Electric Bicycle in Cal Vehicle Code

 These are the paragraphs in California Vehicle Code pertaining to electric bicycles, there new Assembly Bills in process to account  for the variety of different electric bikes entering our roadways.

VEH - 312.5. - DIVISION 1. WORDS AND PHRASES DEFINED [100. - 681.] ...(a)An “electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. (1)A “class 1 electric bicycle,” or “low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle...

VEH - 21213. - ARTICLE 4. Operation of Bicycles [21200. - 21213.] ...(a)A person under 16 years of age shall not operate a class 3 electric bicycle. (b)A person shall not operate a class 3 electric bicycle, or ride upon a class 3 electric bicycle...

VEH - 21207.5. - ARTICLE 4. Operation of Bicycles [21200. - 21213.] ... or recreational trail, may prohibit, by ordinance, the operation of an electric bicycle or any class of electric... the operation of an electric bicycle or any class of electric bicycle on any bicycle path or trail...

VEH - 24016. - CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [24000. - 24019.] ...(a)An electric bicycle described in subdivision (a) of Section 312.5 shall meet the following... operating an electric bicycle is not subject to the provisions of this code relating to financial...

VEH - 467.5. - DIVISION 1. WORDS AND PHRASES DEFINED [100. - 681.] ...“Pedicab” means any of the following: (a)A bicycle, including an electric bicycle, that has three.... (b)A bicycle, including an electric bicycle, that pulls a trailer, sidecar, or similar...

VEH - 231. - DIVISION 1. WORDS AND PHRASES DEFINED [100. - 681.] ... and 21200.5. An electric bicycle is a bicycle. Amended by Stats. 2021...

VEH - 554. - DIVISION 1. WORDS AND PHRASES DEFINED [100. - 681.] ...“Shared mobility device” means an electrically motorized board, as defined in Section 313.5, motorized scooter, as defined in Section 407.5, electric bicycle, as defined in Section 312.5, bicycle...

VEH - 21113. - ARTICLE 3. Local Regulation [21100. - 21118.] ... the conditions for, the use of bicycles, motorized bicycles, electric bicycles, skateboards... bicycles, electric bicycles, skateboards, electrically motorized boards, and roller skates on public...

VEH - 12804.9. - ARTICLE 3. Issuance and Renewal of Licenses [12800. - 12819.] ... with an attached motor, except an electric bicycle as described in subdivision (a) of Section...

VEH - 12804.9. - ARTICLE 3. Issuance and Renewal of Licenses [12800. - 12819.] ... motor, except an electric bicycle as described in subdivision (a) of Section 312.5. (B...    -LS

Planet Earth Warning from IPCC

 The International Panel on Climate Change dire warning yesterday 20 March 2023:    the planet is on track to exceed the 1.5C degree target cap by mid decade in 2030.  A new low-carbon mobility plan just got urgent, a multi-modal mobility plan satisfies that mandate.

 

Source:   NHTS

-LS

Memorial Ride Mammone MD

With support from Providence Mission Hospital Foundation a celebration of life and ride was held today  Saturday March 18th, 2023 at the Leonard Cancer Institute at Mission Hospital 27799 Medical Center Road Mission Viejo. Between 250-300 bicycle riders rode their bikes through SoCal streets to support the Memorial Ride for Michael Mammone MD arriving at the Leonard Cancer Institute at 11:00am Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo. 

 

Michael, John, Sarah, Kit.... French, Pettis, Deem.... how may more?   

For more detail see this post.

-LS

How to STOP Pedestrian Fatalities

Hoboken New Jersey hasn't had a traffic fatality in FOUR YEARS. They accomplished this by creating narrow pathways connecting Places for pedestrians, high visibility crosswalks, raised intersections, curb extensions, bike and bus lanes, and REMOVING PARKING SPACES. These are design interventions from Complete Streets Policy.

In Laguna the plan is to build more parking spaces and parking structures. What could possibly go wrong?  Photo Credit- Strong Towns

Memorial Ride for Michael Mammone MD

Ghost Bike Crown Valley & PCH

To honor the life and contribution of Dr. Michael Mammone, the cycling community with support from Providence Mission Hospital Foundation has organized a celebration of life and memorial ride Saturday March 18th, 2023 at the Leonard Cancer Institute at Mission Hospital 27799 Medical Center Road Mission Viejo. All cycling groups are encouraged to converge at the event arriving no later than 11:00 A.M. Armbands (optional/free) to be worn on the ride may be picked up at Rock n Road Cyclery, at all four Orange County locations and Specialized of Costa Mesa.  For those individuals and families wishing to attend without riding to the event, free parking will be provided on the first three parking levels at Mission Hospital. The rooftop level reserved for standing room only attendance. Special thanks to Providence Mission Hospital Foundation, Rock ‘n Road Cyclery, O.C. Fire Authority, O.C. Sheriff, South Orange County Spokesmen, and the city of Mission Viejo. 

