Assembly committee advances bill banning piggybacking on Class 1 bikeways after safety testimony
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Summary
The Assembly Transportation Committee advanced AB 16 14, which would prohibit riding as a passenger on bicycles and e‑bikes on Class 1 bikeways. Supporters, including pediatric trauma surgeons, said piggybacking increases severe injuries; People For Bikes warned of unintended consequences for families and low‑income riders.
Assemblymember Dixon introduced AB 16 14 on April 13, telling the Assembly Transportation Committee the bill would extend an existing prohibition on piggybacking from streets and sidewalks to Class 1 bikeways to improve rider and pedestrian safety. The author described the measure as ‘‘a common sense measure that prohibits piggybacking on bikes and e‑bikes on a class 1 bikeway.’’
Ryan Spencer, speaking for the California Orthopedic Association, thanked the author and deferred remaining comments to Dr. Francois Lalonde of Rady Children’s Hospital. Dr. Lalonde, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, told the committee his trauma center has treated life‑changing injuries from high‑speed collisions involving multiple riders, including ‘‘open long bone fractures, concussions, and brain bleeds.’’ He described a recent incident in which a piggyback rider died at the scene and the driver was severely injured.
Multiple municipal and health organizations — including representatives for Irvine, Carlsbad, Huntington Beach, and the California Medical Association — registered support, emphasizing public‑safety risks when more than one person rides a bike or an e‑bike. Jeanne Wardwaller of People For Bikes testified in opposition, saying the bill ‘‘unnecessarily expands existing bicycle operation requirements to class 1 trails’’ and risks creating barriers for youth, families, and lower‑income riders and could increase law‑enforcement interactions on shared paths.
Vice Chair Davies and other members cited firsthand observations of children riding with multiple passengers and expressed support for the measure as an education and safety tool. The chair noted California had already banned piggybacking on streets and sidewalks in 2018 and framed AB 16 14 as aligning path rules with those existing road rules.
The committee moved the bill forward; the motion to pass to the Appropriations Committee was recorded during the hearing. The committee held the roll open for additional members to add votes before finalizing committee business.
AB 16 14 now proceeds to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
