Category Archives: Press

Governor Brown finally signs 3 Foot Bill, AB 1371

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GIVE ME 3 Bill Signed by Governor Brown (3rd time around)

 

Assembly Bill No. 1371 Three Feet for Safety Act 
An act to amend, repeal, and add Section 21750 of, and to add Section 21760 to, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
[ Approved by Governor September 23, 2013. Filed with Secretary of State  September 23 ,2013. ]

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

SECTION 1. Section 21750 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

21750.(a) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle or a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left at a safe distance without interfering with the safe operation of the overtaken vehicle or bicycle, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth in this article.

(b) This section shall become inoperative on September 16, 2014, and, as of January 1, 2015, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2015, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.

SEC. 2. Section 21750 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

21750. (a) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left at a safe distance without interfering with the safe operation of the overtaken vehicle, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth in this article.
(b) This section shall become operative on September 16, 2014.

SEC. 3. Section 21760 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

21760.
(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Three Feet for Safety Act.

(b) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall pass in compliance with the requirements of this article applicable to overtaking and passing a vehicle, and shall do so at a safe distance that does not interfere with the safe operation of the overtaken bicycle, having due regard for the size and speed of the motor vehicle and the bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and the surface and width of the highway.
(c) A driver of a motor vehicle shall not overtake or pass a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway at a distance of less than three feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator.
(d) If the driver of a motor vehicle is unable to comply with subdivision (c), due to traffic or roadway conditions, the driver shall slow to a speed that is reasonable and prudent, and may pass only when doing so would not endanger the safety of the operator of the bicycle, taking into account the size and speed of the motor vehicle and bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and surface and width of the highway.
(e) (1) A violation of subdivision (b), (c), or (d) is an infraction punishable by a fine of thirty-five dollars ($35).
(2) If a collision occurs between a motor vehicle and a bicycle causing bodily injury to the operator of the bicycle, and the driver of the motor vehicle is found to be in violation of subdivision (b), (c), or (d), a two-hundred-twenty-dollar ($220) fine shall be imposed on that driver.
(f) This section shall become operative on September 16, 2014.

SEC. 4.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1371, Bradford. Vehicles: bicycles: passing distance.

Under existing law, a driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle or a bicycle proceeding in the same direction is required to pass to the left at a safe distance without interfering with the safe operation of the overtaken vehicle or bicycle, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. A violation of this provision is an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding $100 for a first conviction, and up to a $250 fine for a 3rd and subsequent conviction occurring within one year of 2 or more prior infractions.
This bill would enact the Three Feet for Safety Act, which would require the driver of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction on a highway to pass in compliance with specified requirements applicable to overtaking and passing a vehicle, and to do so at a safe distance that does not interfere with the safe operation of the overtaken bicycle, having due regard for the size and speed of the motor vehicle and the bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, and the surface and width of the highway. The bill would prohibit, with specified exceptions, the driver of the motor vehicle that is overtaking or passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway from passing at a distance of less than 3 feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator. The bill would make a violation of these provisions an infraction punishable by a $35 fine. The bill would also require the imposition of a $220 fine on a driver if a collision occurs between a motor vehicle and a bicyclist causing bodily harm to the bicyclist, and the driver is found to be in violation of the above provisions. This bill would make these provisions operative on September 16, 2014.
Because this bill would create a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal Committee: yes   Local Program: yes

POP-UP MANGo! September 21st, Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway Project

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POP-UP MANGo, Temporary Greenway Installation and Community Festival!

MANGO FESTIVAL 2

image003Saturday, September 21st
11:00am – 3:00pm
On Michigan, between 9th & Euclid

Don’t miss this FREE, fun-filled, family-friendly festival and community conversation about the Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway (MANGo). Pop-Up MANGo invites the community to take part in the planning of this potential new Greenway in the Pico Neighborhood.

Mark your calendars for this second interactive planning workshop! We join the City of Santa Monica for a fun, family-friendly event that will provide community members with a interactive understanding of the project and its many elements. You won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to take part in the planning of this beautiful new Greenway.

The Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway is intended to create an inviting streetscape along Michigan Avenue and adjoining streets. The potential, three-mile Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway (MANGo) would connect residents to schools and community destinations via an inviting streetscape of sidewalks, calm roadways, increased trees and landscape. Spanning from Stewart Street to the beach, the Greenway would provide residents and visitors with a safe and comfortable place to walk, bike, interact with neighbors, and just be. The project will make it easier to get around Santa Monica without a car, enhance the livability of the neighborhood, and improve environmental quality.

