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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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| Legislation |
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Governor signs bike-friendly bills
The California Bicycle Routes of National, State or Regional Significance Act, sponsored by the California Bicycle Coalition, and three other bike-friendly bills have became law after nearly a month of uncertainty.
Shortly after the Legislature approved the bills in early September and sent them to the governor for his signature, Schwarzenegger threatened to veto hundreds of bills on his desk unless the Legislature produced water reform legislation he had asked for.
But just a day before the Oct. 11 signing deadline, the governor withdrew his threat and signed dozens of bills as the Legislature began making progress on a bill to reform California's water delivery system.
Significant bike routes
Noteworthy bicycle routes will begin to appear on the California map thanks to Assembly Bill 1464, authored by Santa Clarita Assemblyman Cameron Smyth and sponsored by the California Bicycle Coalition.
The new law creates a process for designating so-called "legacy" bike routes of special historical, scenic or recreational value as a way to encourage bicycle tourism in California and capitalize on the popularity of the annual Amgen Tour of California bicycle race. Nonprofit and community groups will nominate routes and pay for signage.
CBC is helping convene a Caltrans advisory committee that will develop nomination and selection criteria.
Bikes on buses
Bicyclists who ride Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District buses will have more opportunities to bring their bikes aboard under AB 652 authored by Berkeley Assemblymember Nancy Skinner.
The bill authorizes the district to equip larger buses with racks that can carry three bikes. State law previously limited transit buses to racks large enough for only two bikes.
Crossing definitions
Definitions of "bicycle path" and "bicycle path crossing" were added to state law by Senate Bill 734, authored by Senate Transportation & Housing Committee chair Alan Lowenthal.
Existing law bars bicyclists from riding through pedestrian crosswalks when they are occupied. Some communities interpreted this prohibition and the lack of a definition for a bikeway crossing to mean that bicyclists could not legally ride in crossings where dedicated bike paths intersect with streets and roads.
New funding option
Counties can now ask voters to add an annual fee of up to $10 on motor vehicles registered in the county to fund programs and projects to relieve traffic congestion.
SB 83, authored by Berkeley Sen. Loni Hancock, helps counties generate additional funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements, high-occupancy vehicle or high-occupancy toll lanes, improved signal coordination, expanded transit service and other measures for managing traffic congestion.
"Given the challenges of responding to the state's precarious financial condition, we're really pleased the governor and Legislature supported these bills and continue to see value in enabling more Californians to ride bicycles for transportation and recreation," said Stephan Vance, chair of CBC's Legislative Committee. |
| Bicycling and the law |
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With this issue of CalBike Report, CBC introduces a new feature on frequently asked questions about bicycling and the law. Many thanks to CBC board member and cycling attorney Gary Brustin for providing legal review. Are bicyclists subject to California's ban on using hand-held cell phones while driving?
What the law says: California Vehicle Code sections 23123, 23123.5 and 23124 prohibit motor vehicle drivers from using hand-held cell phones to make or receive phone calls or write, send or receive text messages while driving. These sections do not mention bicycles or bicyclists. The rest of the story: California Vehicle Code section 21200 states, "Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle." (In this context, "highway" is intrepreted to mean any public roadway.) To date, no court has been asked to look at the CVC cell-phone provisions in light of this section and decide whether they also apply to bicyclists - so it's too soon to say that a bicyclist can't or won't be cited for violating them. Nevertheless, a bicyclist can be cited for chatting or texting while riding if a law enforcement officer feels the bicyclist's actions present a hazard on the road at that moment. For the same reason an officer could cite a bicyclist for eating a sandwich or applying make-up or changing clothes if doing so while riding were deemed unsafe - even though none of those activities is specifically banned. It's the hazardous nature of doing these activities while riding on a public roadway, and not the activities themselves, that makes them potentially unlawful. The take-away: The fact that cell phone use by bicyclists isn't specifically prohibited doesn't mean it's safe or necessarily legal for bicyclists to call or text while riding -- it just means the law hasn't yet caught up with common sense and best practices. The spirit of the law is as important to consider as the letter of the law.
