Monday, January 30, 2017
Vulnerable User Bill Moves to Senate Floor
The vulnerable road user bill introduced by Senator Scott Surovell will soon be voted on by the full Virginia Senate. From Virginia Bicycling Federation:
SB 1339, Careless driving; cause of injury to vulnerable road user, has now made it to the Senate Floor and it is time to contact YOUR Senator and ask them to support it.
How to contact your state senator: visit “Who’s My Legislator”.
Here is a sample letter you can use:
Please vote for SB 1339 Careless driving (Surovell) on the Senate Floor.
As amended in the Senate Transportation Committee, SB 1339 would establish a simple traffic infraction, with no suspension of a drivers license, when a “person who operates a motor vehicle in a careless or distracted manner…is the proximate cause of serious physical injury to a vulnerable road user, defined in the bill as a pedestrian or person riding a bicycle, electric wheelchair, electric bicycle, wheelchair, skateboard, skates, foot-scooter, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle.”
Virginia is one of only four states (with MA, SD, and WI) that does not statutorily require drivers to exercise due care at all times to avoid colliding with a pedestrian or bicyclist. While SB 1339 would be applicable only when a driver’s carelessness has caused a serious injury, it’s still better than what Virginia has today.
How to contact your state senator: visit “Who’s My Legislator”.
Here is a sample letter you can use:
Please vote for SB 1339 Careless driving (Surovell) on the Senate Floor.
As amended in the Senate Transportation Committee, SB 1339 would establish a simple traffic infraction, with no suspension of a drivers license, when a “person who operates a motor vehicle in a careless or distracted manner…is the proximate cause of serious physical injury to a vulnerable road user, defined in the bill as a pedestrian or person riding a bicycle, electric wheelchair, electric bicycle, wheelchair, skateboard, skates, foot-scooter, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle.”
Virginia is one of only four states (with MA, SD, and WI) that does not statutorily require drivers to exercise due care at all times to avoid colliding with a pedestrian or bicyclist. While SB 1339 would be applicable only when a driver’s carelessness has caused a serious injury, it’s still better than what Virginia has today.
Labels: sb 1339, vulnerable road users
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Update on Bike Bills in VA Legislature
We've been following Virginia Bicycling Federation's reports on the bills that could affect bicyclists in the fast-moving Va legislative session. Below are updates from a previous blog entry, indicated with underlining.
SB 860 Use of handheld personal communications devices while driving; penalty. Would prohibit usage of handheld personal communication devices while driving. Filed by Sen. Surovell. Update 19 Jan - Failed by a vote of 7-6 along party lines, with Republicans all voting against.
SB 860 Use of handheld personal communications devices while driving; penalty. Would prohibit usage of handheld personal communication devices while driving. Filed by Sen. Surovell. Update 19 Jan - Failed by a vote of 7-6 along party lines, with Republicans all voting against.
SB 1207 & HB 2016 Electric personal delivery devices. Identical bills filed by Sen. DeSteph and Del. Villanueva: Allows for the operation of electric personal delivery devices on the sidewalks and shared-use paths and across roadways on crosswalks in the Commonwealth unless otherwise prohibited by a locality. The bill directs that such devices shall not be considered vehicles and are exempt from the motor carrier provisions of Title 46.2 (Motor Vehicles).
SB 1223 Riding bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, etc., while intoxicated; penalty, making it a Class 2 Misdemeanor to ride a bicycle, SegWay, moped, or electric power assisted bicycle on a highway while intoxicated. Filed by Sen. Baker. Update 19 Jan - An additional bill being watched by VBF.
SB 1223 Riding bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, etc., while intoxicated; penalty, making it a Class 2 Misdemeanor to ride a bicycle, SegWay, moped, or electric power assisted bicycle on a highway while intoxicated. Filed by Sen. Baker. Update 19 Jan - An additional bill being watched by VBF.
SB 1339. Careless driving; cause of injury to vulnerable road user. a bill which creates a lower criminality threshold and higher penalties for drivers who injure pedestrians and cyclists. Filed by Sen. Surovell
HB 1504 Issuance of a driver's license or learner's permit; minimum standards for vision tests; and HB 1514 Health care practitioners; reporting disabilities of drivers. Two bills attempting to get drivers with poor vision off the road that was filed at the request of Dr. Ed Wortham, an ophthalmologist and the father of Carrie Wortham, who was killed in September 2015 by a driver with poor vision who drove into her as she was cycling on Rt. 33. Filed by Del. Fowler.
