BILL NUMBER: AB 2707AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 11, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chau FEBRUARY 21, 2014 An act to add Section 35400.81 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2707, as amended, Chau. Vehicles: length limitations: buses: bicycle transportation devices. Existing law imposes a 40-foot limitation on the length of vehicles that may be operated on the highways, with specified exemptions. Existing law exempts from this limitation an articulated bus or trolley and a bus, except a schoolbus, that is operated by a public agency or passenger stage corporation that is used in a transit system if it is equipped with a folding device attached to the front of the vehicle that is designed and used exclusively for transporting bicycles, does not materially affect efficiency or visibility of vehicle safety equipment, and does not extend more than 36 inches from the front of the body of the bus or trolley when fully deployed. In addition, existing law prohibits a bicycle that is transported on the above-described device from having the bicycle handlebars extend more than 42 inches from the front of the vehicle. This bill would authorize the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to install folding devices attached to the front of its buses that are designed and used exclusively for transporting bicycles as long as those devices meet certain requirements, including, but not limited to, extending not more than 40 inches from the front of the bus when fully deployed, and that the handlebars of the bicycles being transported extend not more than 46 inches from the front of the bus.The bill would require the authority to consult with the labor organization that is the exclusive representative of the bus drivers of the authority before implementing the bill.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 35400.81 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read: 35400.81.(a)Notwithstanding Section 35400, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority created pursuant to Section 130051 of the Public Utilities Code may install a folding device attached to the front of a bus that is designed and used exclusively for transporting bicycles if the following conditions are met:(1)(a) The device does not extend more than 40 inches from the front body of the bus when fully deployed.(2)(b) The device, including all bicycles transported thereon, is mounted in a manner that does not materially affect efficiency or visibility of vehicle safety equipment.(3)(c) The handlebars of a bicycle that is transported on a device described in this subdivision do not extend more than 46 inches from the front of the bus.(b) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall, before implementing this section, consult with the labor organization that is the exclusive representative of the bus drivers of the authority to ensure the safe operation of a 45-foot bus that is equipped with a front-mounted bicycle rack.SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances of a large number of bicycle riders using buses operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the need to determine whether there are safety considerations in having 40-inch bicycle racks on the front of the authority's buses.