L
Luigi de Guzman
Guest
The following forwarded by WABA:
****
SUPPORT SB 252 AND SB 101 IN VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES
SB 252 (Deeds) and SB 101 (Devolites), two bills that would improve bicycling conditions in
Virginia, will be heard by the Transportation Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates this
Tuesday and need *your* support TODAY. Both bills have already been passed by the Virginia Senate
(with amendments) and are now before the House. Please email, phone, or fax your delegate and
nearby members of the House Transportation Committee in support of these bills *today* (see contact
info below).
A short and simple request to please support SB 252 and SB 101 should be sufficient. Delegates
must hear that these bills are widely supported, so please act promptly and forward this alert
widely. During business hours, you can leave a brief phone message for your delegate with the
Constituent Viewpoint Hotline, 1-800-889-0229 (or 804-698-1990), only knowing your address. To
identify and contact your delegate, use the "Who's My Legislator" tool at
<http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy/constinput.asp>. If you already know your delegate's last name
or House District number, send email using <[email protected]> or phone their office
at 804-698-10XX, where XX is their House District number. The main fax number for delegates is
804-786-6310.
Please act promptly. If these bills are approved (reported out) by the House Transportation
Committee on Tuesday afternoon, the full House of Delegates will vote on these bills this week. Bill
summaries follow. For more and updated information, go to <http://leg1.state.va.us/>.
******
SB 252, Operation of Bicycles and Similar Vehicles (Deeds), would amend six sections of the Code of
Virginia regarding the operation of bicycles and similar vehicles to 1) clarify a two-foot minimum
safe passing distance for (motor) vehicles (Sec. 46.2-838); 2) allow bicyclists to signal right
turns and stopping with either the right or left arm (Sec. 46.2-849); 3) allow bicyclists to ride
two abreast when not impeding "the normal and reasonable movement of traffic" (Sec.
46.2-905); 4) remove the authority for local mandatory sidepath ordinances (Sec. 46.2-905); 5) cite
the current (CPSC) helmet safety standard in the section (46.2-906.1) that allows local bicycle
helmet ordinances; 6) direct that all transportation on wheels move with (not against) other
traffic (Sec. 46.2-932); and 7) allow (steady or blinking) lights and reflectors, in addition to
a white headlight and a red rear reflector, for bicycling between sunset and sunrise (Sec. 46.2-
1015). The Virginia Senate passed this bill (40-0) on 2/6/04 with minor amendments.
*****
SB 101, Pedestrians (Devolites), would amend Sections 46.2-923 and
47.2-924 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pedestrians crossing highways, to require drivers to
stop for--not merely yield to--pedestrians in crosswalks, when necessary. SB 101 would also
benefit bicyclists crossing highways on sidewalks or shared-use paths. The similar SB 451
(Whipple), which also passed the Senate, has been merged with SB 101 as one bill. A similar bill,
HB 539 (May), died in the House last week because some delegates opposed requiring drivers to
stop for pedestrians in crosswalks when necessary.
****
SUPPORT SB 252 AND SB 101 IN VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES
SB 252 (Deeds) and SB 101 (Devolites), two bills that would improve bicycling conditions in
Virginia, will be heard by the Transportation Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates this
Tuesday and need *your* support TODAY. Both bills have already been passed by the Virginia Senate
(with amendments) and are now before the House. Please email, phone, or fax your delegate and
nearby members of the House Transportation Committee in support of these bills *today* (see contact
info below).
A short and simple request to please support SB 252 and SB 101 should be sufficient. Delegates
must hear that these bills are widely supported, so please act promptly and forward this alert
widely. During business hours, you can leave a brief phone message for your delegate with the
Constituent Viewpoint Hotline, 1-800-889-0229 (or 804-698-1990), only knowing your address. To
identify and contact your delegate, use the "Who's My Legislator" tool at
<http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy/constinput.asp>. If you already know your delegate's last name
or House District number, send email using <[email protected]> or phone their office
at 804-698-10XX, where XX is their House District number. The main fax number for delegates is
804-786-6310.
Please act promptly. If these bills are approved (reported out) by the House Transportation
Committee on Tuesday afternoon, the full House of Delegates will vote on these bills this week. Bill
summaries follow. For more and updated information, go to <http://leg1.state.va.us/>.
******
SB 252, Operation of Bicycles and Similar Vehicles (Deeds), would amend six sections of the Code of
Virginia regarding the operation of bicycles and similar vehicles to 1) clarify a two-foot minimum
safe passing distance for (motor) vehicles (Sec. 46.2-838); 2) allow bicyclists to signal right
turns and stopping with either the right or left arm (Sec. 46.2-849); 3) allow bicyclists to ride
two abreast when not impeding "the normal and reasonable movement of traffic" (Sec.
46.2-905); 4) remove the authority for local mandatory sidepath ordinances (Sec. 46.2-905); 5) cite
the current (CPSC) helmet safety standard in the section (46.2-906.1) that allows local bicycle
helmet ordinances; 6) direct that all transportation on wheels move with (not against) other
traffic (Sec. 46.2-932); and 7) allow (steady or blinking) lights and reflectors, in addition to
a white headlight and a red rear reflector, for bicycling between sunset and sunrise (Sec. 46.2-
1015). The Virginia Senate passed this bill (40-0) on 2/6/04 with minor amendments.
*****
SB 101, Pedestrians (Devolites), would amend Sections 46.2-923 and
47.2-924 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pedestrians crossing highways, to require drivers to
stop for--not merely yield to--pedestrians in crosswalks, when necessary. SB 101 would also
benefit bicyclists crossing highways on sidewalks or shared-use paths. The similar SB 451
(Whipple), which also passed the Senate, has been merged with SB 101 as one bill. A similar bill,
HB 539 (May), died in the House last week because some delegates opposed requiring drivers to
stop for pedestrians in crosswalks when necessary.