Pedicabs: licensing.

(1) Existing law regulates the operation of bicycles. Under existing law, local authorities may regulate, by ordinance or resolution, among other things, the licensing and operation of vehicles for hire and drivers of passenger vehicles for hire. This bill would define the term "pedicab" for purposes of the Vehicle Code. The bill would authorize a city or county to adopt rules and regulations, by an ordinance or resolution, licensing and regulating the operation of pedicabs for hire, and operators of pedicabs for hire, including requiring one or more of the following: (1) a valid California driver's license; (2) proof of successful completion of a bicycle safety training course certified by the League of American Bicyclists or an equivalent organization as determined by the local authority; or (3) a valid California identification card and proof of successful completion of the written portion of the California driver's license examination. (2) Under existing law, every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights of, and is subject to specified provisions in, the Vehicle Code, including rules of the road, that are applicable to the driver of a vehicle. This bill would make those provisions also applicable to a person operating a pedicab. By making the operation of a pedicab subject to the Vehicle Code, a violation of which is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) The bill would incorporate changes to Section 21100 of the Vehicle Code proposed by both this bill and AB 2756, which would become operative only if both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2011, each bill amends that section, and this bill is enacted last. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.