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For all Virginia cyclists: support SB 252 and SB 101
The following forwarded by WABA:
**** SUPPORT SB 252 AND SB 101 IN VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES SB 252 (Deeds) and SB 101 (Devolites), two bills that would improve bicycling conditions in Virginia, will be heard by the Transportation Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates this Tuesday and need *your* support TODAY. Both bills have already been passed by the Virginia Senate (with amendments) and are now before the House. Please email, phone, or fax your delegate and nearby members of the House Transportation Committee in support of these bills *today* (see contact info below). A short and simple request to please support SB 252 and SB 101 should be sufficient. Delegates must hear that these bills are widely supported, so please act promptly and forward this alert widely. During business hours, you can leave a brief phone message for your delegate with the Constituent Viewpoint Hotline, 1-800-889-0229 (or 804-698-1990), only knowing your address. To identify and contact your delegate, use the "Who's My Legislator" tool at http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy/constinput.asp. If you already know your delegate's last name or House District number, send email using or phone their office at 804-698-10XX, where XX is their House District number. The main fax number for delegates is 804-786-6310. Please act promptly. If these bills are approved (reported out) by the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday afternoon, the full House of Delegates will vote on these bills this week. Bill summaries follow. For more and updated information, go to http://leg1.state.va.us/. ****** SB 252, Operation of Bicycles and Similar Vehicles (Deeds), would amend six sections of the Code of Virginia regarding the operation of bicycles and similar vehicles to 1) clarify a two-foot minimum safe passing distance for (motor) vehicles (Sec. 46.2-838); 2) allow bicyclists to signal right turns and stopping with either the right or left arm (Sec. 46.2-849); 3) allow bicyclists to ride two abreast when not impeding "the normal and reasonable movement of traffic" (Sec. 46.2-905); 4) remove the authority for local mandatory sidepath ordinances (Sec. 46.2-905); 5) cite the current (CPSC) helmet safety standard in the section (46.2-906.1) that allows local bicycle helmet ordinances; 6) direct that all transportation on wheels move with (not against) other traffic (Sec. 46.2-932); and 7) allow (steady or blinking) lights and reflectors, in addition to a white headlight and a red rear reflector, for bicycling between sunset and sunrise (Sec. 46.2-1015). The Virginia Senate passed this bill (40-0) on 2/6/04 with minor amendments. ***** SB 101, Pedestrians (Devolites), would amend Sections 46.2-923 and 46.2-924 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pedestrians crossing highways, to require drivers to stop for--not merely yield to--pedestrians in crosswalks, when necessary. SB 101 would also benefit bicyclists crossing highways on sidewalks or shared-use paths. The similar SB 451 (Whipple), which also passed the Senate, has been merged with SB 101 as one bill. A similar bill, HB 539 (May), died in the House last week because some delegates opposed requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks when necessary. |
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For all Virginia cyclists: support SB 252 and SB 101
This is what I wrote to my state delegate. It's rather too long, I
guess, but it needed saying. *** Dear Mr. Petersen: I write to you as a flagrant and frequent violator of the law. As a cyclist here in Fairfax, I often ride along Old Lee Highway, which has a parallel bicycle path. I never use it, preferring instead to use the road itself. The path is dangerous, setting fast, downhill bicycle traffic against cars wanting to pull out onto Old Lee Highway--cars don't see or expect traffic to be approaching them so quickly from the wrong side. This is unacceptable, so I ride on the road. My action, however, is illegal under the present law, which compels me to use the parallel bicycle path when provided. SB 252 would permit me to ride safely, responsibly, and legally. Moreover, the other provisions of SB 252 would bring the Commonwealth in line with best practice in terms of bicycle safety legislation. The provisions regarding lighting and the permitting the use of either arm to signal turns are already common practice among responsible cyclists everywhere in the world; SB 252 would remove a loophole that motorists can exploit to escape culpability for colliding with and injuring cyclists. They will no longer be able to hide their failure to determine the intentions of a cyclist wishing to turn behind the assertion that the signal was not made with the 'proper' arm, as the present law would define it. Passage and enforcement of the minimum overtaking distance provision would make life much easier for law-abiding cyclists--cars and trucks overtaking us too closely are at best a major annoyance and at worst a life-theatening issue. Being struck by a side-mirror of a vehicle moving (as most do) above the posted speed limit is very bad for one's health, indeed. SB 101 must be passed; it is ludicrous for the General Assembly to reject it. Cars *must* stop for *any* pedestrian in a crosswalk, period. To do otherwise places the mere convenience of motorists above the safety of pedestrians. Is the few minutes' delay that such a stop would cause worth the life of a pedestrian--especially when that pedestrian may be a child on his way to school? Your support for these two bills would mean a great deal to me, personally, and to cyclists living in and visiting the Commonwealth. Sincerely, TLP de Guzman Fairfax City |
