A number of transportation-related laws take effect on January 1, 2020. Below, we’ve highlighted those affecting most road users. To read the full text of any law, click the link to the right of the headline. Bicyclists May Travel Straight Through Turn Lanes (AB 1266): Cyclists will be allowed to proceed straight through turn lanes […]

California’s 12-cent gas tax increase went into effect this month, and you’ll soon see the impact at gas stations throughout the state. We have a couple of ways for you to beat the tax hike: Share the Ride – Whether you call it ridesharing or carpooling, it’s the same thing – sharing a ride and splitting […]

This Wednesday, you’re invited to Richmond City Hall to give the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) feedback on programs to increase the use of electric vehicles (EVs). California’s electric utilities, including PG&E, have proposed several programs to speed up the adoption of electric vehicles as part of an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At […]

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has announced that Green Clean Air Vehicle decals – which allow single-occupant plug-in hybrids to use the HOV lane – are no longer being issued. In late 2015, the DMV hit their limit of 85,000 stickers. Although the limit has been raised in the past, there is no guarantee that […]

If you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), visit San Francisco the weekend of November 23 & 24 for an Experience Electric event, where you can test drive EVs from a variety of manufacturers for free. The test-drive weekend is part of a series of Experience Electric events put together by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission […]

The City of Concord will soon be installing an electric vehicle charging station near Todos Santos Plaza. Although this isn’t the first car-charging station in Concord, it is the first one owned by the City. The purchase of the charging unit was made possible by a $7,000 grant from 511 Contra Costa using Bay Area Air […]

Electric car drivers, listen up! Last month (March 5th, to be precise), the City of Martinez adopted charging fees at electric vehicle charging stations. Users now have to pay $1 for each hour of charging. With gas prices climbing back towards $4 per gallon the fee is  nominal, not to mention necessary to keep such charging stations […]

Do you drive a low-emission motor vehicle? Would you like to get a sticker so you can use a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane?? Vehicles meeting specified emissions standards may be issued CAV decals allowing the vehicle to utilize the HOV (carpool or diamond) lanes of California’s freeways while being driven by a single occupant. Image via: […]

California residents, businesses,  non-profits, and government agencies can receive rebate of up to $2,500 toward the purchase or lease of electric plug-in vehicles. The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) provides rebates to Californians who purchase or lease electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles. The CVRP is funded through the California Air Resources Board (ARB) and is administered […]

Our weekly news & events roundup for Contra Costa County, East Bay & Bay Area for transit, biking and transportation. Get your good reads on!

Meet Austin’s Car2go – a new all-electric car rental program.

SAN FRANCISCO – 350Green announced its plans yesterday for a national network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Starting with its first project in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company plans to install and operate stations across urban retail shopping centers and other places near where EV drivers live and work. This approach aims to address […]

Where: Craneway Pavilion, 1414 Harbor Way South, Richmond, CA (minutes from 580 – directions) When: Saturday, October 9, 2010 from 10 AM – 5 PM Cost: $10 at the door, or free with a discount (visit mybart.org for details) Details: Come to the Bay Area’s first consumer expo dedicated to hybrid, plug-in, ev and other high-tech, ecofriendly […]

As we mentioned earlier this week, the Bay Area will receive $5 million for electric vehicle charging stations as part of the Spare the Air program. This should be welcome news indeed for any current electric vehicle owners or to those considering making the switch. One of the current deterrents to going electric is the […]

SAN FRANCISCO – Last week, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Board of Directors approved $5 million to support further development of a regional electric vehicle charging infrastructure program in the Bay Area. Today, the Department of Energy announced the program is designed to make electric vehicle ownership a viable option for residents […]

Upcoming Events & Meetings Thursday May 13, 2010 – Bike to Work Day Thursday May 13, 2010 – Evening on the Trails For more events, visit https://511contracosta.org/events/ Local News (Contra Costa County & East Bay) Bike Buck$ Program begins With road funds, Pittsburg plans 1.7-mile expressway, BART extension into East Contra Costa County, and other projects WestCAT […]

Three ChargePoint Stations Located in Downtown Martinez to be Unveiled on Earth Day, 4/22/10, 11:00 am at City Hall Martinez, CA – The City of Martinez is proud to announce that it will become the fifth Bay Area city to install ChargePoint® Networked Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles (EV). The three 120V stations, manufactured by […]

Concord, Calif. – On Saturday, April 24th Contra Costa residents can get a sneak peak at County Connection’s first hybrid electric buses before they officially go into service. County Connection will host an Earth Day event from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek. The public is invited to take a […]

Vacaville has 40 charging stations, a number per capita believed to be the largest in the nation. The city also has a municipal fleet that includes 24 electric-powered vehicles. The city also used to have Edward Huestis–the reason Vacaville is becoming known as ‘Voltage-ville’–but no longer. After working for the city of Vacaville for 17 […]

A couple of weeks ago, we blogged about Pleasant Hill’s new electric vehicle charger stations, unveiled on Dec. 10th. The charging station is the 2nd to be built in Contra Costa County and the 4th in the Bay Area, serving vehicles such as the Wheego, GEM (Global Electric Motorcar), Prius, and new EVs such as […]

511 Contra Costa in partnership with the City of Pleasant Hill is unveiling the City’s electric charging stations today, December 10, 2009.  The chargers allow for any plug-in electric vehicle to recharge at one of three locations in Pleasant  Hill; City Hall Visitor Parking lot, the public garage on Crescent Drive, and the City’s corporation […]

From Autopia Nissan’s Electric Leaf Spreads the EV Gospel (via The Transportationist) “You don’t worry about the battery,” Ghosn said. “We worry about the battery.” Company CEO Carlos Ghosn is among the industry’s loudest EV evangelists, and he firmly believes the four-door, five passenger Nissan Leaf will usher in the era of cleaner, greener motoring […]

Take our survey about electric/hybrid cars and get a $10 gift certificate for Peet’s Coffee.  Its short and simple, but this offer expires soon so act fast.

The City of Walnut Creek formally unveiled their Plug-in Electric Charging Stations located at the North and  South Locust Street garages, and at the Broadway Parking Garage.  Mayor Pro Tem Sue Rainey cut the cloth to unveil the ChargePoint electric charging station developed by Coulomb Technologies.  511 Contra Costa provided the funds for the charging stations and […]