 All right. Well, why don't we go ahead and get started. Nice to see you all. Welcome. This is the joint action meeting hosted by your California Bicycle Coalition statewide bicycle advocacy organization here in California got quite a few members of the cow bike team on the call. So I'm just going to go ahead and introduce the folks who are joining us from the cow bike side first. And then I would love for you to just go ahead and in the chat give us your name the organization or company you're representing. And if there are any topics in particular you'd love to discuss or address today, please be sure to include that in the chat. From Cal bike today we've got our new executive director Kendra Ramsey will be introducing herself briefly. We're excited to have her on the team. We've also got Nikolai Cridler communications director here. Laura became a communication specialist. Laura's going to be providing an update on the California bike purchase incentive program. We've also got Andrew Wright, our individual giving manager is going to help manage the call and will be managing some follow ups from you all and Jared Sanchez our policy director is going to be also providing some updates and then also joining us is Steve Wallach works as a lobbyist for Cal bike periodically and he's joining from Sacramento to provide some additional commentary so great to see you all on the agenda for today. We're going to briefly introduce Kendra as I mentioned just joined the team new executive director also joining from Sacramento. Jared will provide some relevant legislative updates for those of us in the bicycle industry e-bikes micromobility a few relevant bills working their way through the legislature. He will also comment on what's happening with the state budget the active transportation program funding. And then we, I believe we have Sean from carb on the call with us and Laura, they'll be offering some updates on the states you buy purchase incentive program. We'll talk about a couple immediate action opportunities and what's coming up for Cal bike and ways that you might be able to get involved and of course we'll have plenty of time for Q&A and some discussion, any topics that you all would like to bring to the group, or discuss with with Cal bike here so let's go ahead and dive right in. I'd love to turn it over to Kendra new executive director she just joined us Kendra maybe you can briefly introduce yourself what what brings you to the organization. Great thanks Kevin. Hi everyone happy to be here and glad to see you all today. I'm Kendra Ramsey I am in Sacramento. I've been working in Sacramento for quite a few years doing most recently active transportation planning work so working with local agencies. Local coalitions, community members on planning for the networks for biking and walking of the future and writing what what's currently in the ground and is not meeting folks needs. In that room also working on policy to make it safer and easier for people to bike walk take transit do all mobility options. Prior to that I worked in state government working both in and out of state DOT on bike pad, I'm planning a design as well as at what is now known as the active transportation resource center working on technical assistance to local walking and biking programs. And got my career started in advocacy lane use and transportation about 15 years ago. So a lot of policy background I've, you know, been a been a bicyclist for transportation my whole life. I grew up in a primarily car free household in downtown Sacramento and really see bicycling walking a lot of mobility options as a key to opportunity for everyone, regardless of their background and so you know really love the increased. Availability of different modes, want to get people out there, keep people healthy and really excited to work with all of our partners on making that possible. So, yeah, that's a little bit about me and working forward to hearing the discussion today. And, you know, definitely thank you all my contact info, so feel free to reach out if there's anything in particular you'd like to discuss. I know I've connected with a few of you already so looking forward to getting to know you all better. Thank you very much. I will turn it back over to Kevin and I think Jared next. Perfect. Thank you Kendra and yes. So, next up, we've got some legislative updates from Jared pending bills, as I mentioned in the bicycle e bike, my mobility space things that we think you all should know so I'll turn it over to you Jared. So, last time we met, I think these bills we talked about a little bit to get into some of the details of them. Since we last spoke there was a new bill introduced which may be an interest and something you've all been paying attention to AB 530 to start off at the top here around the bike licensing. This is a two year bill so the first public hearing for this bill won't be here until January of next year. So there is still some kind of influence the direction of the bill right now as it stands in the text of the bill. Being authored by Tasha Warner, a member in North San Diego County is has been very concerned with a lot of the media attention and some of the tragic accidents that have occurred in her community and in Sanitas as of late and is offering as a solution to this e bike licensing. So the bill itself doesn't state what the program or what licensing will be it's more of the intention of a legislature to get underway on what licensing might look like under DMV right now as it currently stands and again this bill is expected to change drastically if move forward at all the the license would apply to folks who already do not have a driver's license and additional provision the bill which isn't as ambiguous as the rest of it which is would provide a right of prohibition of folks who are or children who are 12 under 12 years of age to operate any class of the bike one, two or three right now as many of you know current state law prohibits folks under the age of 16 operate the fastest of the bikes, but this would apply to all of them. We've been in several conversations with her, we recently released a statement, not so much directed at this bill itself, but more around the e bike backlash we've been seeing, most notably New York Times piece from maybe a month ago at this