HB1633 Careless driving; cause of injury to vulnerable road user. which creates a lower criminality threshold and higher penalties for drivers who injure pedestrians and cyclists. Filed by Del. Rip Sullivan and co-sponsored by Del. Jim LeMunyon.
HB1633 Careless driving; cause of injury to vulnerable road user. which creates a lower criminality threshold and higher penalties for drivers who injure pedestrians and cyclists. Filed by Del. Rip Sullivan and co-sponsored by Del. Jim LeMunyon.
HB 2023 Highway maintenance payments; bicycle lanes. The bill to not reduce highway maintenance payments to municipalities that have implemented road diets. Filed by Del. Villanueva. Update 19 Jan - Reported out of Transportation Committee 20-0.
Labels: 2017 virginia legislative session, vulnerable road users
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Fairfax Co Delegation's Pre-General Assembly Public Hearing Saturday
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| W&OD Trail at Wiehle Ave |
Not passing another vehicle at a crosswalk: Del. Kaye Kory plans to submit a bill that will address the situation in which one motorist is stopped for a pedestrian or bicyclist in a multi lane road. A vehicle approaching in the same direction must not pass that stopped vehicle. Del. Kory introduced a similar bill, HB 320, two years ago.
Many crashes occur when one motorist stops, a cyclist proceeds through the intersection, then a second motorist does not stop and hits the cyclist. In 2012 a cyclist was struck while in the crosswalk on Wiehle Ave at the W&OD Trail. There are four southbound lanes and often motorists in one, two, or three lanes will stop but not in the fourth lane, usually the inside turn lane that has a separate green arrow.
In 2013 a cyclist was severely injured when crossing Sunrise Valley Dr at the W&OD Trail when one motorist stopped and the second motorist continued.
Vulnerable road users: Senator Scott Surovell plans to introduce a vulnerable road user bill in which "A person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor who operates a motor vehicle in a careless or distracted manner and is the proximate cause of serious physical injury of a vulnerable road user." Bicyclists are included in the vulnerable road user category. [Delegate Rip Sullivan will patron this bill in the House.]
We do not yet have bill numbers for these two proposed bills. Click on the link to the sponsor's name to see their sponsored bills, and consider attending the public meeting on Saturday and supporting the bills, or at a minimum, asking Del. Kory and Sen. Surovell about their bills.
Update 8 Jan: We just learned of two other bicycle-related bills being introduced in this session:
HJ55 - House Joint Resolution 55 was introduced by Del. Lingamfelter (R-Fauquier & Prince William Counties). "Requesting the Department of State Police to study the laws and policies governing bicycling on state highways. Report."
Del. Lingamfelter voted agains the Three Foot Passing bill and the Following Too Closely bill.
From the HJ55:
In conducting its study, the Department of State Police shall consider (i) the policies that govern safe bicycling on state highways and how bicycling on highways may be made safer; (ii) whether certain highways should be restricted to bicycling on the basis of hazardous physical characteristics, traffic flow, speed limits, and visibility of bicyclers by motorists; (iii) any safety-related standards bicyclists should observe that are not currently required; (iv) any additional measures motorists should observe that are not currently required; (v) whether additional education requirements for bicyclists and motorists are needed to enhance bicycling safety; and (vi) effective bicycling safety policies in other states.
SB195 - Senate Bill 195 was introduced by Sen. Kenneth Alexander (D-Chesapeake City & Norfolk City). "A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1015 of the Code of Virginia, relating to rear lights on bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds."The bill would require all bikes ridden on the highway to have a white front light and a red rear light. Currently rear lights are not required at night unless the speed of the road is 35mph or greater. However, the word "highway" was added to the existing bill which in effect would not require bicyclists to have lights at night if riding on a trail.
We will post updates to these and other bills as we hear about them during the legislative session progresses. Our main source for info during the session is usually Virginia Bicycling Federation folks.
Labels: delegate kaye kory, no passing at crosswalk, senator scott surovell, vulnerable road users
