For the past 5 years Palo Alto Bicycles has been actively lobbying for cyclists rights both in Washington DC and in Sacramento. We are very happy to announce the passage of three bills this last week. On the Federal level the Bicycle Commuter Tax and on a State level both Complete Streets and Fair Share for Safety bills have become law. Many dealers advocate groups and citizen cyclists throughout the nation have been active in working towards getting these bills passed. To all of you we say thank you!
Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision Passes House and Senate (10.03.08)
After seven long years, the bicycle commuter tax provision has finally passed both the House and Senate as part of the financial bailout package. Thanks to all of you around the country who have contacted your congressional leaders over the years, and also thanks to Congressman Blumenauer and Senator Wyden for their continued insistence on having this benefit provided to bicycling Americans. Keep checking back here as we work on the implementation process.
Two major bills sponsored by CBC to make California streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians—the Complete Streets Act http://www.calbike.org/legislation.htm#AB1358 and the Fair Share for Safety http://www.calbike.org/legislation.htm#AB2971 bill—have been approved by the California Legislature and sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his signature.
With passage of Assembly Bill 1358, the Complete Streets Act http://www.calbike.org/legislation.htm#AB1358 , California will become the nation's first state to incorporate Complete Streets principles into the design of all local streets and roadways.
Streets designed to accommodate all users, and not just motorists, will enable more people to ride bicycles and walk for transportation, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle use, relieving traffic congestion, and improving the public health. Even more important, streets designed for all users are safer for all usersóthe Complete Streets Act can help save lives.
Under Assembly Bill 2971, the Fair Share for Safety Program http://www.calbike.org/legislation.htm#AB2971 , projects to protect the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians would receive higher priority from Caltrans when it allocates funding under the federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity ActñA Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) of 2005.
California's rate of bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities due to vehicle collisions is among the nation's highest, yet California currently spends a disproportionately small amount of its federal transportation safety funding on preventing these deaths.
