Senate Approves Wolk Bill on Bike Safety Signals

Allows installation and enforcement of bike signals in perpetuity, receives bipartisan support

The State Senate voted 27-11 yesterday to pass legislation by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to permanently authorize the enforcement of bicycle signals similar to traffic lights.

Assembly Bill 56 permanently authorizes the use of bicycle signals that have been used with great success in the cities of Davis and Cupertino, reducing collisions between bicycles and automobiles to a fraction of what they were in the past.

Accidents between bicycles, pedestrians and automobiles account for nearly 25% of fatal crashes in California. In Davis, over a three year period before the signals were installed, there were fourteen collisions at the intersection of Russell Boulevard and Sycamore Lane, over half of which involved pedestrians or bicyclists. After the signal’s implementation only two collisions took place, and neither of the accidents involved pedestrians or bicyclists.

The signals’ success has led several other major cities throughout California--including Palo Alto, San Francisco and San Diego--to either install or propose installing the signals.

These lights work,” said Wolk. “They have drastically cut the number of accidents, making the road safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. I encourage the Governor to sign AB 56 and make these signals enforceable.”

AB 56 now goes to the Governor, who has 30 days to sign the bill. The legislation is supported by the California Bicycle Coalition, the city of Davis, the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, the city of Ventura, the Planning and Conservation League, the California Alliance for Consumer Protection, the Automobile Club of Northern California, and the California Automobile Association and the city of San Buenaventura.