San Diego, CA – In a step to promote greater safety on San Diego’s streets, Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) announced today that AB 2294, his bipartisan legislation to build on San Diego’s efforts to increase safety for pedicab passengers and motor vehicle drivers has been overwhelming approved by the Assembly. This bill would give authority to the county or cities within the County of San Diego to require that pedicab operators obtain a California driver’s license as part of their local jurisdiction’s permitting process.
“AB 2294 is an important public safety measure intended to protect pedicab passengers by curbing unsafe driving practices by pedicab operators that can result in devastating injuries. Since pedicab operators share the streets with automobiles and other commuters it is necessary that they demonstrate the same level of knowledge and understanding when it comes to our traffic laws to keep their passengers safe,” said Assemblymember Block. “Pedicab businesses are an important part of San Diego’s tourism economy and this bill provides the city with an additional tool to ensure that pedicabs function in a safe and responsible manner.”
AB 2294 is a direct response to an accident that occurred in San Diego in July of 2009, when a pedicab passenger was fatally injured after falling out of a recklessly driven pedicab. This tragedy renewed efforts to enhance the city’s pedicab ordinance by city officials who responded by limiting the areas pedicabs can operate, required operators to carry proof of insurance and capped the number of pedicabs allowed to operate at 250.
Despite this progress, the city was unable to require pedicab operators to possess a valid California driver’s license because state law does not explicitly provide cities with this authority. AB 2294 would define “pedicab” in the California Vehicle Code as a bicycle operated by a person used for transporting passengers for hire and would authorize the county and cities within the County of San Diego to require operators of pedicabs within their jurisdiction to obtain a California’s driver’s license from the DMV as part of a pedicab license.
“It’s a matter of public safety,” said San Diego City Councilmember Marti Emerald. “This bill will go far in better protecting San Diegans and tourists alike by making certain that pedicab drivers really know the rules of the road in the State of California.”
San Diego public safety officials have observed pedicab operators running through red lights, traveling against the flow of traffic on one-way streets, shifting lanes erratically and operating in other unsafe ways. Requiring pedicab operators to have a California driver’s license utilizes an existing and cost-efficient tool of testing knowledge of the rules of the road that will protect pedicab passengers and promote greater traffic safety.
AB 2294 now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Contact: Mike Naple @ (916) 202-0003
