Remember last October when the Golden Gate Bridge District proposed a toll for people biking and walking on the Golden Gate Bridge? Thousands of you spoke out against it, but the Bridge District decided to pursue the idea.
Then, Assemblymember Phil Ting heard your voices and drafted a bill (AB 40) that would forbid tolling people biking and walking on any state toll bridge. We told you to stay tuned for updates as we and our partners at the California Bicycle Coalition worked to support the legislation.
Well, we’re back with great news.
On Tuesday, June 2, Assemblymember Ting’s Assembly Bill 40 passed the State Assembly and moved on to the Senate. That means we’re one giant step closer to banning a toll on people biking and walking across the Golden Gate Bridge once and for all. And it’s not just for our iconic Golden Gate, it’s for every state toll bridge in California.
With dozens of supporters – including the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Walk San Francisco, the California Bicycle Coalition, and local organizations such as San Francisco Travel – we are hopeful that the bill will continue to move through the State Senate and head to Governor Brown’s desk.
We strongly agree with Assemblymember Ting who says, “Sidewalk tolls would unravel decades of work to promote active lifestyles, create public recreation opportunities and encourage environmentally sustainable transportation methods. Our bridges connect the network of parks, paths and trails we’ve built around the Bay Area. By passing this bill, we sent a powerful message that this legacy must be protected for all to enjoy.”
To read more about the bill, check out our blog update on the legislation. And if you want to help us fight to keep the Golden Gate Bridge toll free, make sure to join or renew your membership today. Or sign up for our Biker Bulletin to stay updated on all the latest biking news.
