BILL NUMBER: AB 56 CHAPTERED 07/25/05 CHAPTER 126 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JULY 25, 2005 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JULY 25, 2005 PASSED THE SENATE JULY 11, 2005 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY APRIL 21, 2005 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Wolk DECEMBER 6, 2004 An act to amend Sections 21456.2 and 21456.3 of, and to amend and repeal Section 21450 of, the Vehicle Code, relating to transportation, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 56, Wolk Transportation: bicycles. Existing law, until January 1, 2005, applies color-lighted bicycle symbols shown by official traffic control signals to operators of bicycles. Existing law authorizes those bicycle signals to be used only at locations that meet specified standards adopted by the Department of Transportation. This bill would extend those provisions indefinitely. Because this bill would expand the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 21450 of the Vehicle Code, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 277 of the Statutes of 1999, is amended to read: 21450. Whenever traffic is controlled by official traffic control signals showing different colored lights, color-lighted arrows, or color-lighted bicycle symbols, successively, one at a time, or in combination, only the colors green, yellow, and red shall be used, except for pedestrian control signals, and those lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles, operators of bicycles, and pedestrians as provided in this chapter. SEC. 2. Section 21450 of the Vehicle Code, as added by Chapter 277 of the Statutes of 1999, is repealed. SEC. 3. Section 21456.2 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 21456.2. (a) Unless otherwise directed by a bicycle signal as provided in Section 21456.3, an operator of a bicycle shall obey the provisions of this article applicable to the driver of a vehicle. (b) Whenever an official traffic control signal exhibiting different colored bicycle symbols is shown concurrently with official traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights or arrows, an operator of a bicycle facing those traffic control signals shall obey the bicycle signals as provided in Section 21456.3. SEC. 4. Section 21456.3 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 21456.3. (a) An operator of a bicycle facing a green bicycle signal shall proceed straight through or turn right or left or make a U-turn unless a sign prohibits a U-turn. An operator of a bicycle, including one turning, shall yield the right-of-way to other traffic and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk. (b) An operator of a bicycle facing a steady yellow bicycle signal is, by that signal, warned that the related green movement is ending or that a red indication will be shown immediately thereafter. (c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), an operator of a bicycle facing a steady red bicycle signal shall stop at a marked limit line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown. (d) Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, an operator of a bicycle, after stopping as required by subdivision (c), facing a steady red bicycle signal, may turn right, or turn left from a one-way street onto a one-way street. An operator of a bicycle making a turn shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to traffic lawfully using the intersection. (e) A bicycle signal may be used only at those locations that meet geometric standards or traffic volume standards, or both, as adopted by the Department of Transportation. SEC. 5. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution. SEC. 6. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order to extend indefinitely the use of colored-lighted bicycle symbols on official traffic control signals as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.