Active Transportation Slate Poised to Pass Legislature
Updated August 31, 2022.
For Immediate Release: 8/18/22
Contact: Jared Sanchez, CalBike (714) 262-092, Jared@CalBike.org
Historic Active Transportation Slate Poised to Make it to the Governor’s Desk
Sacramento, Calif – As we head into the final stretch for legislation in 2022, a slate of excellent active transportation bills has been voted on in the Senate and Assembly. Almost all of the bills we supported are already on the governor’s desk, including at least two that have been signed into law. Of the 18 active transportation bills that made it to the end of the session, one was withdrawn by the author (the Bicycle Safety Stop), and only one remains to be voted on. The other 14 bills have passed both houses and are on their way to Governor Newsom’s desk, if they aren’t there already.
CalBike applauds the California legislature for recognizing the critical role that biking, walking, and public transit will play in our response to climate change and our efforts to create healthier communities.
Jared Sanchez, senior policy advocate at CalBike, said, “We’re encouraged by the overwhelming support for most of the bills we have been following in 2022. The success of this legislation shows that our elected officials take the climate crisis seriously and are prepared to address it. Active transportation helps reduce the climate impacts of California’s transportation system, and it’s frankly, the healthy and fun way to get around town!”
Here is an update of the active transportation bills CalBike supports that are still in play in Sacramento:
ON GOVERNOR’S DESK
AB 2147 Ting – Safe Street Crossings
Legalizes safe pedestrian mid-block crossings.
Enrolled and presented to the governor
SB 932 Portantino – Plan for the Future Bill
Requires cities to ensure that a modified circulation element additionally includes bicycle and pedestrian plans and traffic calming plans.
Enrolled and presented to the governor
AB 2438 Friedman – Aligning transportation funding with climate goals
Requires all transportation projects funded at the local or state level to align with the California Transportation Plan and the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure adopted by the Transportation Agency
Enrolled and presented to the governor
SB 457 Portantino and Wilk – Car-Free Tax Credit
Creates a rebate program for each person without a car in a household
Enrolled and presented to the governor
AB 2097 Friedman – No auto parking minimums near transit
Cities can’t impose automobile parking minimums on new construction within a half mile of transit.
Enrolled and presented to the governor
SB 1079 Portantino – Sound-activated enforcement devices.
Authorizes cities to use sound-activated enforcement devices to capture vehicle noise levels that exceed the legal limits.
Enrolled and presented to the governor
SB 1472 Stern – Speeding and reckless driving
Enrolled and presented to the governor
SB 307 McGuire – Great Redwood Trail Agency
Allows the Great Redwood Trail agency further authority to build out the Great Redwood Trail, a 320-mile, world-class, multi-use rail-to-trail project connecting California’s San Francisco and Humboldt Bays.
Enrolled and presented to the governor
SB 1230 Limon – Zero-emission and near-zero emission vehicle incentive programs
Enrolled and presented to the governor
AB 1909 Friedman – OmniBike Bill
- Increases access for e-bikes.
- Requires motorists to change lanes if possible to pass bikes.
- Allows bikes to go forward on a ‘walk’ sign
- Prohibits mandatory bike registration
Enrolled and presented to the governor
SB 922 Wiener – CEQA Exemptions
Extends environmental review exemptions for transit and active transportation infrastructure improvements. Forbids auto capacity increases.
Enrolled and presented to the governor
AB 1919 Holden – Free Student Transit Passes
Develops Youth Transit Pass Pilot Program that will allow transit agencies to provide free youth transit passes to all persons 25 years of age.
Enrolled and presented to the governor
AB 2264 Bloom – Pedestrian crossing signals
Requires Caltrans and cities to update all pedestrian control signals to operate giving a pedestrian a head start between 3 to 7 seconds to enter an intersection with a corresponding circular green signal
Enrolled and presented to the governor
SB 1107 Dodd – Protect California Drivers Act of 2022
Would modernize California’s outdated minimum auto financial responsibility limits (known as liability insurance) and would change our underinsured motorist law so that drivers get the full value of the policy they paid for.
Enrolled and presented to governor
AB 2174 Chen – Treat bikes and scooters as vehicles for purposes of towing regulations.
Enrolled and presented to the governor
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
AB 1946 Boerner Horvath – E-Bike Safety Training Program
Requires Caltrans to develop statewide safety standards and training programs for users of e-bikes.
Approved by the governor and chaptered
AB 2028 Davies – School instruction for bike and scooter safety
Expands permitted school bicycle safety education partnerships from law enforcement agencies in elementary and middle schools to any agency or organization at any public school.
Approved by the governor and chaptered
WITHDRAWN
AB 1713 Boerner Horvath – The Safety Stop
Requires adults on bikes to yield at stop sign-controlled intersections instead of stop unless stopping is necessary for safety.
Withdrawn by author
