SF Supervisors ready to act on new authority to protect public
(Sacramento, CA) – The State Assembly Transportation Committee approved legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to get more safety inspections for tour buses operating on local streets.
Ting’s Assembly Bill (AB) 1677 passed with a 10-4 vote and heads to the Appropriations Committee for further review.
“Dangerous tour buses fall through the cracks of our state inspection system,” said Ting. “We should not be powerless spectators when it comes to protecting those who live, work, and visit our community. This bill will save lives by giving us a new choice to get more tour buses inspected.”
Inspired by the tour bus crash in San Francisco’s Union Square last November, AB 1677 enables communities in which tour buses operate to enter into MOUs with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to get more tour buses operating on local roads inspected. CHP inspects tour bus companies as part of state safety regulations and licensure requirements for charter party carriers overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission. CHP inspects a sample of each tour bus company’s fleet every 13 months. This method results in the inspection of about 30 percent of all buses.
On March 11, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution supporting Ting’s bill. Supervisors Norman Yee, Jane Kim, and Aaron Peskin have expressed their readiness to act on AB 1677.
“San Francisco is a Vision Zero city,” said Supervisor Norman Yee. “In order to meet the goal of zero pedestrian deaths by 2024 we must ensure that our locality is given the tools to increase safety and reduce the number of injuries and fatalities.”
"Unsafe operations aren't just dangerous. They're also bad for business," said Supervisor Jane Kim. "I am pleased to see the state and local governments working together to improve the safety of tour bus operations. Should this legislation pass, I plan to explore options for creating our own local tour bus inspection program to ensure the safety of both residents and tourists."
"Tour bus safety remains one of the top issues I hear about from constituents," said Supervisor Aaron Peskin. "District 3 absorbs a tremendous amount of pedestrian traffic every day, from elderly seniors in Chinatown to tourists and workers downtown. They deserve to know that the City is prioritizing their safety. I'm looking forward to working with Supervisors Yee and Kim to craft local legislation to do that."
Here is what other supporters are saying about AB 1677.
“As San Francisco's leading resource for bicycle safety, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition recognizes the need for adequate oversight of tour bus operators,” said Janice Li, Advocacy Director at the San Francisco Bike Coalition. “It's critical that professional drivers have what they need to ensure that our city's streets are safe for everyone. Thank you to our civic leaders for taking steps to ensure that these companies are doing everything within their means to protect the people whose paths they cross.”
“By increasing our ability to regulate tour buses locally, the City’s streets will become safer for all,” said Nicole Ferrara, Executive Director at Walk San Francisco. “Buses can be especially dangerous given the physics of a large vehicle hitting the flesh and bone of a human body. We need to prevent these crashes from happening and help San Francisco become the first city in the nation to end all traffic deaths by 2024.”
Further information about AB 1677 is available at www.leginfo.ca.gov. Footage of today’s committee hearing is available on www.calchannel.com.