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For all Virginia cyclists: support SB 252 and SB 101
On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 12:33:16 -0500, Luigi de Guzman
wrote: The path is dangerous, setting fast, downhill bicycle traffic against cars wanting to pull out onto Old Lee Highway--cars don't see or expect traffic to be approaching them so quickly from the wrong side. I think I would have said 'extremely' dangerous and life-threatening g. Don't want him to think you're kidding around. Anyway, how many cyclists are there in Virginia? I think it would help a huge amt to give some numbers from some survey or something. That's what impresses lawmakers, -constituency-.... Not logic, reality, safety, or any of the things that we're talking about. (ok maybe I exaggerate). If he could say he sponsored a bill knowing he had potentially 100K cyclists over 18, including everyone who's ever ridden on campus, recreational, health fans, etc., behind him/it, that could get his attention. Would there be something on the order of 50-100K bikers in the whole state? The total pop is about 7.5 million. ~180 counties. One percent of the population biking - 75, 000 bikers. Two percent 150,000 bikers I'm just guessin'... -B |
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For all Virginia cyclists: support SB 252 and SB 101
On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 15:37:01 -0500, Badger_South
wrote: On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 12:33:16 -0500, Luigi de Guzman wrote: The path is dangerous, setting fast, downhill bicycle traffic against cars wanting to pull out onto Old Lee Highway--cars don't see or expect traffic to be approaching them so quickly from the wrong side. I think I would have said 'extremely' dangerous and life-threatening g. Don't want him to think you're kidding around. Anyway, how many cyclists are there in Virginia? I think it would help a huge amt to give some numbers from some survey or something. That's what impresses lawmakers, -constituency-.... Not logic, reality, safety, or any of the things that we're talking about. (ok maybe I exaggerate). If he could say he sponsored a bill knowing he had potentially 100K cyclists over 18, including everyone who's ever ridden on campus, recreational, health fans, etc., behind him/it, that could get his attention. I'm under no illusions as to the chances of my letter actually being read. I'm just another kook for the mail filter do plonk, or fodder for some careerist kid down in Richmond, padding his resume by slogging through interminable constituent mail. Would there be something on the order of 50-100K bikers in the whole state? The total pop is about 7.5 million. ~180 counties. One percent of the population biking - 75, 000 bikers. Two percent 150,000 bikers That depends. Probably close to ten percent of the population at the very least own bicycles, if not more. As to actual cyclists-as-road-users, we're probably a very very tiny constituency. If we were a significant constituency in and of ourselves, someone would have offered me a spare tube yesterday when I flatted. (the one day I forget my pump! ain't it always the way....). As it was, yesterday, other than myself, I saw one other cyclist on the public roadway who would be directly affected by SB 252--a roadie/commuter. What I'd be interested to know is how many delegates are cyclists. Not many, I'll bet. -Luigi "We should go to the masses and learn from them, synthesize their experience into better, articulated principles and methods, then do propaganda among the masses, and call upon them to put these principles and methods into practice so as to solve their problems and help them achieve liberation and happines." -Mao Tse Tung, "Get Organized!" I'm just guessin'... -B |
#5
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For all Virginia cyclists: support SB 252 and SB 101
Luigi de Guzman wrote:
"We should go to the masses and learn from them, synthesize their experience into better, articulated principles and methods, then do propaganda among the masses, and call upon them to put these principles and methods into practice so as to solve their problems and help them achieve liberation and happines." -Mao Tse Tung, "Get Organized!" Luigi, when trying to organize something politically in the United States, DON'T QUOTE MAO TSE TUNG! :-) Matt O. |
#6
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For all Virginia cyclists: support SB 252 and SB 101
On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 21:32:54 GMT, "Matt O'Toole"
wrote: Luigi de Guzman wrote: "We should go to the masses and learn from them, synthesize their experience into better, articulated principles and methods, then do propaganda among the masses, and call upon them to put these principles and methods into practice so as to solve their problems and help them achieve liberation and happines." -Mao Tse Tung, "Get Organized!" Luigi, when trying to organize something politically in the United States, DON'T QUOTE MAO TSE TUNG! I assure you that my interest in Mao is largely poetic. He has a lyrical style in his aphorisms which I admire. He might not have really known the first thing about managing a major national economy, but he had a poetical sense that was in every way superior to Lenin's prose, which feels cold and brutal by comparison. And let's not even get started on Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il. This kind of lyrical style I think has been destroyed by the 24-hour news cycle, the press conference, and the soundbite culture. Political figures are not so poetic in their vision anymore. Reading speeches by William Jennings Bryan or Eugene V. Debs and comparing them with the present run of the political mill totally destroys my faith in progress and the perfectibility of men and institutions. Rhetorically and poetically, the present generation is merely mediocre. -Luigi |