point, delivering a lot of directions and leaving out a lot of information around the benefits of e bikes have for for many folks at thinking about directions that need to be addressed including infrastructure, safety, street design and education and on top of them. Again, this bill, if we move forward won't be heard till January. And I think there's a lot of time to, again, to exert pressure and just influence on the direction of this. I was going to continue through the rest of the bills unless there's any questions feel free to interrupt me. I'm looking not at the screen of faces so just interject if you want want to know more for something out regarding that. The next bill which I don't think is as relevant but just wanted to mention it real quick, maybe 73 this is the safety stop bill which would allow of cyclists to yield that stop back and made it to a two year bill which essentially just puts off the committee hearings and the votes for moving forward. We're not mute back off. The author, the author is a Tasha Warner who is leading the E by like this bill. She released a press statement about getting to be assessed by school safety options she has continually pushed this bill and said that the safety stop is is safer for cyclists actually so we're concerned about the direction of this bill. And seeing what she has in terms of mind of traffic safety measures and what this might look like for the next year. So just wanted to put that out there and I think it's looked into the general E by conversation. Next up is AB 413 this heading at intersections bill that we talked about last time. It's going through the legislature at the appropriations committee right now. This would allow. I think it's 15 feet of space at intersections of car free parking to allow safer intersection crossing for pedestrians, cyclists and others using the crosswalks. And some recent visions to the bill that would add some more local authority and concerns from some local agencies on this, but it's still moving forward in a strong place and, you know, follows the lead of what many other states are doing in terms of having state law on the intersections as recommended by NAC to many other advocacy and street design organizations, and we're looking forward to getting this passed and getting the governor sign it by October. The last two, it's one dimension briefly is an e bike study bill, which I mentioned last time this was, I think, first started off as an idea to restrict e bike use. We're talking with the office office is a supporter of e bikes and the use in terms of limiting the empty and of course increasing activity and those who would more accessibility for biking had turned it into a study bill so this is also in the appropriations committee. I think it'll provide a lot of useful data about religions with e bikes general best practices internationally, what other countries are doing around e bike regulations and safety. And I think we'll provide a lot of information. The board as a more conversation and focus has been on on the bike safety. The study bill I think is a couple years out so it's going to be several years until we get some data that my data Institute in as an as a state is will be the lead agency who will be leading the study. And I imagine much will change by the time the study results come out but I think we'll provide a good parameters for what we don't already have in terms of the bike data. Lastly, just want to mention AB 1447 which we weighed in heavily on and still on a neutral position. We're able to get some good amendments on this bill to bring some parody between how electric scooters are classified in state law. We can get alongside what we see in the e bike classification. There's a couple amendments that we were helped to get across in terms of limiting the speed of the scooters, the size and weight of the scooters where they share bike lanes with with bike and like built devices and but in infrastructure and able to limit the speed in which a scooter operator can, can, can, can operate on the road so it's still on that 15 miles per hour if someone is standing. But if they would legally be allowed to go up to 20 miles per hour. If the person writing is sitting on the scooter so we're still in a place of neutralness, but I thought would be relevant for this group if you're not watching already to update some of the student classification systems. And like I mentioned, bring parody to the e bike systems that have already been in place. There is some concern from some legislative folks about bringing restrictions to e bikes if this bill was to be amended. But at this point in time, it's it's in appropriations and still moving through and currently I think in a good place for, yeah, not the place to oppose it so that's the key bills that I just thought were relevant and wanted to update. But if there's other bills that you've been watching or have questions on definitely yeah wanted to save some time to talk about that. But we can move forward. If not, I have a quick question for Steve. I'm curious if you have any additional commentary on these bills or really any other kind of pending active transportation or bike or ped safety bills. What's the obvious perspective maybe what's the outlook for bills like this in general are there any trends we should be aware of anything like that. I don't have any other specific bills to add I mean just right now. We're at the legislative session where I've got about two weeks left they they're going to leave on September 14, the biggest event coming up this week is going to be the what they call suspense file hearing. The appropriations committees in both the Senate and the Assembly for all the bills that have any, basically any kind of cost. So a lot of these bills if they're still moving or on that suspense file so we'll know then, you know what what's what's going to move forward and what's what's not I think the only thing I think that maybe wasn't on the suspense file is or 13 but I can remember for sure. But that's, that's kind of where right now, as far as like bills that are like two year bills. It's difficult to get those moving, you know, particularly if they're in their first house like the license bike and I think the safety stop maybe 73 stolen in the assembly, because the way the rules are set. They have to be