[net.bicycle] Bicycle paths and lanes

ix286@sdccs6.UUCP (ix286) (05/27/84)

This announcement is of greatest importance to those bike riders living
in California.  I am distributing it over a wider audience in order to
point out what we are doing in California and hoping to find out what
others are doing elsewhere to improve the conditions facing bicycle
riders.

In order to make sure I get it right and because the issues are well
expressed, I will quote from a letter from Thomas Bates, the author
of AB3933.

"As you probably know, Governor Deukmejian vetoed the appropriation
for the CalTrans Office of Bicycle Facilities last August.  For the
first time in more than a decade, California no longer has a state
bicycle program.

With the passage of the 5 cent-per-gallon federal gas tax, the
nation is about to embark on a massive program of highway
construction.  Billions will be spent in California alone.  Yet with
all these billions to be spent, the administration is proposing to
spend only about $450,000 per year for local bicycle projects!

This is clearly unacceptable.  California's ten million bicylists
have critical needs that are not being met--neds for well-designed
and well-maintained bicycle routes, for access to highways, bridges,
and transit, and for quality safety and education programs.

To help meet these needs, I (Thomas Bates) have introduced AB3933 into
the California Legislature.  Assemblyman Lloyd Connelly of Sacramento
and Senator Dan McCorquodale of San Jose have joined me as coauthors
of the bill.  We have been working closely with BoCap (The Bicyclists
of California Action Project) and with CABO (the California Association
of Bicycling Organizations) to draft the legislation.

AB3933 does three importan things:  1) It requires the state to
spend a minimum of $3,600,000 per year to make state roads and
highways safe and accessible to bicyclists.  2) It requires the state
to provide a minimum of $3,600,000 per year to cities and counties
for local bicycle projects and programs.  3) It allows local agencies
to spend state funds for better planning and safety and education
programs."

AB3933 has passed the Assembly Transportation Committee and is now
in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.  You can help by writing
to the chairman of that committee, Vasconcellos, and expressing
your views.  You can write to Bates and ask him how you can help;
and you can write to Governor Deukmejian.  Just about everyone
can be reached by writing to:  State Capitol, Sacramento, Calif,
95814.

BoCap is the only group lobyying in Sacramento for bicycle issues
in California.  They are badly in need of funds.  You can help
by supporting BoCap both with your funds and support.

mats@dual.UUCP (06/06/84)

Well, well. In several years (as long as he has been in office) of following
Bates, he has sponsored a lot of legislation `for the people', but this is
the first time he has come up with something I agree with. *BRA-VOH*. Perhaps
I will even have to vote for him......

	    Mats Wichmann
	    Dual Systems Corp.
	    ...{ucbvax,amd70,ihnp4,cbosgd,decwrl,fortune}!dual!mats