Mango Festival

Held along the central portion of the Greenway on Michigan Avenue, this unique family-friendly workshop will present a number of temporary installations that are representative of possible measures for the three-mile corridor. Examples of the temporary installations that participants should expect to see came out of input and ideas gathered from the community and include curb extensions, enhanced landscaping, places for impromptu neighborhood interactions, wayfinding signage and traffic calming measures.

Community members will be encouraged to visit each installation by foot or by bike. Santa Monica Spoke will lead two bike rides during the event that will start at the festival and preview the entire route of the proposed greenway project. Participants will be asked to provide their feedback and project team members will be available to answer questions.

Food trucks, music, art, and interactive activities will be a part of this exciting day. Additional information will be posted as it is confirmed.

Participants are encouraged to walk or bike to the event.

Planning and outreach for the Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway is funded by a Caltrans Environmental Justice Grant.

MANGO-Workshop-2-Flyer

 

DOWNLOAD EVENT FLYER HERE

 

CICLAVIA – HEART OF LA ON OCTOBER 6th

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We’re Going Back to Where It All Started!

CicLAvia is thrilled to return to their route roots on October 6, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, for CicLAvia – Heart of LA in Downtown Los Angeles.  Join your fellow Angelenos and friends and rediscover the historic city center, cultural districts, and businesses completely car-free.

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Save the date: October 6th. 
Santa Monica Spoke will again (as always) lead a ride from the canon at the top of the Santa Monica Pier to CicLAvia. More details on the ride will be posted in the next few weeks!

CicLAvia – Heart of LA is a free public event that features 7.5 miles of city streets that include parts of the 2011 and 2012 routes. The route, which has no designated beginning or end, takes participants through culturally diverse areas of downtown with hubs at MacArthur Park, The African American Firefighter Museum, Chinatown, Mariachi Plaza, and a mandatory pedestrian zone full of activities at the Grand Park Hub.  The day will feature live music performances, a farmers market, and fun in the Piñata District.
This is the first CicLAvia to take place downtown in 2013, after the wildly popular CicLAvia – To the Sea in April and our CicLAvia – Iconic Wilshire Boulevard in June, which together drew more than 400,000 participants and increased ridership on Metro and Metrolink rail lines.

So bring your bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, or even just your walking shoes and help us celebrate the rich culture of our very own Downtown community. Click here to join their Facebook event for all the latest updates. We can’t wait to see you there!

GET INVOLVED. GET CONNECTED! – www.ciclavia.org
donate 

CicLAvia –Heart of LA Click here for route details

 

Bike Safety Classes in Santa Monica & LA County: Free!

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For summer of 2013, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and Metro are proud to offer a series of FREE bicycle safety classes. We will teach 2 of these classes in Santa Monica, one each in July & August. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

BSC/SCS 8hr SantaMonica 072113                          BSC/BOTR 3hr SantaMonica 081113

There are two different classes to choose from:

STREET CYCLING SKILLS
This is an in-depth, 8-hour course designed to enable you to ride safely and confidently just about anywhere. Click HERE for more details and to register for a class.

BICYCLING ON THE ROAD: Need to Know
This is a shorter, more basic version of the 8-hour class. At 3 hours, it’s more basic, but provides the essential information needed to ride safely. Click HERE for more details and to register for a class.

If you are local and would like to take one of these classes you may also Click Here to contact us directly.

For more information on classes offered through the OTS Grant awarded to METRO, please visit http://www.metro.net/bikes/bikes-metro/upcoming-bike-metro-events.

Ride your bike – get a free peach! June 22nd

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With over 400 people arriving at this month’s Santa Monica Festival by bike, Santa Monica’s popular bike valet program has now parked over 150,000 bikes since the program was started in 2006.  This popular service is provided at many City events including the Sunday Main Street Farmers’ Market and the Twilight Concert Series and has just been added to the Saturday Downtown Farmers’ Market. Bike Valet will be located on Arizona just west of 4th Street. To celebrate this milestone and encourage participation at the Saturday market bicyclists that show their bike valet ticket at the Farmers’ Market information booth on Saturday, June 22nd will get a free peach!Â