California’s streets are changing, and AB 2168 is one of the strongest signals yet that the state is finally recognizing what organizations like Los Angeles Critical Mass have been saying for years: safe mobility is a right, not a luxury.

AB 2168 modernizes the Active Transportation Program (ATP)—the statewide funding source that builds bike lanes, pedestrian improvements, safe routes to school, and mobility‑justice infrastructure. For cities like Los Angeles, where thousands ride together each month demanding safer streets, this bill represents a major shift in how California invests in people, not just cars.

Expanding What Counts as Active Transportation

For years, ATP focused mainly on biking and walking. AB 2168 updates that definition to include access to public transit, recognizing that real mobility is multimodal. Under the new rules, ATP will prioritize projects that:

• Create safer routes to bus stops, rail stations, and transit corridors
• Improve access in underserved, rural, and historically overlooked communities
• Support transit‑oriented development and infill neighborhoods

This matters for Los Angeles. Our cyclists depend on safe connections between bikes, sidewalks, and transit. AB 2168 finally aligns state funding with how people actually move through the city.

Stronger Project Priorities and Real Accountability

AB 2168 directs the California Transportation Commission to update ATP scoring so that projects reflect modern mobility needs. That includes:

• Giving higher priority to projects that increase access to transit
• Encouraging cities to dedicate more of their State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds to active transportation
• Rewarding agencies that commit at least 50% of their STIP capacity to bike, pedestrian, and transit‑access improvements

And for the first time, the state is introducing accountability measures. Agencies that repeatedly delay ATP‑funded projects may face penalties in future funding cycles. Communities have waited too long for promised safety improvements—this bill ensures those delays have consequences.

Why AB 2168 Matters for Los Angeles Critical Mass

Every month, thousands of cyclists roll through Los Angeles demanding safer streets, better infrastructure, and a transportation system that serves everyone. AB 2168 supports that mission by:

• Recognizing transit access as a core safety issue
• Strengthening funding pathways for underserved communities
• Encouraging network‑level planning instead of isolated, one‑off projects
• Ensuring ATP dollars actually turn into real, built improvements

This bill gives advocates, cyclists, and community organizations a stronger foundation to push for the infrastructure Los Angeles needs now—not ten years from now.

Looking Ahead

The updates introduced by AB 2168 will be incorporated into the Active Transportation Program beginning January 1, 2028, shaping how future projects are planned, funded, and prioritized across California.

For Los Angeles Critical Mass, AB 2168 is more than legislation—it’s momentum. It’s another step toward a city where cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders move safely, confidently, and without fear.

We will continue to advocate, organize, and ride until every street in Los Angeles reflects the mobility justice this bill helps move forward.