At the SacATC 2026-10-15 meeting, a commissioner, I’ve forgotten who, commented that these details of policy and expenditure were exactly what the commission should be focused on and spending time to come up with consensus. And that leads to this post.
In my opinion, the commission spends too much time reacting to staff presentations on projects already in planning, and too little time talking about where the city should be going with active transportation, and policies that would support that direction.
The Sacramento City/County Bicycle Advisory Committee (SacBAC) ceased operation at the end of 2017, mostly through my advocacy. The committee was ineffective largely because the county representative, Dan Klinker, would routinely try to kill any city ideas or actions to improve safety for bicyclists. My vision was for a city-only committee, people sitting around a table, that would have deep discussions on policy and actions, come to consensus, and relay this to city council. I was disappointed that the city instead formed a commission, in the traditional commission format of city-appointed members sitting on the dais, separate from advocates and the public, an ‘us and them’ structure. I am glad walkers (pedestrians) were added, becoming ‘active transportation’ rather than just bicycles. In practice, the main function of the commission is to review and respond to city staff presentations on projects that are already in planning stages.
Again and again, projects are brought to the commission that have the same flaws and oversights, and again and again, the commission must express the same concerns. If there were clear policy in place, and modern street design standards, this would not be necessary. The city has delayed an update of street design standards for years. Every project that modifies streets, or reallocates right-of-way width, should include wide sidewalks and wide sidewalk buffers with trees. Again and again, the projects fall short in this respect. Every project should include narrower and/or fewer lanes and reduced speed limits. Again and again, the projects fall short in this respect.
It is possible to reform the commission and its charter so that most of the meetings are spent on analyzing existing policy and developing new policy aimed at making city streets safe and welcoming to those who walk, bicycle and roll. That would be incredible useful, and a true fulfillment of its mission to advise city council. On the other hand, if the current practice to use the commission as a checkbox or rubber stamp for city staff continues, then it serves little purpose. Perhaps it should be disbanded.
It would not be in the nature of the current city manager and senior staff to allow anything like a effective committee to exist, so it might be necessary for the advocacy community to form and formalize its own committee, and speak directly to city council, without screening by city staff and P&PE. The Personnel & Public Employees Committee (P&PE), was formed by the city manager for the purpose of screening the work of commissions and boards, isolating the city council from the commissions and boards. It has been quite effective at doing so.
The SacATC ‘charter’, from the Active Transportation Commission webpage, is:
The commission is established for the purpose of providing advice on strategies related to walking, bicycling, and rolling in the city. The powers and duties of the commission are as follows:
- Advise city council on the implementation, criteria, and priority of pedestrian, bicycling, and rolling related policies and projects.
- Provide input to city council on the pursuit of grant funding opportunities.
- Provide input on program development in walking, bicycle safety, and rolling education, law enforcement, and other areas pertinent to walking, bicycling, and rolling in the city.
- Review and discuss current walking, bicycling, and rolling issues and advise city council.
- Advise city council on the need for periodic updates of the pedestrian master plan and bikeway master plan.
- Provide for public participation and involvement regarding the implementation of walking, bicycling, and rolling projects and programs, and other active transportation matters.
- Annually, report to and make recommendations to the city council regarding the status of walking, bicycling, and rolling in the city and activities of the commission.
I want to acknowledge that despite the structural limitations imposed by the city, the commission, and particularly the ad-hoc committee that developed the annual report, have put in a lot of time, and a whole lot of passion, to make Sacramento safer from traffic violence, and more livable and economically vibrant place.
