SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 20

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR WINSLOW

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 20: PUBLIC SAFETY: CROSSWALK, CURB, AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE INCORPORATION OF SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY MEASURES IN ALL CROSSWALKS, CURBS, AND SIDEWALKS TO BETTER PROTECT SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 20: RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY

WHEREAS, SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE EXPOSED TO UNNECESSARY RISKS EVERY DAY FROM THE LACK OF SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF CROSSWALKS, CURBS, AND SIDEWALKS; AND

WHEREAS, MANY SIDEWALKS ARE TOO NARROW TO ALLOW TWO WHEELCHAIR-BOUND SENIORS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO PASS EACH OTHER IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AT THE SAME TIME; AND

WHEREAS, THE TIME ALLOTTED TO CROSS MANY ROADWAYS IS INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW A SENIOR OR A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY TO CROSS COMPLETELY WITHOUT BEING EXPOSED TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC; AND

WHEREAS, MANY MUNICIPALITIES HAVE INSTALLED AUDITORY SIGNALS TO INDICATE WHEN IT IS SAFE TO CROSS A ROADWAY AT CROSSWALKS, AND THESE AUDITORY SIGNALS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY; AND

WHEREAS, RAMPS, LANDINGS, AND CROSSWALK BUTTONS AT INTERSECTIONS LACK UNIFORMITY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO USE THEM SAFELY; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2008 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE STATE REQUIRE THE INCORPORATION OF SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY MEASURES IN ALL CROSSWALKS, CURBS, AND SIDEWALKS TO BETTER PROTECT SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 08 22177

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