BILL NUMBER: AB 1464 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Smyth
FEBRUARY 27, 2009
An act to add Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 889) to
Chapter 8 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code,
relating to transportation.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1464, as amended, Smyth. Transportation: cycling
corridors. California Bicycle Routes of State or
Regional Significance Act.
Existing law requires the Department of Transportation, in
cooperation with county and city governments, to establish minimum
safety design criteria for the planning and construction of bikeways
and roadways where bicycle travel is permitted.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would designate portions of the state highway system
as state cycling corridors of significance for the purpose of
promoting increased awareness of, and safety for, cyclists.
This bill would enact the California Bicycle Routes of State or
Regional Significance Act, which would authorize the department,
through its statewide bicycle planning process, to establish a
process for identifying and promoting bicycle routes of state or
regional significance, as specified. The bill would authorize the
department to form an advisory committee to help implement the
process for identifying and promoting these bicycle routes. The bill
would authorize the department to establish a process for local
bicycle organizations, private entities, or local government entities
to nominate a route for inclusion in the system of bicycle routes of
state or regional significance. The bill would authorize the
department to install bicycle route signs identifying these bicycle
routes, as specified.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
yes . State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all
of the following:
(a) Bicycle-related transactions resulted in nearly $1 billion in
sales in California last year, creating and sustaining jobs and
generating tax revenues to support state and local economies.
(b) Cycling not only results in economic benefits to the state but
health benefits to cyclists as well, providing California residents
with a low-impact alternative to other fitness and recreational
pursuits.
(c) Cycling can play an important part in helping California meet
its carbon reduction goals.
(d) Cycling tourism is a growing industry and California's mild
weather and diversity of topography and landscape, including the wine
country, the coast, the inland valleys, and the Sierra Nevada,
provide California with unique attributes that can attract a large
share of this tourism industry.
(e) Many states have already invested considerable resources to
attract cycling tourism and Californians have demonstrated their
interest in cycling as an estimated 2 million spectators attended the
Amgen Tour of California, placing it as the most attended spectator
event in California on record and demonstrating the interest of
Californians in increased cycling opportunities.
(f) Given the state's current fiscal condition, the cycling
community does not envision a substantial infusion of state resources
into cycling. Therefore, the cycling community is looking to partner
with the state to identify ways in which to spur economic activity
through this growing trend in cycling.
SEC. 2. Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 889)
is added to Chapter 8 of Division 1 of the Streets and
Highways Code , to read:
Article 2.5. California Bicycle Routes of State or Regional
Significance
889. This article shall be known and may be cited as the
California Bicycle Routes of State or Regional Significance Act.
889.1. (a) The department may, through its statewide bicycle
planning process, establish a process for identifying and promoting
bicycle routes of state or regional significance that meet specified
criteria.
(b) In designating routes, the department may consider the
following:
(1) Historic routes.
(2) Established training routes or race routes, including legs of
the Amgen Tour of California.
(3) Routes of unique scenic significance.
(c) In identifying bicycle routes of state or regional
significance, the department may work with the California Travel and
Tourism Commission, the Department of Parks and Recreation, federal
agencies that operate and maintain roadways for public use, statewide
trade organizations, including the California Chamber of Commerce
and the California Bicycle Coalition, local tourism entities,
chambers of commerce, and local bicycle organizations.
(d) The department may form an advisory committee to help
implement the provisions of this section. The department may
establish a process whereby local bicycle organizations, private
entities, or local government entities may nominate a route for
inclusion in the system of bicycle routes of state or regional
significance.
(e) The department may develop criteria for the design, placement,
and installation of signs relative to bicycle routes of state or
regional significance.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that city or county
participation in establishing local routes of significance under this
article shall be voluntary, similar to the State Scenic Highway
Program.
889.2. (a) The department may install bicycle route signs,
identifying bicycle routes of state or regional significance, that
are associated only with the state highway system, which includes
state highways, United States highways, and interstate freeways, and
state-financed public transportation systems. The physical placement
of bicycle route signs on all other roads and transit systems shall
be left to the appropriate local jurisdiction. However, when
requested by a city or county and reimbursed, the department shall
place bicycle route signs on the state highway system and
state-financed public transportation systems that direct traffic to
bicycle routes on city or county roads.
(b) Bicycle route signs shall meet the standards and
specifications established pursuant to Section 21400 of the Vehicle
Code but shall not be classified as traffic control devices.
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would do all of the following:
(a) Designate portions of the state highway system as state
cycling corridors of significance for the purpose of promoting
increased awareness of, and safety for, cyclists.
(b) Establish cycling routes for the designated state cycling
corridors of significance.
(c) Encourage cities and counties to establish local and regional
cycling corridors of significance.