DC Council passes bill creating a Bicycle Awareness License Plate

On Tuesday, the District Council passed the "Specialty License Plate Amendment Act of 2016" which includes a Bicycle Awareness license plate. Previously, this had been proposed by CM Allen as the Bicycle Awareness Motor Vehicle License Plate Amendment Act Of 2016, but in committee it was combined with the "Women Veteran License Plates Establishment Amendment Act" and renamed. 

The law will create a new license plate "with a bicycle awareness design that includes an image and wording to educate motorists on the 3 foot passing rule." Drivers who choose this plate will pay $45 in fees, and those fees will go to the Vision Zero Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Fund (the old "Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Fund").

The bill still needs to go to the Mayor, but she has already expressed support through Lucinda Barbers, the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles, who testified in support of the bill back in September. So it looks like this will become law. This, plus the safety law and the Contributory negligence law, makes for a pretty big year, legislatively speaking.

The passing distance awareness plate seems to be a bit rare, with most states going for "Share the Road" or Missouri's "Same Road. Same Rights." Here are some examples of passing distance plates from other states.

Comments

[contrarian]

I always hated "share the road." What does it mean and who is it directed at? It's one of those things that everyone thinks is meant for someone else.

[Crickey7]

It's an invitation to move into my lane. I do in fact act like I own the road, because when I'm in the lane, it's mine and mine alone until I'm past.

[washcycle]

I think most advocates are moving away from Share the Road. That's why you see more of the "Cyclist may use full lane" signs going up.

[SJE]

Share the road is also starting to bug me. It implies that bikes are merely tolerated instead of someone that already has complete rights to the road. Its the difference between a visitor that sleeps on the couch and an equal owner of the house who has their own room.

[Bilsko]

FWIW, the DC Bill doesn't indicate what the language that will be on the DC plate will be - only that it will reference existing regs regarding awareness of cyclists.

I'll spring for the $45 -- pretty trivial way to get an occasional mindful look from other road-users.

[washcycle]

It doesn't define the language, but does define the specific regulation (the 3 foot passing law) that it should be about.