Bicycle Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 Hearing

From WABA

In October, Councilmember Jim Graham, chair of the DC Council's Public Works and Environment Committee, introduced Bill 17-981, the Bicycle Safety Enhancement Act of 2008. The recommendations contained within the bill are mainly a response to the death of local cyclist Alice Swanson earlier this year.  Following Ms. Swanson death, WABA developed a list of recommendations to help better protect cyclists from heavy vehicles and many of WABA's recommendations are containing in the bill.  The Bicycle Safety Enhancement Act includes the following:

1)  A requirement that blind spot mirrors be installed on all DC owned heavy duty vehicles
2)  New bicyclist and pedestrian awareness training for DC heavy vehicle operators
3)  A new law requiring that motorists give three feet of space when passing cyclists
4)  A fine for the use of restricted lanes (bus/bike lanes or bike lanes) by unauthorized vehicles

What You Can Do to Help:

A hearing on the legislation has been scheduled for Friday, November 14th at 2pm.  WABA urges you to contact the DC Council to express your support for the Bicycle Safety Enhancement Act.  We have provided a sample letter for you to send to the Council, but please remember that personal messages are much more effective.  If you'd like to testify in person at the Council hearing, please contact Maria Angelica Puig-Monsen at 202-724-8195 or email mpuigmonsen@dccouncil.us by November 12th.  Written statements of support for the bill can also be sent to Ms. Puig-Monsen's email address.

Photo by BikePortland.org

Comments

[Allen Muchnick]

These are all worthy (or at least harmless) measures, but DC must better educate bicyclists not to pass vehicles on the right, especially trucks and buses near intersections, driveways, and alleys. Unfortunately, DDOT's bike lane striping program may be doing more to worsen than alleviate these real bicycling dangers.

[Contrarian]

I wish in point 3 WABA had said "allow" rather than "give." They ain't givin' us nothin'!

To Allen's point, everything I have ever seen from DDOT shows that they feel the goal of facilities is to keep cyclists out of the travel lane. Their design guide is permeated with that thinking, and they have painted some monumentally stupid bike lanes in this city. Passing on the right is the logical conclusion of that philosophy.

[gwadzilla]

oh man!

I had been misinformed some where in time that three feet was the law

[Contrarian]

I filled out the WABA form and sent it in. I got a response from Mary Cheh that she is supporting the bill. Also this somewhat cryptic note from Jack Evans:
"Thank you very much for taking the time to share your thoughts on this issue. Please contact my colleagues if you haven't done so already."

I'm not sure if that means he's on our side and wants to spread the word -- or if it means leave me alone, go ask someone else. I don't really see this as a Jack Evans issue.

[freewheel]

Re: Allen's comment - maybe it's time to rethink bike lanes altogether and instead educate the public about bicyclists' right to the road.

[Chris]

Agree 100% with freewheel. To be honest, it's a reason why, although I'm a member, I've become increasingly uneasy with WABA's approach.