out of the assembly or out of the Senate out of the House of origin by the end of January. So that gives them only one month. They work on amendments during the break and hopefully have them ready to roll when they come back so it puts a lot of pressure on trying to get those bills, moving into the second house before that deadline which is a big obstacle but not insurmountable. Great. All right, thanks deep. And just a note for the group here that a little later in the meeting we do have some opportunities, or cal bike has been working to engage our own membership in taking action on some of those bills that are in the suspense file right now so and that's kind of a big deadline so one of our follow ups for you will be to help us kind of amplify and further distribute those communications and then additionally Andrew just drop the link in the chat here to Calphex legislative watch page which includes status updates on a number of other bills that that we're watching and monitoring this year. Let's go ahead and do we have any I guess questions from the group on these bills or any other legislation moving had this year. Cool hearing none. Let's go ahead and move on to our update on the statewide electric bicycle purchase incentive program. We've got on the calphex side Laura McKamey who's been really kind of our project lead on this and then also Sean ransom from California air resources board so I will turn it over to the two of you maybe Laura you can give us an overview of kind of program basics and any updates and Sean maybe you can help us understand what's the latest what to expect over the next couple months. Sounds good and there should be a slide yeah about this so this is a lot of information on this slide and Sean I just want to invite you to step in this is the most recent information I had but you may have something even more recent. I'm not going to go over all the details they haven't really changed since the last meeting. The thing that's different. I'll just, and there may be more that's different and Sean I hope you can chime in a moment and tell us if there's anything new. The big thing that's different is funding. I think we can confirm I don't know if the money has been. I think it hasn't been allocated yet but there is another 3 million. The original 10 million that the California Air Resource Board has resources board has committed to this project we I will say that as of now Cal bike has upwards of 19,000 people on our interest list. People are really interested in this we get emails all the time from people saying, here's my sob story I really need this, you know this bike is really going to change my life, and I really need this help to buy it. So I think there's a huge demand, and I think the air resource resources board has recognized that and is really stepping up retailers should be able to want to participate and manufacturers that that onboarding is starting very soon. And if you can go to the next slide, Kevin, just so. There's, I think I put it on here. Maybe it's not there's going to be a website that's it's not live yet but it will be live very soon, where you can get more information about this program. And, and that will be on cow like dot org slash ebikes. As soon as it's live. And we also noticed that carbs proposed draft funding plan includes an additional 18 million for this program so Sean ransom is a great partner at the California resources board who's been working on this Sean do you want to jump in and add any updates on you know when the soft launch is going to launch and what the timeline looks like anything else you can add. Yeah. And put pleasure to meet everyone online today here I'm Sean ransom I'm leading the California incentive project by consent to project. And thank you Laura that was a great update I was expecting to do a lot of that but the handle the majority of it thank you. And yes, all of that information is is accurate. And just, let me start with. I think there's some industry folks on the line. And I thought it might be useful to kind of go through what it's what it means to be part of the incentive project as a retailer so I just wanted to quickly mention that we are going to have an application process for retailers statewide. And this is because the retailers will actually be the ones that are inputting the voucher processing the voucher receiving the check at the end of the process so a applicant would come in and they'd have like a voucher number on their phone. And they purchased their e bike they'd receive a discount. And the retailer would provide that discount and then input the voucher information into our portal that will have available for them. And then receive a check in approximately two weeks after that process has happened. And that requires the application process retailer training as well to go through that understand the eligibility of e bikes. We're selling the e bikes and we want to make sure that they're selling e bikes that match our program criteria, which, which essentially is the three classes of e bikes front and rear integrated headlights, operable pedals and one year manufacturer on electric components so that they'll need to keep an eye out for what they're selling to these applicants. So, with that said, let me back up a little bit. And I do want to talk about our soft launch and kind of where we're at. We're actually at a really exciting time right now because we're launching our website tomorrow which is, you know, we've come a long way to develop this resource and we've decided to share it with everyone so I can drop a link in the chat and this will be live tomorrow and you'll be able to see all of our resources that we've created the application for this is just to start to get the retailers on board it. We're doing a soft launch right now so retailers will be the only ones who can go into the website and apply at this time we're not taking any. Applicants at this time for e bikes so that we've kind of had to partition some of the website off but you'll be able to get the gist of the overall website what we're putting out there and and the resources we have in mind. I also want to mention one more thing I don't think I saw in there is we've developed a safety video for applicants to to view before they're approved for their voucher so we've developed a live