AB 2509, introduced by Assembly Member Ting, would make a few changes to CVC 21202, the statute that says when bikes do and do not have to ride as far as “practicable” to the right or left side of the roadway. AB 2509 is intended to complement the Three Feet for Safety Act, which passed in 2013, and to “give further clarity to the interaction of motorists and bicyclist in the shared roadway.” Read More
AB 40, a bill, sponsored by Assembly Members Levine (D-San Rafael) and Ting (D-San Francisco), initially prohibited the Golden Gate Bridge District from imposing a fee on pedestrian or cyclists access. It has now been amended to apply not just to the Golden Gate Bridge, but to all toll bridges in the state. Perhaps Levine took up the Marin Independent Journal’s suggestion?
Check out this nifty quiz on the California laws applicable to bikes.
AB-28, introduced by Assembly Member Chu, has been amended to require a red, rather than white, flashing rear light. It’s great to see this bill amended to comport with what everyone on the road already does. There is some question, however, as to whether flashing lights are safer or whether they distract drivers thus putting cyclists at risk. It seems odd to me to mandate flashing lights when it’s not clear whether there is a known advantage to flashing lights over solid lights.
[Updated 3/11/2015 to correct link]
On February 10, Senator Liu introduced SB-192, a bill which would expand California’s bike helmet law to apply to all cyclists. Currently, California law only requires kids under the age of 18 to wear helmets. SB-192 would remove the age restriction and also add a requirement that persons biking at night wear retroreflective clothing.
[Updated 3/11/2015 to correct URL.]
There were two bills introduced in the California Legislature in January relating to biking. The first was AB 28, requiring rear-facing white flashing lights when riding at night, and AB 157, which would fast-track the addition of a bike lane to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (as well as the addition of a third lane for cars in the eastbound direction).
AB 28 was introduced by Assembly Member Kansen Chu of Assembly District 25. AB 28 would require cyclists to use a rear-facing white flashing light when riding at night, or else wear reflective gear. Current law only requires a red reflector. It’s a bit odd that AB 28 requires a white light, rather than a red light. I’ve rarely (if ever) seen someone riding with a rear-facing flashing white light. And a quick search on Amazon for “rear bicycle light” confirms that at least Amazon agrees with me that that term means a red light. Beyond that, there are those who think that the blinking lights are less safe because they distract drivers and are just plain annoying. Perhaps Assembly Member Chu knows something we do not? AB 28 has been referred to the Committee on Transportation. I’ll provide an update if the bill moves along any further in the process.
AB 157 was introduced by Assembly Member Marc Levine of Assembly District 10. AB 157 seeks to fast-track the addition of a third lane for eastbound car traffic on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and would also fast-track the addition of a bike and pedestrian lane on the unused portion of the westbound level of the bridge. Assembly Member Levine’s legislation would require the design stage of these projects to occur simultaneous with the environmental review process, a step that could speed up the project by as much as 18 months. We’d still be a long way off from a completed bike lane on the bridge. But coupling this news with the Bay Area Toll Authority’s renewed interest in adding bike and pedestrian access to the Bay Bridge western span means we’re edging closer and closer to a day in which we can ride from San Francisco to Marin to the East Bay and back again, and still be home in time for dinner. Wouldn’t that be nice?
After a long stretch of telling myself “I’m going to start writing content for Bikesquire, I’m going to start writing content for Bikesquire, I’m really really really going to start writing content for Bikesquire,” I am finally going to start writing content for Bikesquire. My plan is to focus on bike-related law stuff and law-related bike stuff. But I’ll probably include some things on transit and urban planning coverage, because those things interest me too. I’m also planning on providing frequent updates on any and all legislation running through the California legislature that relates to bikes. So, if you’re into any of those things, stay tuned. And if you’re on Twitter, I’ll be posting links via @bikesquire.
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