California bill that would have created a bike highway pilot program put on hold

CALIFORNIA – Assemblymember Steve Bennett’s (D-Ventura), new bill AB 954, that proposed a Bike Highway Pilot Program was put on hold last week.

The bill was placed in the Assembly Appropriations Committee’s suspense file while lawmakers assess its fiscal impact and decide whether it should proceed to a full Assembly vote.

The pilot program would have tasked Caltrans with proposing two sites for a network of numbered bicycle highways, restricted to cyclists, with intermittent access points, serving trips of 5 or more miles, and supporting speeds up to 25 mph.

Several countries are already known for having well-developed bike infrastructure.

Denmark has a network of nine “Cycle Superhighways”, with more coming each year. In addition, there are approximately 466 miles of these routes in the Netherlands, with plans to construct an additional 869 miles by 2030.

Pilot would have connected cyclists to major destinations

According to Bennet, the bill offers full separation from motor vehicles, and can accommodate high volumes of people traveling longer distances on bicycles by connecting users to major destinations, employment centers, and transit hubs.

CalBike, a bill sponsor, said the program is an essential step to make getting around by bike a viable option for more Californians.

“We know better infrastructure leads to more biking and we know that more biking is crucial to combat climate change, so CalBike is excited to sponsor this bill,” said CalBike policy director Jared Sanchez.

Bills on suspense

In California, bills on the suspense file are reviewed twice a year, typically in May and again in August.

Any bill estimated to cost at least $150,000 to a special fund or $50,000 to the General Fund is placed on the suspense file.

During the Suspense Day hearings, committee members decide which bills will advance and which will be held in suspense, often without public discussion.