Tuesday, February 19, 2013
"Following Too Closely" bill defeated in the House
SB1060, the bill to modify Virginia code to prevent motorists from following a bicyclist too closely, was defeated in the VA House by a vote of 42-55. The bill would have removed two words from the existing code text (46.2-816): "The driver of aAn earlier version of the bill removed only the second occurrence of the word "motor" which would have allowed a bicyclist to draft another bicyclist. Even with the removal of the second occurrence of "motor", bicyclists supported the bill.
Thirty Democrats (all but one not voting) and 12 Republicans voted for the bill. A special thanks to delegates representing Fairfax who voted for the bill: Democrats: Keam, Plum, Bulova, Kory, Watts, Filler-Corn, Sickles, Surovell, Brink, Lopez, and Scott. Republicans: Comstock and Rust. Voting against the bill: Republicans: Albo and LeMunyon. Delegate Hugo did not vote. If your delegate voted in support of the bill, consider sending them a thank you note.
Virginia remains the only states that do not have a following too closely law that applies to bicyclists. See more info about the vote at the Virginia Bicycling Federation site.
Labels: follow too close, sb1060
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Progress on dooring and 3 foot passing bills
Virginia Bicycling Federation filed the following report on the dooring and 3 foot passing bills:
Senate Bill 736 (the Dooring bill) was reported out of the House Trans SubComm2 this morning by a 4-2 vote, after a motion to Table by Del. Garrett of Lynchburg, seconded by the Chair Del. Cox of Hanover failed by the same vote.
The bill now goes on to the full House Transportation Committee, where it will be heard next Tuesday, 1/2 hour after adjournment, which is usually about 2:15 – 2:30.
Thanks to all who weighed in by contacting committee members, and all will be asked to weigh in over the weekend, as we are getting close to getting this bill passed.
Senate Bill 1060/Reeves (3 foot passing and don’t follow too closely) has now been assigned to House Trans SubComm2, where it will be heard next Wednesday, 2/13 at 7:00 a.m.
Unfortunately SB959, the bill that would allow local jurisdictions to place STOP signs at marked crosswalks, which we think would add confusion to existing code which requires motorists to yield to pedestrians and cyclists at marked crosswalks, was voted out of the House Transportation subcommittee by a vote of 6-0.
The bill now goes on to the full House Transportation Committee, where it will be heard next Tuesday, 1/2 hour after adjournment, which is usually about 2:15 – 2:30.
Thanks to all who weighed in by contacting committee members, and all will be asked to weigh in over the weekend, as we are getting close to getting this bill passed.
Senate Bill 1060/Reeves (3 foot passing and don’t follow too closely) has now been assigned to House Trans SubComm2, where it will be heard next Wednesday, 2/13 at 7:00 a.m.
Labels: dooring, sb1060, sb736, sb959, stop signs