Riding a bicycle while distracted by a cell phone presents as much of a hazard to other roadway users (including bicyclists and pedestrians) as driving a car while distracted by a cell phone. If you need to use one while riding, do as motorists are encouraged to do: simply pull over first.
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| Federal stimulus funding |
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Bike-ped projects eligible for federal wellness grants
Programs and projects that encourage bicycling and walking are eligible for $650 million in grant funding available from the Communities Putting Prevention to Work program unveiled last month by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The program provides for competitive grants to support public health department efforts that address obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking. Funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal law enacted earlier this year to provide economic stimulus funds to states and communities.
The goal of the program is to reduce risk factors, prevent and delay chronic disease, and promote wellness in both children and adults. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership and America Bikes have developed a list of bicycle and pedestrian activities that fit within the five categories of evidence-based interventions required as part of the CDC grant application.
Letters of intent must be submitted by Oct. 30, with applications due by Dec. 1. |
| Climate change |
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Urge Boxer to fund clean transportation
California bicyclists are being asked to urge U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer to ensure that federal climate change legislation adequately support bicycling, walking and transit.
S. 575, the Clean Low-Emissions Affordable New Transportation Equity Act ("CLEAN-TEA"), would ensure that, if Congress passes climate change legislation, a portion of the revenue collected from such legislation would be available to expand clean and affordable transportation choices, including bicycling, walking and transit.
As an author of the Kerry-Boxer Climate Bill and chair of the relevant U.S. Senate committee, Boxer is in a critical position to ensure that this revenue source is in the final bill language.
The current U.S. House bill on climate change steers just 1 percent of climate revenue to clean transportation.
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| Safe Routes to School National Partnership |
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Safe Routes program seeks CA policy manager
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is hiring a full-time California policy manager to be based in the Los Angeles area.
The policy manager will influence transportation funding allocations and policies at the state level and in the six-county region governed by the Southern California Association of Governments to benefit walking and bicycling for children and families, especially lower-income communities most vulnerable to childhood obesity.
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| CBC News |
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CBC benefit parties in SF, Sacramento
Gary Fisher, one of the inventors of the modern mountain bike, will be the special guest at a party to benefit the California Bicycle Coalition on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6-8 p.m., at Rickshaw Bagworks, 904 22nd Street, in San Francisco.
Sacramento bike shop owner Christopher Davis-Murai will also host a benefit party for CBC on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6-8 p.m., at his shop, Bicycle Chef Bicycles, 3184 N Street, in midtown Sacramento.
The parties will support CBC's effort to raise $25,000 as part of an application for an Alliance for Biking and Walking grant. CBC has already raised $7,000 at two previous fundraising parties.
The suggested donation for both parties is $100, although donations of any level are welcomed. For more information, contact CBC Communication Director Jim Brown at jimbrown@calbike.org or 916-446-7558.
Can't attend? You can still help CBC reach its fundraising goal by making a donation at the CBC website.
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.
CBC offers work exchange opportunity
CBC's seeks one or more volunteers in the Sacramento area to help move CBC's membership database from Excel to FileMaker Pro.
Donate 10 hours of your time on this project 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 $100.
To learn more, contact Jim Brown, CBC's communication director, at 916-446-7558 or jimbrown@calbike.org. |
| Education |
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Long Beach
Traffic Skills 101b, Sat., Oct. 24
Traffic Skills 101a, Thurs., Nov. 19
Traffic Skills 101b, Sat., Nov. 21
To learn more about other courses being offered throughout California, visit the League of American Bicyclists website and select "Courses" and "California." |
| Rides |
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Borrego Springs
Sponsored by the R&B Bicycle Club
Solvang
Benefits the SCOR Solvang Cardiac Cyclists
Sponsored by the Upland Chamber of Commerce
Find a full calendar of rides throughout California at Bikelink.com | |
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