Bike Safety Bills Hearing Report: What’s Next?

from MassBike:

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Our two bicyclist safety bills had their first hearing in the Joint Committee on Transportation on June 26th. In case you missed our Action Alert, the bills are:

•  The Act To Protect Vulnerable Road Users (S1639) defines vulnerable users and puts more responsibility on motorists to be careful around bicyclists and pedestrians. (Click here for the full text of the bill).
• The Act To Protect Bicyclists In Bicycle Lanes (S1640) prohibits motor vehicles from parking in bike lanes. (Click here for the full text of the bill).

For more information on the bills, please see our Legislative Fact Sheet.

MassBike Executive Director David Watson, Representative Denise Provost, Lewis Howe of The Safety Institute, and Hillary Borcherding of WalkBoston all testified in support of the bills. We know other senators and representatives were communicating their support for the bills but could not attend the hearing. We also submitted a letter of support, joined by the Massachusetts Public Health Association, Transportation for Massachusetts, the Boston Cyclists Union, WalkBoston, and The Safety Institute.

Many thanks to all of you who contacted your legislators  – your efforts definitely won more support for the bills!

So what exactly happened at the hearing? The committee did not comment on the bike lane bill. The Vulnerable Road Users bill is a bit more involved, and committee members both expressed support and raised questions. As is the practice in Massachusetts, the committee did not take action on any bills during the hearing. Our plan is to focus our advocacy efforts on members of the committee to respond to their concerns and build support to take action on the bills.

It’s not too late to ask your state representative and state senator to ask the committee to report favorably on these bills. If you want to do so, see our Action Alert for instructions.

If you are represented by a member of the committee (particularly co-chairs Senator McGee and Representative Straus), it’s even more important to let them know you support these bills. Click here to see who is on the committee.

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Bike Safety Bill Passes!

Governor Deval Patrick yesterday signed the Bicyclist Safety Bill into law, recognizing the importance of bicycling to the people of Massachusetts, particularly the growing role of bicycling in our transportation system. Coming on the heels of a year that saw gas prices soar to over $4 a gallon, huge increases in ridership on public transportation, and a surge in interest in bicycle commuting, the law will help more people, particularly new and less experienced bicyclists, take advantage of bicycling as an affordable transportation option.

The new law adds police training on bicycle law and dangerous behavior by bicyclists and motorists; explains how a motorist should safely pass a bicycle; explains how a motorist should safely make a turn in front of a bicycle; makes “dooring” (opening a car door into the path of a bicycle or other vehicle) subject to ticket and fine; permits bicyclists to ride two abreast when it does not impede cars from passing; and adds legal protections for bicyclists who choose to ride to the right of other traffic.

“The new law will encourage more people to ride bicycles by enhancing bicyclist safety and comfort level on Massachusetts roads,” said David Watson, Executive Director of MassBike, the bicycling advocacy group that shepherded the bill forward for eight years. “On behalf of all Massachusetts bicyclists, MassBike thanks our many supporters in the House and Senate for their persistence, and thanks Governor Patrick for recognizing that this law will help make Massachusetts a healthier, greener, more sustainable state.”

“Traveling by bicycle is a smart choice, for the environment, for your body, and for your wallet,” said Representative William Brownsberger, who assumed a leading role in moving the bill forward immediately upon taking office two years ago. “As a frequent bicycle commuter from Belmont to the State House, I have personally experienced the challenges faced by bicyclists on the road, and I am pleased that this law will make it easier and safer for more people to use their bikes to get around.”

“It is rare to see a law that directly addresses so many of the most challenging issues we face today: climate change; the health impacts of decreasing physical activity; and the rising cost of transportation,” said Representative Kay Khan of Newton, the House sponsor of the bill, who was instrumental in garnering the support of dozens of like-minded colleagues in the House and Senate – including Representative Robert DeLeo, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and Representative Frank Smizik, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture – to urge the Governor to sign the bill. “By making bicycling safer, and encouraging more people to ride bikes, we make progress on all these problems,” added Khan.

The Bicyclist Safety Bill was originally introduced in 2001 by now-retired Representative Anne Paulsen of Belmont, who worked closely with MassBike to draft a bill designed to modernize Massachusetts’ bicycle laws and improve bicyclist safety. Paulsen championed the bill until her retirement in December 2006, when the bill passed the House and Senate only to be vetoed by the outgoing Romney administration. Following Representative Paulsen’s retirement, Senator Pamela Resor of Acton (who herself just retired) took up leadership on the bill, filing the version that was ultimately signed into law by the Governor.

The Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) is a nonprofit bicycling advocacy group. Founded in 1977, the group has thousands of members statewide. MassBike promotes a bicycle-friendly environment, and encourages bicycling for fun, fitness, and transportation. MassBike’s programs focus on five key areas: promoting bicycle-friendly legislation; improving access and safety on roads and public transportation; educating adults, children, police, and the public about bicycling; encouraging bicycle commuting; and creating opportunities for people to ride together. For more information about MassBike, visit www.massbike.org.

For the full text of the law click here.

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