action video that really goes through a lot of the safety components when you're riding an e bike, going through intersections, defensive writing safe route planning, all of the things that are going to keep you safe on while you're riding in traffic, and also battery safety as well, you know, recognizing all of a lot of the media attention out there on e bike fires and things like that. So I'm going to give applicants who might be new to this process a full picture of what it means to ride an e bike take care of an e bike provide maintenance for safe riding. Let's see. And you mentioned the funding Lord thank you. You know, and I think with that, I'll stop and see if there's comments questions happy to answer those. I'm curious if you can speak to the timeline for the vendor application process. You know, the psychos live tomorrow does that mean that vendor application processes live that windows live tomorrow and just does that expire and what does that look like. So that is going to be live. We're really focusing on our first off launch we have four communities are really focusing on right now which is a an area in San Diego barrio Logan Bay Area Fresno California and we're working with some travel governments so really trying to focus in on this on those communities and then once we dial in that process of onboarding, working out the kings and the system with the application for retailers and stuff. So we're going to go statewide and we'll have some sort of press release, accompanied with that when we, when we're ready to give out the date and for the statewide launch but the soft launch is going to take about one to two months here to get all the retailers on board for the areas we're looking at we're also doing a lot of CBO outreach and engagement so really working closely with these communities to find the folks that really need these e bikes the most. In addition to the retailer onboarding process really trying to develop our outreach strategy. And methods for working with CBOs. It's kind of a new space for us here at carb and e bike so a lot of challenges new new issues that you know we haven't anticipated that we're working with. But once we do that once we kind of have that nailed down in about one to two months depending on how smoothly the soft launch goes will be ready to start that process statewide so going statewide with a full retailer. Outreach statewide and also working with CBO statewide for outreach for all of these eligible participants that we're really trying to identify and we're looking at late 2023 for the full statewide launch. Sean, can I ask a question so once the site goes live tomorrow and retailers can sign up. It's not just for the soft launch but you'll be accepting applications from retailers statewide is that correct. That's correct yeah. Okay, so that process the whole statewide process can start even though the first round of incentives will just go to the soft launch areas. Correct, yes. And you mentioned the safety video is that going to be available once the website goes live that anyone can watch that training video that in it's not ready right now so okay we're expecting a couple more weeks we're putting the finishing touches on it so. And is that something where, if somebody wants to apply for the program. Obviously they can't apply yet could they once the safety videos live could they pre qualify themselves with that put that can they do that part in advance, or do they have to wait till they're in the middle of the application process to do it. Yes, it will be available on the website and so it through in the application process it's essentially a check box that you've watched the video. Okay, so they could do it ahead of time. Okay, thank you. Just a quick question about the application process so when the recipient goes to the vendor and has their voucher number on the phone that is already pre approved the vendor doesn't have to qualify them in any way shape or form. Correct. Yeah, so our administrator pedal ahead will have checked all the boxes for them applications complete income verification proof of residency they watch the safety video. And then they'll get that approval email on their phone. Go ahead. I was just going to mention that we also have paper applications available to. For this project. It's great. And from the vendor side, are you approving the vendor, or are you also approving bicycle models or how does that kind of what is that going to look like. Yeah. So yeah retailers will will need to be approved in order to process the vouchers. And then for e bike models what we're really looking at is the online my models we are allowing online. Companies to participate in this program provided that they either have manufacturing in California some presence in a storefront in California or a corporate office. If they do meet one of those criteria than they can sell their e bike online will allow people to buy online bikes. But we're looking a lot more closely at those bikes. Just because we know that the. There's a lot of opportunity to kind of. You know, bring in bikes that well, they'll have to meet the eligibility criteria, and we really want people to buy quality bikes here we don't want. You know, someone kind of setting up shop that selling e bikes out of a cargo container in their driveway or something to that effect. But yet they still meet the eligibility so really just trying to keep an eye on the quality of the e bike and the reseller as well. So that's what we have in place right now. So just to follow up on that question Sean if, if somebody walks into an approved retailer. They wouldn't have a list of qualifying bikes. They would just need to compare the bikes that they have in stock to the qualifying criteria and and and the retailers kind of responsible for making sure that they're selling a qualified bike. Correct. Yeah. Great. Thank you all did we have any other questions from the group for Sean or Laura about the electric bicycle purchase incentives program. Yeah, one question. This is Steve Wallach on the funding for the future that says the 2324 may have is proposed 18 million. Is that part of the air boards. You know, they're they're low carbon transportation program equipped funding proposal. Sorry, cut out Steve just for a second. I was curious about the 18 million if that's