For Immediate Release: 6/29/21

Bicycle Safety Stop & Freedom to Walk Acts Pass CA Senate Transportation Committee

SACRAMENTO – The Bicycle Safety Stop bill AB 122 and the Freedom to Walk Act AB 1238 both passed out of the California Senate Transportation Committee today.

Bicycle Safety Stop AB 122

AB 122 will replace the requirement that people on bikes stop at stop signs with a requirement to yield and slow and stop if necessary for safety, including to yield the right of way to pedestrians. More than 75 organizations across the state signed a letter in support of the bill. The California Bicycle Coalition created a video that explains how bicycle safety stops work in the real world. The bicycle stop-as-yield is proven to increase safety for people on bikes.

“The Bicycle Safety Stop Bill doesn’t change existing right-of-way laws. Instead, AB 122 reforms the rules of the road to accommodate the safe and logical bike riding that people are already doing. It also removes a pretext for police to harass Black Californians,” said Dave Snyder, Executive Director of CalBike.

AB 122 passed the committee 11-2.

Freedom to Walk Act AB 1238

AB 1238 will make it legal for pedestrians in California to cross mid-block and against traffic lights, provided they don’t interfere with traffic. The bill is authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting of San Francisco. CalBike and a coalition of more than 90 groups and individuals support the repeal of jaywalking laws.

“The incredible rate at which pedestrians are dying from crashes should compel us to understand why fellow Californians navigate as such, not criminalize them. This is just the first of many steps in our fight to provide all those who walk and roll with a little more dignity,” shared John Yi, Executive Director of Los Angeles Walks.

AB 1238 passed the committee 9-4.