For STORY / DONATE / UPDATES In Loving Memory of Michael Mammone, MD please visit www.supportmissionhospital.org/MichaelMammoneMD

-LS

The Problem with City Revenue

 

 

 

 

"As  @UrbanThree has shown time and time again, cities everywhere have one thing in common: compact, mixed-use neighborhoods raise the most tax revenue, while their auto-oriented suburban counterparts cost more than they raise. Suburbia is subsidized."  -StrongTowns

 

Parking Rates at Eleven Parking Structures I

The 10 January 2023 Agenda Report prepared by the LB Parking Master Plan Subcommittee calls for embellishing eighteen parking lots and constructing eleven new parking structures . Table-2 of this report gives a summary of the parking structures labeled Projects H-R, their street locations in Laguna Beach, the number of parking spaces added and the capital cost of construction. Assuming 30-year financing and 40-year life the chart shows the minimum hourly parking rate necessary to breakeven with the amortized costs over the 40-year structure life.   

The analysis considers costs of construction, debt service, demolition, salvage, in-lieu parking fees, maintenance and other costs in the amortization over the structure lifetime. Not included: parking enforcement,  opportunity costs, environment factors (quakes, floods), depreciation, inflation and taxes (if applicable). These results are preliminary and may be updated as project information is made available. In the chart the Presbyterian Church parking structure is labeled Project M: 355 Third St.  

-LS

Parking Structure Economics 101

Automobile parking structures are very expensive to build and operate, particularly near the beach. The 10 January 2023 Agenda Report prepared by the LB Parking Master Plan Subcommittee calls for embellishing eighteen parking lots and constructing eleven new parking structures with no amortized cost information given. An analysis shows what happens when a typical structure is erected near the beach, paid for by debt financing, operated for 40-years and demolished for salvage value after its useful life in the year 2065. When all the costs for such a structure are accounted for the true cost of these structures becomes clear. 

The cost to build parking structures is subsidized in city finances that the motorist does not pay for. The chart shows the  hourly parking fee for a single parking stall if the parking fees alone paid for the structure, this is the amount just to break-even on cost with no revenue left-over for other purposes. From the chart at 4% interest the parking fee is over $10 per hour. If the parking rate is set at $5/hour, who pays for the remaining $5?  The answer is everybody but the motorist. 

This study considered a parking structure to support 95 cars, construction costs of $20-million, 30-year financing, 40-year lifespan, operation and maintenance costs. NOT INCLUDED: parking enforcement,  opportunity costs, environment factors (quakes, floods), EIR response, depreciation and inflation.

To bound the problem two approaches were taken, the first determines the cost per parking space added to the existing land footprint, it considers construction costs without consideration for land values. The second approach considers all parking spaces developed including land value and in-lieu parking fees.

This study shows the structure costs are most sensitive to the type of construction; above ground or below and the number of parking spaces delivered to the project. Given the cost of these structures and the subsidy borne by the city and residents, the Master Plan Subcommittee is urged to check their Math. 

-LS

LB City Net-Revenue by Modeshare

For 2023 Laguna Beach will have a City Budget of $125 Million, how is that money spent on our mobility system? Past budgets show money is spent on car parking and transit but insignificant amounts  spent for cycling and pedestrian mobility.

The chart shows the net amount spent, city revenue minus expenses from our budgets in 2007 to 2021 for each transportation mode: driving, transit, cycling and walking. 

Results from each mode show:

Driving: only automobiles show a net positive revenue mostly from parking meters and vehicle fines, but paying for eleven expensive parking structures to park visitors cars will eliminate that revenue (see JT analysis).

Transit: looses money for every year it operates, it must be subsidized from other funds to continue.

Cycling: No investments were made in bicycle infrastructure, no revenues were generated, no expenses recorded.

Walking: No investments were made for pedestrian infrastructure, no revenues generated, no expenses recorded.

Conclusions:  With no investment in all four mobility modes, expect the trend in these charts to continue. Building 18-parking lots will increase visitor car traffic, net revenue will fall, traffic will increase, parking occupancy will increase.

Footnotes:  There are indirect revenues and expenses not accounted for here, like parking enforcement for cycling. In 2012 The Village Entrance book cost was $12.8 Million shown here distributed across all four modes equally. For comparison purposes the amount from Net Business Improvements are compared with the four modes. Net Business Improvements are Retail Sales minus Tourist Marketing minus Community Support funds.

-LS

LB City Expenses by Modeshare

 A review of the budget for Laguna Beach shows the City generates more city revenue from automobiles and parking than any other transportation mode and in some years the amount exceeds revenue from total retail sales and OCC Hotel Taxes.  In a study of the LB City budget for 2007 to 2021 the first chart shows the Expenses to sustain the operation of four mobility modes. 

 In 2012 The Village Entrance book cost was $12.8 Million, as shown here distributed across all four modes equally. For comparison purposes the amount from Business Incentives (tourist marketing costs) are compared with the four mobility modes. Business Incentives are Tourist Marketing expenses in the budgets.

 -LS