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Cyclists in Suits Day

446 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by connie, Apr 20, 2005

CycleMainiac

Discussion Starter · Apr 19, 2005

I was a bike lobbiest yesterday.

This is the third time I have participated as a volunteer for the Texas Bicycle Coalition's Cyclists in Suits day at the State Capitol.

This year the focus was to get a Safe Passing Law passed where drivers are to give cyclists a minimum of 3 feet of space while passing at 30mph or less and 6 feet or a complete lane change for over 30 mph.

What this law will actually do is give police and DA's a tool for prosocuting drivers that rear end cyclists. Currently there is little if anything to charge a a driver with for hitting a cyclist from behind.

Anyway it was a fun way to spend the day smoozing the legislatures for a good cause.

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formica

· #2 · Apr 19, 2005

way to go!!! how close are you to getting the law passed?

formica

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CycleMainiac

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 19, 2005

It made it out of the senate transportation committee and is headed for a full senate vote. As of yesterday morning they (TBC) were still looking for a sponsor for the corresponding house bill. Several of the leg aids I talked to said their bosses would likely support the bills and a couple said their bosses would sponsor an equivelent house bill. So it's making progress.

On the up side, TBC has an incredible track record of getting bike leg passed. Two sessions ago there was a bill to ban bikes from county roads. Not only was that bill beat into oblivion but the Senetors and House Reps were turned to favoring a Safe Routes to Schools bill, The Matthew Brown Act.

The actual language of the bill is a bit odd but here is a summary

SB 859 Summary: This is modeled on the Move Over (for emergency vehicles) Act which passed in the 2003 session. This model simpifies the punishment issues and provides a clear framework for identifying the obligations of a passing motorist to either move over or slow down when passing a cyclist.

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mtbbrian

· #4 · Apr 19, 2005

Utah just passed a similiar law.
Last summer a cyclist was killed when she was rear ended by a motorist.
Good Luck!
Brian

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connie

· #5 · Apr 20, 2005

mtbbrian said:
Utah just passed a similiar law.
Last summer a cyclist was killed when she was rear ended by a motorist.
Good Luck!
Brian

But they also passed a law over a year ago making it a requirement that you change lanes to leave a space (or slow WAY down if you can't move over) when passing a cop who has someone pulled over on the side of the road (because there were people actually hitting cops and cop cars on the side of the road

). And I think I may be one of about 10 people in the state who actually does it. So I'm still scared to ride on roads around here - it might help with prosecution, but I don't know that it makes it any safer... I prefer riding DH, where I'll be the one responsible for my injuries.

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screampint

· #6 · Apr 20, 2005

You're doing a great thing. Thank you for your efforts. It seems like common sense to give people space for safety, but here we are, having to pass legislation to mandate it. What a comment on our society.

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connie

· #7 · Apr 20, 2005

screampint said:
You're doing a great thing. Thank you for your efforts. It seems like common sense to give people space for safety, but here we are, having to pass legislation to mandate it. What a comment on our society.

Agreed. Though my post earlier reflects my frustration with bad drivers, things like this do increase awareness and every little bit helps!! Good on ya for putting forth the effort!!

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