When we announced three bills we’ll be working on in the 2007 Legislative session, several folks asked why we were working on a bill to allow pedestrians to create the right of way by using the international hand signal (holding your hand up to indicate stop).
Let me take a quick cut at that:
(1) This bill fits hand-in-glove (sorry) with our Safe Routes to Schools work. We’re working on helping kids to walk and bike to school, and many more kids walk than bike. Creating a signal to help kids and adults cross streets will help get kids into the habit of walking, and then, as they get older, many will start biking.
(2) Beginning cyclists often walk their bikes to cross busy streets. While more experienced cyclists are able to get across major streets on bike, people who are just beginning to bike often dismount and walk their bike across major streets. This helps them do that.
(3) It changes the roadway dynamic. If drivers are required to stop for pedestrians who signal, they’re more likely to drive slower and be more aware of pedestrians and cyclists alike. Speed is a major factor in crashes and road safety.
(4) Building alliances. Of course, the Legislature’s a political place, and while most Oregonians bike a little bit during the year for recreation, almost all Oregonians walk somewhere, sometime. Pushing a bill for pedestrians helps built alliances that can help us with the rest of our legislative agenda.
(5) It’s the right thing for safety. The core reason we’re pushing the bill, of course, is to improve safety for Oregonians. While our other bills work to create safety for cyclists, roughly six times as many pedestrians are killed each year as cyclists, and we care about all Oregonians.
And in response to a related question, yes, there are several other bills, like fixed-gear and stop sign laws, that we’ll be working on as well.
Thanks for the questions and feedback — keep it coming!
