Bike Maryland is hosting the 18th Annual Bike Symposium in Annapolis next Tuesday, March 17th.
It's unclear what bike-specific legislation is this year, but if you want to lobby for better bike laws (or more funding) in Maryland, this is a great opportunity to do so. One issue highlighted is fixing the three-foot passing law.
We worked with Senator Kathy Klausmeier (District 8) and Delegate Stephen Lafferty (District 42A) to enter SB 547 and HB 588, which closes the "insufficient roadway" loophole in the current three-foot law. We feel that this loophole prioritizes driver convenience over bicyclist safety, and we want the law to mandate that if there is not sufficient roadway width, then drivers need to wait until it is safe to pass. The next hearing is Thursday, March 5th.[WC: Whoops]
If you support this legislation, please contact your representatives to let them know. An easy way to do this is to use the Voice My Opinion button on the Maryland General Assembly's website. This is especially important if your delegate is on the Environment and Transportation Committee or if your senator is on Judicial Proceedings.
There's been talk in the past of doing this in DC, but the council is so much smaller - and everyone already lives in biking distance - so it may not be necessary.
Done.
Posted by: Smedley Burkhart | March 12, 2015 at 11:59 AM