By Tony Bizjak, Sacramento Bee

California is now the ninth “friendliest” biking state in the country, jumping up from 19th place last year, according to the latest rankings by the League of American Bicyclists.

For the seventh year in a row, Washington is ranked first nationally in the league’s Bicycle Friendly States analysis.

California leaped into the top 10 mainly because the state committed to increasing bike funding 30 percent last year after the federal government cut back on bike and pedestrian funding. The league also cited the state’s new law requiring drivers to give cyclists 3 feet of space when passing on the street.

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