Baross, who also serves as president of the California Association of Bicycling Organizations. "The needs of Californians who ride bicycles are starting to be taken seriously - it's not just about recreation anymore."
Federal, state and local transportation and health officials and safety advocates will introduce the plan at two daylong summits in Anaheim on May 1 and Sacramento on May 7. The summits will include workshops devoted to identifying ways to improve roadway design and safety, promote public awareness and education, and reduce high-risk behaviors.
Read more about the California Strategic Highway Safety Plan... |
| Safe Routes to School |
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| Caltrans awards $52M for SR2S projects
On March 18, 2008, the California Department of Transportation awarded $52 million to cities and counties for 139 projects funded through the state's Safe Routes to School program. The program is designed to give students in grades K-12 easier and healthier ways to safely travel to and from school. A total of 489 applications requesting $206.4 million were received for the $52 million available, illustrating the great demand for Safe Routes to School in California.
Some examples of selected projects are bike/ped pathways, sidewalk, curb and gutter improvements, installation of traffic signals, upgrading of traffic signs and more. Read more about the approved list of selected projects...
Caltrans administers two separate programs: the state-legislated SR2S Program and the federal-legislated SRTS Program. Both are competitive reimbursement programs that seek the same goal of increasing the number of children who walk and bicycle to school. The final call for federal SAFETEA-LU grant applications is expected to go out in mid-April 2008 with roughly $46 million available in funds. There will likely be three months for applicants to prepare their proposals, so get started now!
- Brooke Driese, Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Read more about California's state and federal Safe Routes to School programs... |
| CBC News |
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| CBC welcomes new legislative consultant
CBC began the 2008 legislative session with a valuable new resource: legislative consultant Doug Houston. A partner in The Houston Group, Doug succeeds Justin Fanslau, now based in Hawaii, as CBC's representative at the State Capitol.
Doug bring solid experience with legislative issues involving public agencies and infrastructure. His clients include the California Park & Recreation Society, East Bay Regional Park District, Bolsa Chica Land Trust, and North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, as well as cities, counties, special districts and building materials manufacturers, among others.
Doug also has a first-hand view of the needs of bicyclists: he regularly rides the 80-mile round-trip commute between his office in downtown Sacramento and his home in the Sierra foothill community of Auburn.
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