2024 Bike Legislation: Major Wins and a Few Setbacks

Governor Gavin Newsom has officially taken action on all 600 bills that landed on his desk in 2024, signing some into law and vetoing others. Of the bills backed by CalBike, seven received his signature while two were vetoed. Unfortunately, eight other CalBike-supported bills did not make it through the legislative process. However, there were also some positive developments, including the passage of two e-bike pilot programs, while one e-bike restriction bill failed to advance.

Perhaps the biggest victory this legislative season was the signing of SB 960, also known as the Complete Streets Bill. This new law strengthens California’s commitment to designing roadways that serve all users—pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike—especially on corridors maintained by Caltrans.

Complete Streets Crosses the Finish Line

After multiple attempts and expanding coalitions, Senator Scott Wiener’s Complete Streets Bill, SB 960, has finally become law. This marks a major win for advocates pushing for safer streets and increased access to active transportation options. The bill focuses on the thousands of miles of state routes managed by Caltrans, many of which function as community main streets but have historically prioritized vehicle traffic. These roads are some of the most dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.

What Changes with the Complete Streets Law?

Although the bill was modified throughout the legislative process, the final version includes significant requirements. Caltrans is now mandated to better allocate State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) funds to develop much-needed infrastructure like bike lanes, sidewalks, and bus stops. Additionally, the agency faces increased scrutiny due to past practices that neglected the safety of vulnerable road users, highlighted by CalBike’s reports on “Incomplete Streets.”

Key provisions of SB 960 include:

• Requiring Caltrans to set four-year goals for adding Complete Streets infrastructure to state roadways.
• Implementing policies for transit-priority facilities and stops on state-controlled streets and highways.
• Streamlining the process for local governments and transit agencies to secure permits for building Complete Streets that overlap with Caltrans-managed roads.

More Positive Developments in 2024

Four additional bills supported by CalBike were signed into law this year:

• AB 2086 (Schiavo): The Transportation Accountability Act improves transparency, allowing advocates like CalBike to monitor progress on Complete Streets projects.
• AB 2669 (Ting): This law permanently eliminates tolls for pedestrians and cyclists crossing toll bridges, benefiting areas like the Bay Area, where multiple toll bridges have dedicated bike and pedestrian lanes.
• SB 689 (Blakespear): Bike lanes in coastal areas will face fewer roadblocks, as this bill limits the Coastal Commission’s ability to block bikeway development on existing roads.
• SB 1216 (Blakespear): Class III bikeways, which are shared by cyclists and motorists, will face stricter regulations on high-speed roads, ensuring that state funding goes toward safer cycling infrastructure.

E-Bike Legislation: New Rules for 2024

E-bikes were a hot topic in 2024, with several bills aimed at regulating or restricting their use. CalBike supported two key pieces of legislation that were signed into law:

• AB 1774 (Dixon): The E-Bike Modification Bill bans the sale of devices that can boost e-bike speeds beyond the legal limit of 28 mph for Class 3 e-bikes, addressing concerns about modified e-bikes posing safety risks.
• SB 1271 (Min): The E-Bike Battery Safety Standards Bill requires all e-bikes sold in California to have certified batteries, reducing the risk of battery-related fires and setting clear guidelines on what can be classified and sold as an e-bike.

Additionally, two local pilot programs introducing age restrictions for e-bike riders became law:

• AB 1778 (Connolly): This pilot in Marin County requires anyone under 16 to wear a helmet when riding a Class 2 e-bike and bans those under 16 from operating them entirely.
• AB 2234 (Boerner): San Diego County will test a program banning riders under 12 from operating e-bikes of any class.

Speed Control Legislation: The Missed Opportunities

Despite several wins, not all bike-friendly bills made it across the finish line. Governor Newsom vetoed two important bills aimed at addressing speed-related safety issues:

• SB 961 (Wiener): The Safer Vehicles Save Lives Bill would have required most vehicles in California to be equipped with passive intelligent speed assist (ISA) technology by 2030. This system alerts drivers when they are exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph, which could help reduce speed-related collisions. The bill also sought to mandate sideguards on freight trucks, which could prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being pulled under the rear wheels in a crash. While this legislation didn’t pass, advocates hope to see it reintroduced in future sessions.
• SB 1509 (Stern): The Unsafe Speed Penalties Bill would have increased penalties for drivers caught exceeding speed limits by more than 25 mph on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or less, addressing the dangerous speeding that often leads to fatalities among cyclists and pedestrians.

Conclusion

Although 2024 brought some legislative setbacks, the wins far outweighed the losses. With the Complete Streets law now in place, California is taking meaningful steps toward making its roadways safer and more inclusive for all users. CalBike will continue to monitor progress and push for stronger protections in future legislative sessions, ensuring that California remains a leader in active transportation and cycling safety.

If you’re interested in keeping track of the final outcomes of all the e-bike bills that CalBike supported or followed this year, visit their Legislative Watch Page for the full details.

Curious about how these new laws will impact your ride? Let us know in the comments how you feel about these wins and losses. Be sure to share this article to spread awareness and help push for safer, more bike-friendly roads! And if you’re tracking e-bike legislation, don’t forget to check out CalBike’s Legislative Watch Page for the latest updates.

For even more news on electric bike news click here

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