California SUV Ban Hidden in Plain Sight
Two years ago, Slate had a piece noting that California weight restrictions against vehicles over 6,000 lbs prohibited SUVs from many streets, but nobody realized it because people thought the signs were for delivery trucks. (A Hummer H2 weighs 8,600 lbs.) It seems most of the ordinances were written with trucks in mind, not SUV's, and so the secret SUV-ban went unenforced.
From the article:
This isn't an arbitrary weight limit. 6,000 pounds has long been a recognized dividing line between light and heavy trucks. (For example, the Clean Air Act defines "heavy duty vehicle" as a truck with a gross vehicle weight "in excess of six thousand pounds.") But local officials either don't realize they've banned big SUVs, or they're hoping no one will make a stink. ...
[T]hese weight limits generally predate the 1990s SUV craze that lured suburbanites out of their lighter sedans and minivans. It's the vehicles that have changed, not the law. These ordinances remain on the books and they're not obscure. They're clearly marked on signs in many California cities.
Since this piece is a bit dated, it is unclear whether authorities actually started banning SUV's, started rewriting laws, or continued to ignore the problem. Does anybody know if there are any New York-area equivalents?
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
DOT Aims to Build First Avenue Tunnel Bike Lane Before September’s UN General Assembly
DOT hopes to have the concrete-protect tunnel bike lane installed this summer, but its exact plans are still in development.
Waste Reforms Could Require Data on Crashes, Dangerous Driving
The proposal affects at least one trucking company with a deadly driving record.
When it Comes to Federal Infrastructure Grants, Size Does Matter
Cities and municipalities with larger budgets and staff are more likely to win competitive federal infrastructure grants, the Urban Institute has found.
Tuesday’s Headlines: Real Estate Greed Against Good Bike Lane Design Edition
A real estate developer's opposition to the Ashland Place protected bike lane yields some baffling bike lane markings. Plus more news.
City Considers Fixes for Another Ridiculously Slow Cross-Bronx Bus
Potential bus improvements are on the table for the Bronx's Tremont Avenue, but the Adams administration's failures on nearby Fordham Road loom large.
