AB 1358: Complete Streets Act of 2007
This bill is sponsored by the CBC and would commence January 1, 2009. It would require that the legislative body of a city or county, upon any revision of the circulation element of the general plan, modify the circulation element to specify how this element will provide for the routine accommodation of all users of the highway, defined to include motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and users of public transportation. For this purpose, routine accommodation is defined to mean that in the planning, design, construction, reconstruction, or operation of highways and other transportation infrastructure, local agencies fully consider and accommodate all users of the highway as needed to provide for reasonably safe and convenient travel. By requiring new duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
AB 57: Safe Routes to School Construction
The sunset of the curent SR2S bill is at the end of this year. The language of this bill is to extend California’s Safe Routes to School program indefinitely and to continue to direct 1/3 of California’s safety funds for construction of bicycle and pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects that improve routes to schools. Since the amount of safety funds the state receives has increased, this would mean approximately $40 million/year for Safe Routes to School construction projects. Since 2000, Caltrans has had tremendous demand for this program, with only 1 out of every 7 applications being funded. It’s critical that California remain a leader on Safe Routes to School, as we were the first state to designate funding for the program. In addition, by the end of 2007, all of the designated federal Safe Routes to School funds will be programmed.
AB 534: Bicycle Transportation Account
Existing law continuously appropriates the money in the Bicycle Transportation Account. This bill would instead require a monthly transfer of $1,000,000 to the Bicycle Transportation Account from the Highway Users Tax Account, until the later of January 31, 2012, or the date on which all moneys in the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Fund of 2006 (Prop 1B) have been expended, and would thereafter reduce the monthly transfer to $416,667. Because this bill would increase the amount of revenue in the Bicycle Transportation Account, it would make an appropriation. Important to Note: Currently the BTA only has $5 million/year for the entire state of California. In addition, there are no provisions for bicycle funding in the recent bonds passed by voters in November 2006.
AB 478: Night Illumination
This bill would expand the places where the operator of a bicycle is required to use an illuminated lamp and certain specified reflecting devices to shared use pathways, as defined. The bill would expand the requirement that the operator of the bicycle have reflectors on each pedal to include the option of having reflectors on his or her shoes or ankles. Because this bill would create a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
AB 437: Obesity and Land Use
Currently health officers have no official standing in terms of commenting on transportation and planning projects. This important change would authorize the county health officer to provide assistance to cities and counties with regard to public health issues as they relate to local land use planning and transportation planning processes.
AB 60: 3 Foot Passing Law
This bill was amended on March 5, 2007 to remove the controversial issue of a motorist using a left hand turn lane to pass. This bill is in effect in five states, including Arizona where it has been reported that enforcement of unsafe passing has become easier. This bill would recast this provision as to overtaking a bicycle by requiring the driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction to pass to the left at a safe distance, at a minimum clearance of 3 feet, without interfering with the safe operation of the overtaken bicycle. The bill would make a violation of this provision an infraction punishable by a $250 fine. The bill would make it a misdemeanor or felony if a person operates a motor vehicle in violation of the above requirement and that conduct proximately a significant or substantial physical injury, or death to the bicycle operator. Because this bill would create a new crime and would expand the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
SB 33, Wireless Telephones and Mobile Service Devices
From July 1, 2008 onwards, this bill would prohibit a person possessing a valid instruction permit, student license, or provisional license, from driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone or a mobile service device, as the bill would
define that term, including a handset equipped with a hands-free device. The bill would provide that this prohibition does not apply to a person using a wireless telephone or a mobile service device for emergency purposes.
