Legislation

Good news out of Sacramento: S.B. 192, Senator Liu’s disastrous law mandating helmets and reflective gear for bicyclists, was gutted thanks to strong backlash from bicycle advocates across the state. In its place, Senator Liu has proposed a study of the effectiveness of helmet use: “The Bill would require the Office of Traffic Study (OTS),…

At GJEL, we’re very supportive of wearing bicycle helmets. We’ve seen countless victims hit by drivers while bicycling whose lives were saved by helmets, and others not wearing helmets who’ve experienced significant injuries or lost their lives. We’ve sponsored free helmets for kids and rarely ride without them. However, we’re writing today to explain why…

Last Friday, Governor Brown vetoed SB 1151, a bill that would have increased traffic fines in school zones and used these funds for active transportation investments. The bill had unanimous, bipartisan support in both houses and all legislative committees and was a strong priority for Safe Routes to Schools advocacy groups. This veto is extremely…

A recent piece of legislation proposed by Georgia Representative Carl Rogers requiring cyclists to register their bike with the state (and obtain a license) managed to inspire enough vitriol from the biking community that Georgia lawmakers have already backed down. The ill-conceived House Bill 689 hoped to force would-be riders to pay a one time…

In a move that’s sure to raise privacy concerns and spark paranoia among Bay Area residents, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is exploring the idea of implementing a mileage based usage fee for drivers. The initiative, initially endorsed by a bipartisan Congressional commission in 2009, would charge drivers for “vehicle miles traveled,” increasing revenue for street…

Remember when we said the bright spot in the new San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) budget was a pilot program that would provide low-income children with free transit passes? Well, it looks like that’s not going to happen after all. Yesterday the Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted against funding the project, effectively killing the program…

Beginning next year, texting while driving will be legal in California…as long as you keep your hands off the phone. On Friday, July 13th, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that will allow California drivers to utilize hands free technology as a means of texting while behind the wheel. Next year will mark the first…

Much has already been written about the cuts to pedestrian related projects in the new Federal Transportation Bill. Fortunately, there are still people out there actively campaigning for pedestrian safety and better streets, not just for vehicles, but for everyone. As part of our ongoing partnership with Walk SF, we’ve developed the following graphic that…

Senate Bill 1464, which would require drivers to give bicyclists at least 3 feet of space when passing from behind, was approved by the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee following a hearing on April 17th. During the hearing a number of witnesses spoke on behalf of the legislation, including Heath Maddox, a Berkley resident whose…