BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 206
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 206 (Dickinson)
As Amended April 1, 2013
Majority vote
TRANSPORTATION 16-0
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|Ayes:|Gordon, Linder, | | |
| |Achadjian, Ammiano, | | |
| |Blumenfield, Bonta, | | |
| |Buchanan, Daly, Frazier, | | |
| |Gatto, Holden, Logue, | | |
| |Morrell, Nazarian, | | |
| |Patterson, Quirk-Silva | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Extends the allowable length of a public bus owned and
operated by the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) by
four inches, for a bike rack mounted on the front of it. The
additional length would allow for the use of bike racks that
carry three bikes. Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes a folding device that extends not more than 40
inches from the front body of an RT bus, when the folding
device is fully deployed, to permit the transportation of a
bicycle with handlebars that extend not more than 46 inches
from the front of the vehicle.
2)Restricts the provisions of this bill to only RT.
3)Requires RT, if any of its buses has a folding device
installed, to submit a report to both the Senate and Assembly
Transportation Committees on or before December 31, 2018,
including a summary of any vehicular or traffic accidents
where the folding device was a factor and also describing the
mobility improvements that the folding devices provide.
4)Requires, for 45 foot buses, the establishment of a route
review committee, as specified, to determine what routes are
suitable for the safe operation of a 45-foot bus that is
equipped with an extended front-mounted bicycle rack.
AB 206
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EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes a public agency to operate a bus on the interstate
highways that exceeds 45 feet in length if the excess length
is caused by a folding device attached to the front of the bus
that is designed and used exclusively for transporting
bicycles, and if its operation is on a route approved by a
specific route review committee.
2)Imposes a 40-foot limitation on the length of vehicles that
may be operated on the highways, with specified exemptions.
Exempts from this limitation an articulated bus or trolley and
a bus, except a school bus, that is operated by a public
agency or passenger stage corporation that is used in a
transit system if it is equipped with a folding device
attached to the front of the vehicle that is designed and used
exclusively for transporting bicycles, does not materially
affect efficiency or visibility of vehicle safety equipment,
and does not extend more than 36 inches from the front of the
body of the bus or trolley when fully deployed. In addition,
existing law prohibits a bicycle that is transported on the
above described device from having the bicycle handlebars
extend more than 42 inches from the front of the vehicle. For
a bus operated by a public agency and equipped with a folding
device attached to the front of the bus that is designed and
used exclusively for transporting bicycles, the total length
of the bus, including the folding device or load, is not to
exceed 48.5 feet.
3)Authorizes the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District and Gold
Coast Transit to install folding devices attached to the front
of its buses that are designed and used exclusively for
transporting bicycles as long as those devices meet certain
requirements, including, but not limited to, extending not
more than 40 inches from the front of the bus when fully
deployed, and that the handlebars of the bicycles being
transported extend not more than 46 inches from the front of
the bus. If Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District installs
the bicycle racks, this bill would require them to report to
the transportation committees of the Legislature on or before
December 31, 2014, regarding safety issues and mobility
improvements. Requires a route review committee for
deployment of extended bike racks of buses 45 feet or greater.
AB 206
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FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Existing law establishes maximum length, width,
height, and weight limits for a variety of vehicles that are
authorized to operate on the state's roadways. These
limitations have been carefully considered by the Legislature
and the pertinent traffic safety and enforcement agencies to
promote and ensure public safety and the efficient movement of
traffic. The length of a vehicle is one of the most important
safety factors that can significantly affect road performance
because the longer the length of the vehicle the more difficult
it is for the operator to negotiate turns without encroaching
into adjacent traffic lanes (a condition commonly known as
"off-tracking") and damaging street curbs and other road
fixtures and possibly compromising the safety of any passengers
and other motorists. The increase that this bill would permit
in overall length may result in an increased risk to the public
because the turning radius of these vehicles is already pushing
the limits of street and road design throughout the state.
Furthermore, it should be noted that due to the common use of
these buses in highly populated areas with a high amount of
vehicle and foot traffic, the added length (four inches) from
the bicycle racks could cause the increase in collisions with
vehicles and pedestrians.
The author contends that this bill would authorize RT to operate
three-bicycle rack systems on their buses that would allow them
to better meet rider demands.
Writing in support of this bill, the Sacramento County Board of
Supervisors indicate that the lack of bike rack availability has
been a deterrent to riders who want to combine transit and bike
use on their local trips and that AB 206 will provide comparable
authority already granted to two other transits.
Whatever the case, exploring all options to facilitate the use
of bicycles should be encouraged whether the use is for long
recreational rides, employment commutes, or bus/bike linkages.
However, there is an ongoing pilot program established for the
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District authorizing it to deploy
three-bicycle racks on its buses. The initial pilot program
requires the development of a report by December 31, 2014,
providing information to the Legislature on the bus accidents
AB 206
Page 4
involving the bike racks and any recommendations for mobility
improvements. Preliminary information from the Alameda-Contra
Costa Transit District provide information on bus accidents but
provide no correlation if the three-bicycle rack is the cause.
Along with the addition of Gold Coast Transit to participate in
the pilot program, it may be prudent to wait until these two
separate pilot studies are submitted before allowing another
entity to add length to the front of their buses.
Analysis Prepared by : Ed Imai / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
FN: 0000107