BTA Policy Director Scott Bricker, Board Member Doug Parrow (left), and Legislative Committee member and bicycle lawyer Ray Thomas (below) presented the BTA’s bicycle safety bill yesterday.
The BTA was generally well received by the Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator � Ginny Burdick, a bicycler and walker from SW Portland. (The Senator is also nominated for an Alice award.) Senator Floyd Prozanski, an avid cyclist, also supports increasing bicyclists safety and many provisions of the BTA bill. However Prozanski is planning to float a bicyclists safety act of his own this session in the memory of Jane Higdon. Jane, an accomplished tri-athlete and Floyd’s riding partner was tragically killed this past year.
The BTA will continue to work with the Senators and other agencies that both support and oppose elements of the bill.
Read the Associated Press and KATU Stories
Read Janie Har’s Oregonian’s story below.
Senators hear bill on loosening bike-riding rules
Senate judiciary members heard testimony today on a bill that would loosen riding restrictions on sidewalks and crosswalks for bicyclists.
Under current law, bicyclists in those areas must slow to 3 mph, which cycling advocates maintain is unreasonably slow. Senate Bill 299, sponsored by the Bicycle Transportation Association, would allow bicyclists to enter a crosswalk at that rate but then speed up once in the crosswalk or sidewalk if it’s safe to do so.
The bill also would require drivers to maintain a 3-foot barrier when passing a bicyclist, though sponsors acknowledge they’ll have to play with that number.
An amended version of the bill is expected to clear the committee but not without chiding from Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg. Kruse commented that bicyclists “don’t pay any road taxes or gas taxes,” but they’re a safety hazard on speedy roads.
To which Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, responded that most bicyclists also own automobiles and so pay their share of road costs.
Another bonus for bicyclists: Chances look good the committee will vote out a bill so that “peddling under the influence of intoxicants” — or PUIIs — don’t count toward permanent revocation of a person’s driver’s license.
Right now, the state can revoke a person’s license for three misdemeanor driving while intoxicated convictions, including “driving” a bicycle in addition to an automobile. A person convicted of a PUII could still face a suspension of driving privileges under Senate Bill 298.
– Janie Har
