Say No to a Toll for Bicycles and Pedestrians
on the Golden Gate Bridge
Click Here to Send a Letter to the Governor for AB 748
AB 748 was introduced by Assemblymember Lois Wolk in response to the possibility of bicycle and pedestrian tolls on the Golden Gate Bridge. The bill is cosponsored by Assemblymember Joe Nation, who represents Marin County, and by Assemblymember Mark Leno, who represents San Francisco.
AB 748 would prohibit bicycle and pedestrian tolls on any bridge, highway, or roadway in the state, including the Golden Gate Bridge.
In a desperate attempt to make up a $108 million budget shortfall over the next 5 years, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District is discussing the concept of a bicycle and pedestrian toll which they claim could generate $2.5 - 7.5 million in 5 years - potentially only 2% of their budget shortfall. The Bridge District has not yet calculated the costs that would be incurred to collect a bicycle and pedestrian toll. It's likely that this toll would discourage walking and biking, and could actually lose money for the District.
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is recommending that the Bridge District drop the concept of a bicycle and pedestrian toll and take it "off the table" as an option for closing the District's current budget gap. Furthermore, rather than devoting staff, board and the public's time to this issue every three to four years - only to eventually abandon it - it is our hope that this concept can be permanently dropped from consideration.
Click here to see Eight Reasons to Oppose a Bicycle and Pedestrian Toll
Click here to see MCBC's letter to the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District Board of Directors
Click here to read the May 4, 2005, Marin IJ article "Bridge Sidewalk Tolls Opposed"
Click here to read the May 13, 2005, Marin IJ article on the GGB directors' opposition to AB 748
Click here to read the September 4, 2005, S.F. Examiner article on the State Senate vote on AB 748
Send an email to the Bridge District today:
Go to http://toll.goldengate.org/ (you can click on the link), and fill in the form. Please send a copy of your text to eric@marinbike.org. For more information, please contact Eric Anderson, MCBC's Director of Planning at (415) 456-3469 extension 4#. Your message does not need to be long but should clearly and respectfully state your opposition.
