SFBC members collected thousands of signatures supporting the ban on bike/ped tolls
The Governor vetoed Assembly Bill 748, legislation which would have banned tolls on cyclists & pedestrians on bridges and highways around the state, including on the Golden Gate Bridge. SFBC members have worked hard on this bill in the past few months, including sending more than 1,000 letters to the Governor & gathering thousands of petition signatures.
The silver lining here is that this does not necessarily mean that the GGB District *will* impose a toll on cyclists and pedestrians. The SFBC believes that AB 748's relative success -- passing the State Senate & Assembly *and* winning 100% support from the SF & Marin state delegations *and* mobilizing thousands of people around the state against these tolls -- will make it much more difficult for the GGB District to pass a toll on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Even the Governor, in his veto message (see below), does not express support for the idea of tolls on bikes & peds and extolling the benefits of biking and walking. It is clear from his message that the veto was based on the issue of state .vs. local control, and not on support for tolling cyclists and pedestrians.
In other, possibly even more troubling news, the Governor also vetoed AB 523, the state Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA), which would have kept this state bike funding at its current level of $7.2 million/year. Now, thanks to the Governor's veto, this funding will decrease to $5 million/year. (This is competitive funding for bike facilities, bike parking, etc. Money which comes from the state highway account.) The California Bicycle Coalition was leading the charge on these state bills.
Following is the Governor's official veto message:
To the Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 748 without my signature. I strongly encourage Californians to use bicycling and walking as modes of transportation when possible because of the physical fitness benefit, as well as the congestion mitigation and air quality benefits. However, this bill would inappropriately usurp control from the local governing body, the Golden Gate Highway and Transportation District. Since the District has been authorized to operate and maintain the bridge, the state should not tie its hands by foreclosing certain funding options.
Sincerely, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Background:
Believe it or not, in 2005 the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District considered charging a $1 toll to all bicyclists and pedestrians who cross the Bridge. (See SF Chronicle articles for background)
The SF Bicycle Coalition - and many, diverse organizations across the Bay Area and California worked hard to oppose this toll, which it punishes individuals for using the most environmentally and healthy modes of transportation. Given the state's crises in worsening air pollution and shocking obesity/physical inactivity rates, this is exactly the wrong message to be sending on the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Thankfully, our efforts succeeded and the bike and pedestrian toll did nnot go forward
Major problems with the 'Ten-Speed Tax'
