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We speak
so you can be heard.
CBC is the voice of bicycling in California's capitol.
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| Complete Streets |
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CBC helps draft implementation guidelines
The California Bicycle Coalition, joined by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Safe Routes to School, is working to shape soon-to-be-released guidelines for implementing the landmark Complete Streets Act, enacted a year ago following the passage of Assembly Bill 1358.
Sponsored by CBC, AB 1358 requires cities and counties, as they update the transportation portion of their general plans, to ensure that local streets and roads meet the needs of all roadway users, including bicyclists, pedestrians and transit riders, as well as motorists.
CBC, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, which leads efforts to enact local Complete Streets policies in Marin County, and the Safe Routes to School program are working with the Governor's Office of Planning & Research to develop draft guidelines for local government agencies to follow when updating their general plans in light of AB 1358. The guidelines will help cities and counties thoroughly assess needs and identify appropriate solutions for accommodating all roadway users.
The Office of Planning & Research is expected to solicit public comment on the draft guidelines for AB 1358 next month. CBC has enlisted San Francisco Sen. Mark Leno, who authored AB 1358 while a member of the California Assembly, to help ensure that the draft guidelines receive a thorough public review.
"This process is a good example of the collaborative, behind-the-scenes role CBC often plays in Sacramento," said David Hoffman, CBC board member and MCBC's planning director.
"Working with Sen. Leno to get AB 1358 passed and signed took almost two years, yet that was just the first step," said Hoffman. "Then there's been the work with partners like MCBC and SRTS and public agencies like OPR to ensure that implementing guidelines are as sound and comprehensive as they can be. Sometimes we don't see the final results of our work for several years or more, but this is what it takes to get it right."
Read more about Complete Streets in California |
| Legislation |
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Bike bills await the governor's signature
Three CBC-supported bills concerning bike routes, bike racks on buses and bike-only crosswalks have landed on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk for his signature.
The governor recently threatened to veto all bills before him, including the three supported by CBC, unless the Legislature produces a bill to reform the state's water delivery system.
Assembly Bill 1464, authored by Santa Clarita Assemblyman Cameron Smyth and sponsored by CBC, would create a process for designating bicycle routes of national, state or regional significance. The bill parallels a federal effort advanced by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO, and capitalizes on the popularity of the annual Amgen Tour of California bike race and would boost California's bicycle tourism industry.
Larger Alameda-Contra Costa Transit buses would be allowed to carry bike racks for three bikes under AB 652 by Berkeley Assembly Member Nancy Skinner. State law currently limits buses to racks large enough for two bikes only. Larger bike racks would allow more bicyclists to use transit buses.
State law currently contains no definition for crosswalks where dedicated bike paths cross streets, resulting in confusion among bicyclists and law enforcement officials about where bikes may be ridden. Senate Bill 734, authored by Senate Transportation & Housing Committee Chairman Senator Alan Lowenthal, contains a variety of minor technical changes to the law relating to transportation, including new definitions for bike-only crosswalks.
CBC recently alerted members and supporters to write letters urging the governor to sign AB 1464 and SB 734.
Read more about current CBC legislation |
| Caltrans |
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Bike-detecting signals improve roadway safety
Caltrans guidelines for bike-detecting traffic signals will improve roadway safety
This month Caltrans adopted new standards for traffic signals to ensure that they can be triggered by bicycles and motorcycles as well as cars and trucks. The new standards require cities and counties to provide bicycle- and motorcycle-sensitive detection when installing or replacing a traffic-actuated signal at intersections with especially heavy bicycle traffic.
The new standards implement the requirements of CBC-supported Assembly Bill 1581, which took effect in January 2008.
In a lane with an "actuated" signal, traffic is detected by a wire loop embedded in the pavement or by an overhead camera. Compared to cars and trucks, bicycles and motorcycles have much less metal, which makes them harder to detect. As a result, bicyclists and motorcyclists must either wait for a car or truck to trigger the signal, or choose to run a red light. Adoption of signals that can detect bicycles and motorcycles will help reduce red light violations and improve roadway safety.
In addition, because bicyclists take longer to pass through large intersections, the new standards call for adjusting crossing times at intersections with the heaviest bike traffic to accommodate slower bicycle speeds. To minimize the effect that longer bicycle crossing times would have on the surrounding street network, signals that can exclusively detect bicycles would only trigger a longer green light when a bicycle is present.
The cities of Palo Alto, Cupertino and Monterey have calibrated traffic signals to detect and respond to bicycle traffic as far back as 1990. Read the new Caltrans standard
Read more about AB 1581
Read a UC Berkeley research paper on signal crossing times for bicycles |
| CBC News |
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Planet Bike helps power CBC renewal effort
Thanks to a donation of headlights and tail lights from Planet Bike, CBC is beefing up
its efforts to encourage annual
membership renewals.
CBC members can receive a Spok Front LED micro headlight or BRT Strap LED tail light from Planet Bike when they upgrade their membership. Each year Planet Bike donates 25% of profits to grassroots advocacy organizations like CBC. Planet Bike donated the lights in support of CBC's efforts to safeguard bicycling as safe, clean, affordable transportation in California. |
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Looking for a map?
We might just have it. The California Bicycle Coalition website provides links to dozens of free online maps covering bike routes and bike lane networks in nearly every part of the state.
If you know of a free online map we should consider adding to our site, send us the link. |
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Wanted: Sacramento-area volunteer for work trade
CBC's seeks a volunteer near its Sacramento office to configure a large mailing list in exchange for a one-year CBC membership and a tax deduction.
Donate 10-15 hours of your time and we'll make you a CBC member for one year (or extend your current CBC membership by one year) and give you a receipt for a tax-deductible in-kind donation to the CBC Education Fund valued at $10 per hour worked.
To learn more, contact Jim Brown, CBC's communication director, at 916-446-7558 or jimbrown@calbike.org. |
| Education |
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Upcoming bicycle safety classes
Oceanside
Traffic Skills 101, Fri. & Sat., Oct. 23-24
Traffic Skills 101, Fri. & Sat., Dec 4-5
Palo Alto
Middle School Bike Skills, Sat., Oct. 3
Middle School Bike Skills, Sat., Oct., 17
RosevilleRoad Skills II, Sat., Oct. 10
Road Skills I, Sat., Nov. 7
Road Skills II, Sat., Dec. 5
San JoseConfident Cycling Series for Club Cyclists, Weds., Oct. 7
Confident Cycling Series for Club Cyclists, Weds., Nov. 4
Confident Cycling Series for Club Cyclists, Weds., Dec. 2
San Luis Obispo
Street Skills, Sat., Nov. 14
Ride Right, Sat., Nov. 21
SeasideSmart Cycling: On the Road Bike Training, Sat., Oct. 10
Stanford
Confident Commuting: Get Ready for Winter, Thurs., Oct. 8
To learn more about these and other courses being offered throughout California, visit the League of American Bicyclists website and select "Courses" and "California." |
| Riding around the state |
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Fall 2009 rides
Sonoma County
Tour Sonoma County with Levi and help Santa Rosa host the Amgen Tour
Upland
Sponsored by the Upland Chamber of Commerce
Find a full calendar of rides throughout California at Bikelink.com | |
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