Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Bikeways topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Assembly panel approves AB 954 to pilot "bike highways" in two metro areas
Summary
The Assembly Transportation Committee advanced AB 954, a bill to establish Caltrans pilot programs for long-distance, separated bikeways in two metropolitan regions and require a report to the Legislature on statewide implementation.
AB 954, which would create two Caltrans pilot programs to build long-distance, separated "bike highways," was advanced Wednesday by the California State Assembly Transportation Committee.
The bill would direct Caltrans to establish pilot bike-highway corridors in two metropolitan regions and report back to the Legislature with recommendations for a statewide program. Assemblymember Bennett, the bill's author, told the committee the concept builds on international examples such as Copenhagen, London and Bogotá and on a 2022 Caltrans Bay Area Bike Highway Study that identified potential corridors in the region.
The bill's supporters said bike highways are designed as fully separated, high-capacity bikeways that link major destinations and transit hubs. "Bike highways are high quality, uninterrupted, long-distance bikeways that provide full separation from motor vehicles," Jared Sanchez, policy director for the California Bicycle Coalition, told the committee. He said the routes are intended to serve higher volumes of longer-distance bicycle trips and to expand low-carbon transportation options.
Opponents and some committee members raised concerns about fund diversion from road maintenance. Vice Chair Davies questioned whether the bill would redirect gas-tax revenues and cited voters' intent behind SB 1. Assemblymember Lackey and Assemblymember Macedo said the bill's initial focus on metropolitan areas could disadvantage rural jurisdictions that rely on gas-tax-funded road projects.
Assemblymember Harbedian said he supports the bill and offered to be a coauthor, saying pilot projects are an appropriate first step. Bennett replied the pilots would establish a framework that could benefit both urban and more rural travel patterns over time, and she emphasized the role of e-bikes in expanding the feasible distance of bicycle commutes.
The committee recorded a motion to move the bill by Assemblymember Rogers, seconded by Assemblymember Carrillo. The committee vote was recorded as 7 ayes and 3 noes and the bill was advanced to the next committee for consideration.
The measure includes a required report to the Legislature describing the pilot outcomes and recommendations for a statewide program.
