BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 478|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 478
Author: Wolk (D)
Amended: 8/20/07 in Senate
Vote: 21
SEN. TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 8-1, 6/19/07
AYES: Lowenthal, Corbett, Dutton, Harman, Kehoe, Simitian,
Torlakson, Yee
NOES: McClintock
NO VOTE RECORDED: Ashburn, Cedillo
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 67-7, 5/3/07 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Bicycle lamps and reflectors on shared use
pathways
SOURCE : California Bicycle Coalition
Sacramento Sheriffs Department
DIGEST : This bill expands the types of facilities the
use of which during darkness requires bicycles to be
equipped with lamps and reflectors.
Senate Floor Amendments of 8/20/07 clarify that under
existing law, bicycle riding on sidewalks is permitted
unless specifically prohibited by the local authority with
jurisdiction over sidewalks.
CONTINUED
AB 478
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ANALYSIS : Existing law requires bicycles operated upon a
highway during darkness to be equipped with the following
lamps and reflectors:
1. A lamp emitting a white light that illuminates the
highway in front of the bicyclist and is visible from a
distance of 300 feet. This lamp may be attached to the
operator in lieu of the bicycle.
2. A red reflector on the rear that shall be visible from a
distance of 500 feet.
3.A white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible from a
distance of 200 feet.
4.A white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the
center of the bicycle and a white or red reflector on
each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle,
except for bicycles that are equipped with reflectorized
front and rear tires.
This bill:
1.Expands the facilities for which these equipment
requirements apply to include sidewalks and bikeways.
2. Allows a bicyclist to wear the required white or yellow
pedal reflectors on his or her shoes or ankles in lieu of
being placed on the pedal itself.
3.Clarifies that under existing law, bicycle riding on
sidewalks is permitted unless specifically prohibited by
the local authority with jurisdiction over sidewalks.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/21/07)
California Bicycle Coalition (co-source)
Sacramento Sheriff's Department (co-source)
Amalgamated Transit Union
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees
AB 478
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Bay Area Bicycle Coalition
California State Sheriff's Association
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Fresno Cycling Club
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Marin County Bicycle Coalition
Riverside Sheriff's Association
Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
Teamsters
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : The author's office explains that
current law requiring lights and reflectors when operated
on highways is insufficient because many bicycles are
operated on sidewalks and other pathways. During hours of
darkness, bicyclists are not readily visible to either
pedestrians or motorists, and obstacles on paths may not be
readily visible to bicyclists. According to the author's
office, during the past three years, 5,411 bicycle
accidents were reported during hours of darkness with 4,
732 people injured and 133 people killed. Additional
safety precautions are needed to prevent these injuries and
deaths, particularly as the state population and the number
of people using bicycles for transportation and recreation
increase.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Aghazarian, Bass, Beall, Benoit, Berg, Berryhill,
Blakeslee, Brownley, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter,
Cook, Coto, Davis, De La Torre, De Leon, DeSaulnier,
Duvall, Dymally, Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fuller,
Gaines, Galgiani, Garcia, Garrick, Hancock, Hayashi,
Hernandez, Horton, Houston, Huff, Huffman, Jeffries,
Jones, Karnette, Keene, Krekorian, Laird, Leno, Levine,
Lieber, Lieu, Ma, Mendoza, Mullin, Nakanishi, Nava,
Parra, Plescia, Portantino, Price, Richardson, Salas,
Saldana, Silva, Smyth, Solorio, Strickland, Swanson,
Torrico, Tran, Walters, Wolk, Nunez
NOES: Adams, Anderson, DeVore, La Malfa, Maze, Niello,
Villines
NO VOTE RECORDED: Arambula, Sharon Runner, Ruskin, Soto,
Spitzer, Vacancy
AB 478
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JJA:do 8/21/07 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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