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Re: Why Some Bad Bills Get Introduced - A Cautionary Tale
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Barry Kade
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Feb 22, 2003 16:49 PST
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Here's current law on the subject:
23 V.S.A. § 1139. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths
§ 1139. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths
(a) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the
right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a
standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
(b) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two
abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use
of bicycles or except as otherwise permitted by the commissioner of public
safety in connection with a public sporting event in which case the
commissioner shall be authorized to adopt such rules as the public good
requires. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and
reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a
single lane.
(c) Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a
state roadway, bicycle riders shall use the path. However, the legislative
body of a municipality may authorize the operation of a bicycle on a town
highway even though a bicycle path is adjacent.
(d) Bicycles may be operated on the shoulders of partially controlled access
highways, which are those highways where access is controlled by public
authority but where there are some connections with selected public
highways, some crossings at grade, and some private driveway connections.
The traffic committee may determine that any portion of these highways is
unsafe and therefore closed to bicycle operation. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj.
Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973; amended 1989, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 1,
eff. May 12, 1990; 1991, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 22, eff. April 1, 1993;
1993, No. 8, § 1; 1999, No. 18, § 41u, eff. May 13, 1999.)
----- Original Message -----
From: <david.ja-@uvm.edu>
To: <gm-@topica.com>; <Burlingt-@yahoogroups.com>; <vm-@topica.com>;
<UVMCY-@LIST.UVM.EDU>; <VTBIKEPED-@LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 10:48 AM
Subject: Why Some Bad Bills Get Introduced - A Cautionary Tale
| | Why Some Bad Bills Get Introduced - A Cautionary Tale
H.192, a bill to restrict bicycles to single-file riding, was introduced
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in the
| | 2003 Vermont Legislature by Rep. Linda Kirker of Essex. It had a whole
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bunch of
| | co-sponsors.
Here's the story: A truck driver was passing some bicycles riding two
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abreast
| | and he tooted his horn in what he said was a
friendly manner to warn them that he was passing.
The bicyclists not only did not move over, they flipped him off. So he
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asked his
| | representative to introduce a bill to keep the bicycles in line. And she
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did -
| | not necessarily because she thought it was a good idea but because a
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constituent
| | requested it.
What is a "friendly" toot? If it is an air horn, it may not be perceived
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as such
| | even if intended that way.
It takes everyone's effort to present a good image. Unfortunately, it's a
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small
| | percentages of riders doing stuff like this that makes bicycles look bad.
If you're in a potentially confrontational situation, wave as though you
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thought
| | the beep was just the nicest, kindest hello in the world. If it was
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intended to
| | be rude, maybe the beeper will regret it and be kinder next time.
Imagine, if you will, what you would say if you were asked to give
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testimony on
| | H.192. Why is it OK for bicycles to ride two-up?
Being a good ambassador for bicycling will help us all to keep our rights
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to the
| | road.
Dave Jacobowitz
Bruce Cunningham
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