SB 1183, DeSaulnier. Vehicle registration fees: surcharge for bicycle infrastructure.
Existing law provides for the imposition of registration fees on motor vehicles, including additional, specified fees imposed by local agencies for transportation-related purposes.
This bill would authorize a city, county, or regional park district to impose and collect, as a special tax, a motor vehicle registration surcharge of not more than $5 for bicycle infrastructure purposes until January 1, 2025. The bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to administer the surcharge and to transmit the net revenues from the surcharge to the local agency. The bill would require the local agency to use these revenues for improvements to paved and natural surface trails and bikeways, including existing and new trails and bikeways and other bicycle facilities, and for associated maintenance purposes. The bill would limit to 5% the amount of net revenues that may be used by the local agency for its administrative expenses in implementing these provisions.
The bill would require a local agency that imposes the $5 surcharge to submit an annual fiscal yearend report to the Legislature that includes, among other things, the total net revenues received and expended during the previous fiscal year and a summary of the infrastructure and projects funded by the surcharge.
Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually on street and freeway infrastructures to make them carry more cars. But our streets are getting more congested each year even as we expand their infrastructure. Perhaps another approach is to reduce the number of cars on our roads. What if more people rode their bikes? Building more safe bicycle infrastructures will do exactly that. Support SB 1183 to make this possible!
Articles pro and against:
Biking Cupertino 