part of the funding plan that goes to the airport. I think pretty soon, or is that going to be part of the budget next year. Correct. Yeah. So we are actually work grouping the 18 million right now. And that will go to the board in November. And I'm not sure if it's going to be folded into the statewide launch this year, or if it might be for another funding window next year. We, we're just not sure at this point, but yeah. That's good answers my question whether it's part of this year's round so you have over 20 million, almost 30 million, or it's going to be the future fiscal year. Thanks. Yeah. Great. Any additional questions. No, all right, Jared, do we still have you on the call I realized that we skipped over a brief section about kind of budget and administrative action. And here, and actually, the one part of that was what Steve just just asked about this new funding that I think we're happy about we were advocating for 50 million from the state budget. Yeah, a large part of funding just for low carbon incentives. And yeah, definitely for for more funds this round and for next round is see huge demands. So just wanted to mention that base and then the other piece was around our big campaign to get more money in the state budget around complete street infrastructure in particular. Of course, the interpretation program is already a long standing program that receives a lot of funds. It's not expected to increase in the next year that we didn't get any additional funds for bike and walk improvements. It's still open for multi-year campaign multi-year ask for us as including legislation, the three years around funding infrastructure issues. So just wanted to mention that on the budget that was passed back in June and July. Great. All right. Well, do we have any other at this point we've kind of got an opportunity for topics from the group. If anyone has other pending bills or legislations questions about the E bike program or other state bicycle pedestrian active programs, other general topics of interest cow bike has been doing a fair amount of work recently around some of the kind of exploding concern around safety and education for e bikes. We'd be more than happy to discuss that with any of you if you're interested feel like we could talk about it for hours. Well, doesn't look like we've got any hands raised. So I'm going to move move us right into head into a couple of immediate opportunities for action here. Jared had mentioned earlier and as did Steve that we have we do have a couple bills that we've been monitoring this year that are on the suspense file. So we do have kind of a slate of actions that we've been pushing out to our own members and networks. We would love to call upon you all to help us amplify that messaging get the word out a little bit further. So when we do send out follow up emails will be sure to include a link, which includes, you know, our landing page for those actions. If you're able to distribute that to your own networks, employee newsletters anyone that you think might be willing to get engaged on that, we would most certainly appreciate the support there as a communications partner. And then we do have a couple of immediate bigger opportunities to plug in. Of course we have the joint action meeting series here our goals to run this call three or four times a year, keep you all in the loop as to what's happening in the California legislature and with statewide programs. So of course, you know, if you can share this event, invite other colleagues of yours, be here and contribute your perspective we certainly do want to hear from you that helps us kind of understand what's happening in the in the business community and how we can take that information and use that to shape our strategy in California. We do have a couple of immediate opportunities, we are going to be calling on you all to contribute with your dollars and communication support. We're here to join our annual business membership program that comes with some year round recognition benefits connection to the cal bike team opportunity to really, like I said, have your perspective heard and represented in Sacramento. As I mentioned, we would love for you to amplify a cal bike action share our petitions and targeted actions with your audience and community. And in the immediate next year here we do have a couple of great opportunities to sponsor cal bike campaigns and events. In particular around the California Bicycle Summit which will be happening in April 2024 in San Diego. Great event three day professional conference that pulls together bike advocates transportation officials. And that's a couple days of workshops presentations social events bike tours we would love to have you there. And my missing anything. Nikolai Laura Jared, immediate opportunities other ways to collaborate Andrew is including a couple of links here in the chat for you, which will direct you to our business member program and the 2024 summit. Do we want to mention the complete street survey. It's not out yet, but we'll be soon. That's, that's another action. Jared, could you do a quick summary of that for us. Yeah, so as part of our history of advocating for complete streets. Well, trans has updated their internal policy around implementation of complete streets in the last couple years. We want to do a report on accountability for it really about how much has changed in the last couple years since that policy is passed. So part of that work we're releasing a survey out to our members and generally to the public to assess how comfortable they feel how much they access the state highways in their communities that act as main streets. We have run through a lot of their neighborhoods that couch and owns and operates. And we'd love to have complete streets infrastructure on so we're going to release that I think the next month. And yeah, we'd love to give you all and others to circulate that ticket as many responses we can to get information to couch and also to support our work and make sure we get complete streets on our state highway system. Great. Thank you, Jared. All right, any other topics questions from the group questions comments before we start to wrap up. Okay, great. Well, thank you all so much. We will be sending some follow ups to you all with the meeting recording from today.