BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 206 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 206 (Dickinson) As Amended April 1, 2013 Majority vote TRANSPORTATION 16-0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Ayes:|Gordon, Linder, | | | | |Achadjian, Ammiano, | | | | |Blumenfield, Bonta, | | | | |Buchanan, Daly, Frazier, | | | | |Gatto, Holden, Logue, | | | | |Morrell, Nazarian, | | | | |Patterson, Quirk-Silva | | | |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------| | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Page 2 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 Page 3 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