Riding straight at/next-to/in RTOLs?

RE: Support for AB 1266
Dear Assemblymember Robert Rivas,
The California Association of Bicycling Organizations (CABO) appreciates your bringing this bill forward. We support this proposal for reducing friction, collisions, and hard feelings between people at intersections that have right turn only lanes (RTOL). CABO supports the intent to assist people – through education, pavement markings and/or signs – to enable bicyclists to get straight through when RTOLs are present.
The legislation at present seeks to modify part of existing CVC 22101 about right turn only lanes as follows,
“When official traffic control devices are placed as required in subdivisions (b) or (c), it shall be unlawful for any driver of a vehicle to disobey the directions of such the official traffic control devices. devices, except that a driver of a bicycle may travel straight through a right-turn-only lane when pavement markings indicate that the movement is permitted.”
We consider that it is preferable when space allows, that the RTOL remain an RTOL for all travel methods. We know that some people bicycling or scootering intending to go straight do so in an RTOL and would more be more likely to stay too far to the right in an RTOL if/when they are excepted from CVC 22101. Care must be taken that these errors are not encouraged.
We expect that this bill proposes that pavement markings be developed to allow bicycling straight through from an RTOL in a relatively safe manner. The type and placement of pavement markings should be tested, and guidance adopted for inclusion in the California Manual of Traffic Control Devices (CA-MUTCD). We recommend that details of the striping, pavement lines and markings, and signs be determined by Caltrans Traffic Engineers, not through legislation. The bill could perhaps include a one-year or less deadline imposed for Caltrans accomplishing CA-MUTCD guidance for “pavement markings” and signs for this purpose.
Sincerely, Jim Baross, President California Association of Bicycling Organizations (CABO)

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About Jim Baross

I bicycled across the USA from East to West in 1976 leading groups of bicyclists for the “Bikecentennial ’76 “event and again in 2007 riding this time from West to East with my two sons. I was first certified as an Effective Cycling Instructor in 1986 by the League of American Bicyclist and have been an active League Cycling Instructor for the League since then. In 2002 I gained acceptance as a Cycling Instructor Trainer and since then have conducted 11 training seminars for certification of League Cycling Instructors held in San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Sacramento, Morgan Hill, Fairfax, and Palo Alto. I completed the San Diego Police Bicycle Skills Menu Course in 2003 and I have been an expert witness for bicycling crash incidents. I presently serve on several bicycling advisory committees and advocacy organizations. Chair - Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Working Group for the San Diego regional association of governments since 1995 Vice Chair - California Bicycle Advisory Committee for the State Dept of Transportation, a member since 1992 President - California Association of Bicycling Organizations Board member - California Bicycle Coalition California State Ambassador – League of American Bicyclists Co-Chair California Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Challenge Area 13, Improving Bicycling Safety Conferences, seminars and similar events at which I have attended and presented bicycling safety information and training include the following: Speaker/Presenter, Calif. Office of Traffic Safety, Summit “What to do about all these bicycles in Traffic”, 2009 ProWalk-ProBike Conference, Seattle WA., 2008 Attendee/Speaker, League of American Bicyclists, Bike Education Conference, Wisconsin and New York City, 2002 & 2007 Velo Mondial, Amsterdam. 2000 Speaker/Presenter, Calif. Office of Traffic Safety’s Summit “A Vision for Roads to Traffic Safety”, 2000 Speaker Autovation conference, San Diego 2005 Chair, California Strategic Highway Safety Plan, #13 - Improve Bicycling Safety Presenter, California Strategic Highway Safety Plan Summit, 2008 Anaheim Attendee, League of American Bicyclists, National Bike Summit, Washington, DC, 2006 & 2008 Presenter, Walk/Bike California Conferences, Oakland 2003, Ventura 2005, Davis 2007 Speaker, Making the Connection International Trails and Greenways Conference Presenter, Safety N Kids, Conference, “Children Learn Best by Good Examples From Those They Trust”, 2006 Speaker, ITE Conference 2006 Dana Point, Calif., “Engineering for Bicycling, From a Bicyclists Point of View” Exhibitor/Speaker, Lifesavers, National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, 2004 References familiar with my bicycling background and experience include: Kathy Keehan, Exec Director San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, Ph: 858-487-6063, Email: execdir@sdcbc.org Stephan Vance, Chair Calif. Bicycle Coalition and SANDAG Senior Planner, Ph: 619-595-5324, Email: sva@sandag.org Ken McGuire, Chief Bicycle Facilities Unit, California Dept of Transportation, Ph: 916-653-2750, Email: ken_mcguire@dot.ca.gov Preston Tyree, Director of Education, League of American Bicyclists, 1612 K St., NW, #800, Washington, DC 20006, Ph: 202-822-1333 x 227, Email: Preston@bikeleague.org