Cheh Introduces “Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act of 2015”

I don't have time to write about this now, but as one who was on the Bicycle & Pedestrian Working Group I find this welcome news. (bolded part broken out by me).

Today, September 16^th, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh (D – Ward 3), Chair of the Committee on Transportation & the Environment, introduced the “Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act of 2015.” The bill provides a comprehensive update to the District’s laws and regulations as they pertain to motorist, bicycle, and pedestrian safety.

“Earlier this year, I convened a Bicycle & Pedestrian Working Group to foster a deliberative, thoughtful, and open discussion on how to best update the District’s approach to motor, bicycle, and pedestrian safety. The “Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act of 2015” is the end result of months of collaboration between my office, District agencies, law enforcement, and transportation advocates. By gathering everyone around the same table, we were able to debate and discuss what safety measures have been successful and what needs improvement from a variety of perspectives. This bill is a comprehensive and inclusive approach to making the roadways and sidewalks safer for all,” said Councilmember Cheh.

The bill would

• make a significant amount of crash, traffic violation, and closure data more readily accessible to the public
• establish the Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Area Program to designate safety enhancement priority areas across the District in locations with heavy bicycle and pedestrian traffic
• incorporate a Complete Streets policy within DDOT to ensure that the construction,  reconstruction, and maintenance of roads includes infrastructure that accommodates all multimodal users, including those with disabilities
• and require the Mayor to study the feasibility of a remediation and deferred disposition program that would enable a person guilty of a moving violation to take a safety course in lieu of paying some or all of the associated fine.

“The “Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act” changes the way our agencies address and prioritize safety concerns in the built environment, and it also encourages users of our transportation system to engage in safer behavior –in this way we can establish a system of mutual accountability. For example, one aspect of the bill includes greater oversight of DDOT’s infrastructure improvements and traffic modifications, while another section of the bill prohibits aggressive driving, and creates an escalating fine system for repeat offenders of moving violations directly affecting bicyclists and pedestrians. The bill also establishes a universal street and bicycle safety education curriculum for District schoolchildren,” said Councilmember Cheh.

The Bicycle & Pedestrian Working Group was co-chaired by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and AAA Mid-Atlantic throughout six open forum meetings in May and June. Other members of the fourteen member working group include: All Walks DC, Bicycle Advisory Council, DC Surface Transit, Department of Insurance, Securities & Banking (DISB), District of Columbia Insurance Federation (DCIF), District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Mayor’s Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Pedestrian Advisory Council, PULSE Issues & Advocacy, and the United Spinal Association. The Working Group is currently composing a final report of recommendations to be presented to the Committee on Transportation & the Environment.

“In addition to the Working Group meetings, I also coordinated site visits with DDOT, the relevant ANCs, MPD, and bicycle and pedestrian advocates to the top five most dangerous intersections in the District to evaluate what short-term and long-term changes can be made to mitigate safety concerns. Being on-site with residents and connecting them with the agency decision makers was an incredibly helpful way to evaluate the infrastructure and behavioral challenges we face when attempting to improve our transportation system. This bill, the Working Group report, and dangerous intersection site visits are all components of a larger effort to reform and modernize the way the District responds to safety hazards on the roadways. The input we received from the community has been invaluable throughout this evaluation process, and I encourage residents to remain engaged and invested in this continued effort,” said Councilmember Cheh.

Comments

[SJE]

War on cars! War on ca...oh, you mean that they have safety courses instead of fines. And its a lot a about data...

[Moose]

Yes, but what about the contributory negligence problem?

[Crickey7]

I might point out that the Idaho Stop is conspicuously absent. No politician will touch it.

[washcycle]

The press release doesn't include everything in the bill and I don't know anyone who has seen the text of the bill yet. So it's too early to declare victory here. I will point out that what I call the Colorado stop (stop signs only Idaho stop) was approved by the working group.

[SJE]

I'd be happy if the police and prosecutors were willing to hold cars accountable. Baby steps.

[Greg Billing]

You can read the bill online here: http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B21-0335

Greg

[Atlas]

I'd be happier if police and prosecutors were willing to hold the drivers of cars accountable. Like, at all. Having just come back from nearly a month in Europe, it's depressing to bike/walk in DC again. Had so many close calls and veiled threats already in the past 3 days back.

[Crickey7]

My conversion to VC is complete and from my perspective, it cut way down on negative car interactions. I ride 3 feet out from the curb or edge of travel lane at all time. I don't go into any parking lanes, even if they are clear for a block or so. I don't disregard traffic control devices, and I run flashers at all times and a GoPro that I point out to any driver who begins to harass me. In general, I ride as if I'm a car, with some differences like lane splitting fully stopped traffic.

[Uptowner]

Crikey7,

Would you want a child or loved one to ride the way you do? I wouldn't, so I'll keep pushing for well-designed protected infrastructure to keep me away from cars and keep my stress levels from spiking.

[Crickey7]

Why is it that someone feels it necessary to attack how I ride? I said nothing about how anyone else rides, only what works for me. I didn't even say anything about advocacy for infrastructure. To reiterate. I use to experience frequent negative interactions with cars. Now I don't. Here's how that happened. Adopt it, or not, it's no skin off my nose.

[Kolo Jezdec]

Crickey7, I have been riding exactly as you describe for several years, as if I was in a small, light car. I signal turns and lane changes, stop at signals and signs, yield the ROW, run strobes front and back 24/7. Very little harassment from motorists, no stress or anxious feelings on my part. The very small number of drivers who harass me would likely harass anyone who is 'different' from them. And to answer @Uptowner, yes I want my children (adults now) to ride that way. That is the way I taught them to ride. They have been riding as VC since they were young teens.

Push for separate infrastructure all you want. We liv in a mostly free country.

[Kolo Jezdec]

Another thought - my children, having grown up riding bikes on the roads, are very aware of other users of the road. They do not fell 'put out' by a cyclist slowing down traffic, or a pedestrian who crosses mid-block because it is safer. My kids actually drive at or below the speed limit! They come to complete stops at stop signs! They realize that others are using the road. Would that everyone did...