BILL NUMBER: AB 2707	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 11, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chau

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to add Section 35400.81 to the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2707, as amended, Chau. Vehicles: length limitations: buses:
bicycle transportation devices.
   Existing law imposes a 40-foot limitation on the length of
vehicles that may be operated on the highways, with specified
exemptions. Existing law exempts from this limitation an articulated
bus or trolley and a bus, except a schoolbus, 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.
   This bill would authorize the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority 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.  The bill would require
the authority to consult with the labor organization that is the
exclusive representative of the bus drivers of the authority before
implementing the bill. 
   This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to
the necessity of a special statute for the Los Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 35400.81 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

   35400.81.   (a)   
Notwithstanding Section 35400, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority created pursuant to Section 130051 of the
Public Utilities Code may install a folding device attached to the
front of a bus that is designed and used exclusively for transporting
bicycles if the following conditions are met: 
   (1) 
    (a)  The device does not extend more than 40 inches from
the front body of the bus when fully deployed. 
   (2) 
    (b)  The device, including all bicycles transported
thereon, is mounted in a manner that does not materially affect
efficiency or visibility of vehicle safety equipment. 
   (3) 
    (c)  The handlebars of a bicycle that is transported on
a device described in this subdivision do not extend more than 46
inches from the front of the bus. 
   (b) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
shall, before implementing this section, consult with the labor
organization that is the exclusive representative of the bus drivers
of the authority to ensure the safe operation of a 45-foot bus that
is equipped with a front-mounted bicycle rack. 
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is
necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the
meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution
because of the unique circumstances of a large number of bicycle
riders using buses operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority and the need to determine whether there are
safety considerations in having 40-inch bicycle racks on the front of
the authority's buses.