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About CBC
The California Bicycle Coalition is a non-profit education and lobbying organization working to improve bicycling conditions throughout the State of California. CBC's mission is to create safe, healthy and livable communities in California by promoting bicycling for transportation and recreation.
Based on its mission, CBC advocates for increased bicycle use, access, safety and education. CBC is a diverse membership-based organization comprised of recreational and commuter cyclists, bicycle related manufacturers, bike shops, law enforcement, environmentalists, transit advocates, and transportation and air quality planners. CBC has a 501(c)3 education branch, and a 501(c)4 lobbying branch.
Accomplishments
- Sponsored successful California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 211 (ACR 211), authored by Assemblyman Joe Nation (D-San Rafael), which in 2002, directed cities and counties to accommodate bicyclists in all transportation projects by implementing Caltrans Deputy Directive 64 (.pdf format) and the U.S. Department of Transportation's design guidance document on integrating bicycling and walking when making road improvements.
- Fought for bike racks on buses by successfully amending the vehicle code to allow buses in excess of 45' in length to operate on California's highways. Special thanks to the East Bay Bicycle Coalition and Marin County Bicycle Coalition for their help on AB1409.
- Fought for and worked on the "Bicycle Blueprint," California's master plan for bicycling (read highlights, .pdf format).
- Co-sponsored innovative legislation to invest $115,000,000 over five years in bicyclist and pedestrian safety projects near California schools aka Safe Routes to School.
- Led successful campaigns to increase bike project funding by $15,000,000; to allow cities and counties to consider bicyclist and pedestrian safety when setting speed limits, and to add four new bicycle program positions at Caltrans for project review, safety and coordination.
- Rewrote the bicycling section of the driver's manual to better educate motorists about our presence on roads and got a question about our right to "take the lane" included in the mix of those used on the exam.
- Wrote and sponsored Assembly Bill 1020, which more than tripled the allocation to the only Caltrans account dedicated solely to bicycle projects.
- Played a crucial role in the success of two vital bills leading the way for a San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge bike facility.
- Helped deliver the votes of several US representatives to preserve federal support for bicycle transportation.
- Organizes the California Bike Commute, the nation's largest bike-to-work type event with over 10,000 participants annually, which every May unites public agencies, major employers and local activists to demonstrate that bicycling for work or for errands is fun, doable and just plain cool.
2008-09 CBC Board of Directors
Officers
President, Jim Haagen-Smit
International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)
Vice-President, Tim Bustos
Berkeley, CA
Treasurer, Brian Cox
Hands On Bicycles, Inc.
Secretary, Jennifer Stanley
Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Coordinator, City of Oakland
At-Large Directors
Jim Baross
California Association of Bicycling Organizations
Gary Brustin
Attorney-at-Law
John Ciccarelli
Bicycle Solutions
Aimee Hagen
Sacramento Area Council of Governments
David Hoffman
Director of Planning, Marin County Bicycle Coalition
Vince O'Brien
Board of Directors, Marin County Bicycle Coalition
Dave Snyder
Transportation Policy Director, San Francisco Planning & Urban Research Association (SPUR)
Stephan Vance
Board of Directors, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition
CBC Staff
Executive Director, KC Butler
Communications Director, Jim Brown
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CBC's General Advocacy Principles
PEOPLE WHO BICYCLE MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE: Bicycling creates healthier, safer and more livable communities. We work to increase the number of people who bicycle.
BICYCLISTS NEED GOOD ROADS: Public roads constitute the primary bicycling network. We strive to ensure that all roads are planned, designed, constructed and maintained so that people can safely and efficiently use them for bicycling.
TRAILS ARE IMPORTANT . . . AND FUN: Trails can add value to communities and increase bicycling opportunities. We support well-designed, off-road multi-use paths for recreation and transportation.
MOUNTAIN BICYCLISTS DESERVE REASONABLE ACCESS: Bicyclists usually can share trails with hikers, equestrians and other users, so we support access to most trails.
BICYCLISTS NEED PARKING FACILITIES: The availability of secure and convenient bike parking at workplaces, schools, stores, transit stations and other destinations is essential.
BICYCLISTS NEED MULTIMODAL ACCESS: Public transit agencies and private transportation companies should provide affordable and convenient space or facilities for carrying bicycles on buses, trains, shuttles, ferries and airplanes.
BICYCLING IS A SKILL: Knowing and applying vehicular cycling principles is key to enjoying cycling on public roadways. Public agencies and private organizations should increase the number of Californians who receive vehicular cycling instruction.
THE LEGAL SYSTEM MUST SERVE BICYCLISTS: Police officers, judges, juries and attorneys must recognize that people who bicycle are legitimate roadway users deserving of all protections of law afforded to other roadway users. Enforcement of, and penalties for, moving violations should be commensurate with the potential consequences. Public agencies should be held accountable for providing reasonably safe roads and trails for people who bicycle.
DRIVING IS A PRIVILEGE: Improving the education of motorists regarding cyclists' right to use public roadways and ridding the streets of unlicensed, unskilled or reckless drivers are two imperatives.
TRANSPORTATION, PLANNING, TRAFFIC CALMING AND LAND-USE REFORMS CAN BENEFIT BICYCLISTS: An excess of cars and trucks on our public roadways makes bicycling less comfortable and safe than it should be. We support practical attempts to reduce the speed or number of motor vehicles when those efforts demonstrate a clear benefit to bicyclists. We also support land-use planning that makes bicycling safer and more convenient.
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