SB 1216: Transportation projects: Class III bikeways: prohibition.

(1)Existing law establishes 4 classifications of bikeways and defines a Class III bikeway as a bikeway that provides a right-of-way on-street or off-street, designated by signs or permanent markings and shared with pedestrians and motorists.

This bill would define sharrow as the pavement marking used to inform road users that bicyclists might occupy the travel lane. The bill would prohibit, on and after January 1, 2025, an agency responsible for the development or operation of bikeways or highways where bicycle travel is permitted from installing a new sharrow on a highway that has a posted speed limit greater than 30 miles per hour, except as specified.

(2)Existing law establishes the Active Transportation Program in the Department of Transportation for the purpose of encouraging increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking, with specified available funds to be allocated to eligible projects by the California Transportation Commission and regional transportation agencies through the adoption of a program of projects. Existing law requires the commission to develop guidelines regarding, among other topics, project eligibility and project selection for the program of projects, as provided.

This bill would prohibit, on and after January 1, 2026, the commission from adding a project that creates a Class III bikeway or a sharrow to the program of projects, except as specified. The bill would require the commission to make conforming changes to its guidelines regarding project eligibility and project selection for the program of projects, as specified.