Circulator - 03/20/2026 - Circulate Planning & Policy

Published March 20, 2026

Circulate San Diego is now Circulate Planning & Policy
BikeSD x Circulate Bike Audit!
Planning Team Member Becomes a League Cycling Instructor (LCI)
Announcing the Affordable Homes Bonus Law
Rep. Scott Peters at Advisory Circle Dinner
City Approves Lowering Speed Limits Citywide!
Circulate Launches E-Bike Toolkit
Upcoming: 5th Annual Transportation Justice Expo
YIMBY Action is Hiring!
Happy International Women’s Month!
Circulate News

Circulate San Diego is now Circulate Planning & Policy

After more than 27 years of advancing safer streets, better transit, and sustainable growth, Circulate San Diego is now Circulate Planning & Policy.

The new name reflects the full scope of the organization’s work today. Circulate is advancing policy and planning solutions across California to address complex mobility and land use challenges, while staying rooted in its mission to create excellent mobility choices and vibrant, healthy neighborhoods.

In recent years, that work has expanded well beyond San Diego. Circulate has built a presence in Sacramento, sponsoring legislation and helping shape statewide policy, while also increasing its planning and community engagement efforts across Southern California.

To mark this next chapter, Circulate is also launching a vintage merchandise collection featuring logos from WalkSanDiego, Move San Diego, and Circulate San Diego.

Our staff, leadership, and commitment to our mission remain the same — we’re just growing, evolving, and expanding our impact. Thank you for supporting us through every era — here’s to the next chapter!

BikeSD x Circulate Bike Audit!

Join us on Saturday, April 4th at 10:00 am for a 4-mile Bike Audit around North Park and University Heights!

In collaboration with BikeSD, we will be going over existing cycling conditions and opportunities to improve safety around the schools in this area.

We will be meeting at North Park Community Park at the intersection of Polk Avenue and Idaho Street. Wear sunscreen and bring water!

RSVP HERE!

Planning Team Member Becomes a League Cycling Instructor (LCI)

Over the past months, Circulate Assistant Planner Leslie Aparicio leveraged her Circulate professional development benefits to work towards her League Cycling Instructor (LCI) certification through the League of American Bicyclists.

After finishing two Smart Cycling classes at the Oceanside Public Library, which consisted of several hours of classroom education, a 13-mile bike ride, completion of a skills course, and a written exam, Leslie was ready for the LCI Seminar hosted by the San Diego County Bike Coalition.

At the seminar Leslie spent three days in classes, giving presentations, teaching lessons, and taking both road and written tests. Now that Leslie is an LCI, she is officially certified to teach a wide range of bicycle safety lessons and skills to both new and returning bicyclists and youth!

Congratulations Leslie!

Announcing the Affordable Homes Bonus Law

Last week, Circulate and Assemblymember David Alvarez announced AB 2433, the Affordable Homes Bonus Law!

This new legislation will modernize California Bonus Law to create more homeownership opportunities, build more affordable homes, and streamline benefits. This legislation follows Circulate’s two recent successful reforms to Bonus Law, AB 2345 (2020, Gonzalez) and AB 1287 (2023, Alvarez). Following these reforms, Bonus Law has become by far California’s most utilized streamlining law.

Assemblymember Alvarez spoke to the housing shortage, and how this bill will support new affordable supply. Colin spoke to Bonus Law’s widespread use today, and how its current success is thanks to reforms initially championed in San Diego. Rammy Cortez, of Rammy Urban Infill, spoke to the importance of Bonus Law to builders like himself.

AB 2433 is sponsored by Circulate Planning & Policy, SPUR, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Inner City Law Center.

We need your support to pass this legislation to build more affordable homes!

SIGN ON AS A SUPPORTER OF AB 2433!

Rep. Scott Peters at Advisory Circle Dinner

Last week, Circulate convened the fifth meeting of our Advisory Circle, bringing together regional leaders in land use, transportation, and housing alongside our key supporters. The Advisory Circle helps shape the direction of Circulate Planning & Policy by offering candid feedback on our work and helping identify where we can have the greatest impact in the year ahead.

We were also excited to share our new name, Circulate Planning & Policy, reflecting the growing reach of our work across Southern California and at the state level.

We were honored to welcome Congressman Scott Peters as our guest. Throughout his career, he has been a consistent advocate for expanding housing opportunities, investing in transit, and advancing environmental solutions. His perspective grounded our discussion in the federal context and underscored the importance of aligning local progress with national policy.

Interested in joining the Advisory Circle? Membership is open to our Gold, Platinum, and Benefactor members. To learn more or renew, visit our Corporate Membership page.

City Approves Lowering Speed Limits Citywide!

This week, the City Council approved a plan to lower speed limits across the City of San Diego! The approved plan would reduce speed limits on 20 percent of the City’s street network.

Circulate and Vision Zero advocates have been pushing the City to take this action, following the authority granted by the State Legislature in AB 43. Thanks to our advocacy, the City Transportation Department committed to prioritizing implementation in school zones, to make streets safer for children as soon as possible.

The speed limit reductions will be implemented as signs are installed, which will cost $2.4 million and must be approved in the FY 27 budget. Circulate will continue pushing the Mayor to make this a funding priority in the upcoming fiscal year.

While speed limit reductions are a great first step, this alone will not get us to vision zero. Infrastructure changes, like fixing the Fatal 15 and traffic calming installations, must be paired with speed reductions to maximize their impact.

Circulate Launches E-Bike Toolkit

This week, Circulate released a toolkit to help media, elected officials, and San Diegans identify electric bicycles (E-Bikes) and the rules associated with different classes.

Circulate has a long history of advocating for street safety for all vulnerable road users. As we see increasing concerns over E-Bikes being presented in the media, we thought it was important to ensure that we all have a common understanding of what is exactly considered an E-Bike. Especially as recent press coverage has misidentified certain vehicles as E-Bikes.

Read the full toolkit here!

Upcoming: 5^th Annual Transportation Justice Expo

The Urban Collaborative Project is celebrating five years of community-powered mobility with the Transportation Justice Expo.

Their annual event honors community leadership, advances health equity, and uplifts transportation and environmental justice in San Diego’s most diverse and disproportionately impacted communities. They continue their commitment to equitable, safe, and sustainable mobility, infrastructure, and climate solutions.

Join them on Saturday, April 11 between 10:00 – 2:00 PM. This year’s event will take place at Market Creek Plaza, accessible via Euclid Avenue Station.

For more information, contact [email protected]

RSVP HERE!

YIMBY Action is Hiring!

Circulate San Diego’s partner YIMBY Action is hiring for two roles on its organizing team:

Bay Area Organizing Director:Lead regional political strategy, grow membership, mobilize volunteers, and drive pro-housing wins across San Francisco, Marine, and the East Bay. Must be located in San Francisco. Compensation is $110 k- $120k / year
National Chapter Manager:Support and mobilize volunteer leaders across the country, provide administrative support for growth initiatives. Remote position. Compensation is $77k - $89k / year.

Apply Here!

Happy International Women’s Month!

One woman can make a difference, but together we can rock the world!

These are the wonderful ladies of Circulate Planning & Policy, that work to promote safe streets, equitable mobility and public policy to create true, vibrant, healthy neighborhoods.

From top left to right: Aria Grossman-Policy Manager, Cierra Johnson-Senior Planner, Maria Walker- Associate Planner, Carlisle Dockery- Director of Planning and Community Engagement

From bottom left to right: Leslie Aparicio- Assistant Planner, Davida Garcia- Administrator

Happy International Women's Month!