California Bicycle Coalition

California Bicycle Coalition
Formation 1994
Type Non-profit organization
Purpose Bicycling advocacy
Headquarters Sacramento, California
Region served
California, United States
Executive Director
Dave Snyder
Website calbike.org

The California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike) is a 501(c)(4) based in Sacramento that lobbies on behalf of its represented membership. The California Bicycle Coalition Education fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a classifications for tax exemption within the United States, and is solely focused on public education. Founded in 1994, the California Bicycle Coalition represents a network of 15 of the state's local and regional bicycle advocacy organizations,[1] as well as CalBike's own individual membership while working in Sacramento to "enable more people to bicycle for the health, safety, and prosperity of all Californians." The California Bicycle Coalition has adopted an official goal to double the amount of bicycling in California by 2017 and triple it by 2020.

Vision

[2] The California Bicycle Coalition envisions millions of people riding bikes every day in California. Networks of safe streets and paths conveniently connect every destination. People of all ages and abilities enjoy the health and happiness that comes from bicycling. California's local communities are stronger economically thanks to less automobile dependence. Traffic-related injuries are less common and less severe, and fatalities are rare. California is a national model for sustainable transportation.

Strategies

[3] A detailed copy of the California Bicycle Coalition's strategy can be found through this link.

1. Create robust bicycle networks and related infrastructure in communities throughout California.

Facilitate the planning and construction of networks of streets and paths that are safe and attractive for all kinds of bicycling, from the speedy cycling of highly skilled riders to the inexperienced pedaling of children and the most cautious excursions of seniors. Ensure sufficient transit access, parking, and other facilities as necessary to meet a growing need.

a. Increase state funding for bicycle infrastructure by July 2015.

b. Emphasize the development of high-quality complete bicycle networks.

c. Provide sufficient intermodal connections and ancillary facilities.

d. Make the design and construction of bicycle infrastructure more efficient.

2. Mainstream bicycling in California.

Use the talent and power of their partner organizations to help all Californians embrace bicycling as part of California culture. Create widespread recognition that bicycling is good for us as individuals and for families and communities for reasons of health, economy, convenience and happiness.

a. Learn about the best ways to talk about bicycling and help implement those best practices at CalBike and at local coalitions.

b. Reach as many Californians as possible.

c. Promote open streets events throughout California.

d. Promote bike-sharing throughout California.

3. Protect people who ride by improving the respect they receive from motorists and the legal system

Ensure that Californians respect the rights to the road of people on bicycles and that the laws, regulations, and legal system promote bicycling and protect those who choose to ride.

a. Promote safe passing.

b. Amend laws and regulations as necessary to improve the legal environment for bicycling.

4. Grow the bicycle advocacy movement throughout California.

Strengthen the organizations and support the individuals who advocate for more bicycling. Increase membership and financial resources of organizations, create new ones where they’re needed, and help individuals be knowledgeable and supported by their peers and experts in the movement.

a. Support Local Advocacy so that aggregate membership in local advocacy organizations grows by 10% each year.

b. Hold the CalBike Summit in 2013, 2015, and 2017 for advocates and media.

c. Conduct best practices in online outreach.

d. Foster and support other pro-bicycling caucuses

e. Support lobbying and electioneering.

History

[4]

1994 The California Bicycle Coalition is established as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation with a $10,000 grant from the Bicycle Federation of America.

1997 The California Bicycle Coalition writes and sponsors Assembly Bill 1020, which more than triples the funding allocated to the Bicycle Lane Account, the only California Department of Transportation account dedicated solely to bicycle projects.

1999 The California Bicycle Coalition co-sponsors Assembly Bill 1475, which invests $115,000,000 over five years in bicyclist and pedestrian safety projects near California schools, creating the nation’s first statewide Safe Routes to School program.

The California Bicycle Coalition rewrites the bicycling section of the California Driver’s Manual to better educate motorists about the presence of bicyclists on roads. The California Bicycle Coalition gets the DMV to include a question about bicyclists’ right to “take the lane” in the mix of those questions used on the exam.

2002 The California Bicycle Coalition sponsors the successful California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 211, which directs cities and counties to accommodate bicyclists in all transportation projects by implementing Caltrans Deputy Directive 64 and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s design guidance document on integrating bicycling and walking when making road improvements.

2003 The California Bicycle Coalition fights for bike racks on buses by successfully amending the vehicle code, through Assembly Bill 1409, to allow buses in excess of 45′ in length to operate on California’s highways. The California Bicycle Coalition also works on the “Bicycle Blueprint,” California’s master plan for bicycling. The California Bicycle Coalition hosts the first biennial Walk Bike California Conference (which later became the California by Bike Summit) in Oakland.

2005 The California Bicycle Coalition hosts the second Walk Bike California Conference in Ventura.

2007 The California Bicycle Coalition introduces Assembly Bill 1358, The Complete Streets Act, to ensure that the transportation plans of California communities meet the needs of all users of the roadway including pedestrians, bicyclists, users of public transit, motorists, children, the elderly, and the disabled. AARP California joins the California Bicycle Coalition as the bill’s co-sponsor. The California Bicycle Coalition supports Assembly Bill 57, which indefinitely extends California’s Safe Routes to School program created in 1999. The California Bicycle Coalition hosts the third Walk Bike California Conference in Davis.

2008 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs AB 1358 into law and California becomes the largest state to embrace Complete Streets. Meanwhile, The California Bicycle Coalition continues to work closely with Caltrans as the agency revises Deputy Directive 64 (DD-64) to state clearly Caltrans’ intention to adhere to Complete Streets principles as a matter of policy.

2009 The California Bicycle Coalition successfully sponsors Assembly Bill 1464, which establishes within Caltrans a process for designating bicycle routes of regional, statewide and national significance.

2011 View the 2011 Legislative History

Generated 1,500 support letters to the Governor for SB 910, the 3-foot passing bill, and developed a base of support of recreational bicyclists.

2012 View the 2012 Legislative History

2013 View the 2013 Legislative History

References

  1. http://www.bike-eu.com/news/254/interbike-and-br&in-to-hold-benefit-for-california-bicycle-coalition.html
  2. http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2004/06/21/focus4.html
  3. Merced Sun-Star

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.