Critical Bicycle Legislation on the Governor's Desk
Bill Providing Bicycle Access to 45-foot Buses to Governor

From: Ellen Griffin, MTC Legislation

I am pleased to report that MTC-sponsored legislation, AB 1409 by Assemblymember Lois Wolk (D-Davis/Fairfield/Suisun) cleared its final legislative hurdle late last week and is headed to the governor's desk for consideration.

Background

As you may know, 40-foot and 60-foot "urban transit" buses may be equipped with front-mounted bicycle racks, but 45-foot "over-the-road" commuter buses are not permitted to have these racks. AB 1409 would remove this restriction in the vehicle code and provide a process whereby a transit operator could opt for front-mounted bicycle racks.

As the network of 45-foot express and commuter buses in the Bay Area and throughout the state grows , it is essential that bicycles have access to this piece of the transit network.

Here is a link to MTC's Web site (an MS Word document with this information is also attached), wher e you can get more information on the legislation, as well as view a sample letter of support for A B 1409:

http://www.mtc.ca.gov/whats_happening/AB1409.htm

You can view a copy of AB 1409, read committee analyses, and see how your legislator voted on the m easure at this site:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html

What can you do?

Send a letter of support to Governor Gray Davis for this much-needed legislation. He has until Octo ber 12 to sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without his signature.

Special Thanks

Assemblymember Lois Wolk and her aide, Debbie Michel, logged many hours shepherding this legislatio n through the process. Their resolute and skilled negotiations enabled us to remove concerns expres sed by Caltrans, the CHP and organized labor. Bicycle advocacy groups, including the East Bay Bicyc le Coalition, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and the Calif ornia Bicycle Coalition, also deserve credit for their advocacy efforts.

Please take a moment to send a letter of support for this much-needed legislation to Governor Gray Davis.

Thanks!