#7
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For all Virginia cyclists: support SB 252 and SB 101
Luigi de Guzman wrote:
On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 21:32:54 GMT, "Matt O'Toole" wrote: Luigi, when trying to organize something politically in the United States, DON'T QUOTE MAO TSE TUNG! I assure you that my interest in Mao is largely poetic. He has a lyrical style in his aphorisms which I admire. He might not have really known the first thing about managing a major national economy, but he had a poetical sense that was in every way superior to Lenin's prose, which feels cold and brutal by comparison. And let's not even get started on Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il. This kind of lyrical style I think has been destroyed by the 24-hour news cycle, the press conference, and the soundbite culture. Political figures are not so poetic in their vision anymore. Reading speeches by William Jennings Bryan or Eugene V. Debs and comparing them with the present run of the political mill totally destroys my faith in progress and the perfectibility of men and institutions. Rhetorically and poetically, the present generation is merely mediocre. What you say may be true, Luigi. But what Matt says is still correct! -- Frank Krygowski [To reply, omit what's between "at" and "cc"] |
#8
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For all Virginia cyclists: support SB 252 and SB 101
Tue, 24 Feb 2004 17:17:09 -0500,
, Luigi de Guzman wrote: Rhetorically and poetically, the present generation is merely mediocre. Not to mention functionally illiterate and innumerate. http://www.efmoody.com/miscellaneous/illiteracy.html -- zk |
#9
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For all Virginia cyclists: support SB 252 and SB 101
In all seriousness Luigi, thanks for posting this. I got an email newsletter
from the Bikeleague today, and they had no mention of it. Why not, says I? Keep up the good work. Matt O. Luigi de Guzman wrote: The following forwarded by WABA: **** SUPPORT SB 252 AND SB 101 IN VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES SB 252 (Deeds) and SB 101 (Devolites), two bills that would improve bicycling conditions in Virginia, will be heard by the Transportation Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates this Tuesday and need *your* support TODAY. Both bills have already been passed by the Virginia Senate (with amendments) and are now before the House. Please email, phone, or fax your delegate and nearby members of the House Transportation Committee in support of these bills *today* (see contact info below). A short and simple request to please support SB 252 and SB 101 should be sufficient. Delegates must hear that these bills are widely supported, so please act promptly and forward this alert widely. During business hours, you can leave a brief phone message for your delegate with the Constituent Viewpoint Hotline, 1-800-889-0229 (or 804-698-1990), only knowing your address. To identify and contact your delegate, use the "Who's My Legislator" tool at http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy/constinput.asp. If you already know your delegate's last name or House District number, send email using or phone their office at 804-698-10XX, where XX is their House District number. The main fax number for delegates is 804-786-6310. Please act promptly. If these bills are approved (reported out) by the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday afternoon, the full House of Delegates will vote on these bills this week. Bill summaries follow. For more and updated information, go to http://leg1.state.va.us/. ****** SB 252, Operation of Bicycles and Similar Vehicles (Deeds), would amend six sections of the Code of Virginia regarding the operation of bicycles and similar vehicles to 1) clarify a two-foot minimum safe passing distance for (motor) vehicles (Sec. 46.2-838); 2) allow bicyclists to signal right turns and stopping with either the right or left arm (Sec. 46.2-849); 3) allow bicyclists to ride two abreast when not impeding "the normal and reasonable movement of traffic" (Sec. 46.2-905); 4) remove the authority for local mandatory sidepath ordinances (Sec. 46.2-905); 5) cite the current (CPSC) helmet safety standard in the section (46.2-906.1) that allows local bicycle helmet ordinances; 6) direct that all transportation on wheels move with (not against) other traffic (Sec. 46.2-932); and 7) allow (steady or blinking) lights and reflectors, in addition to a white headlight and a red rear reflector, for bicycling between sunset and sunrise (Sec. 46.2-1015). The Virginia Senate passed this bill (40-0) on 2/6/04 with minor amendments. ***** SB 101, Pedestrians (Devolites), would amend Sections 46.2-923 and 46.2-924 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pedestrians crossing highways, to require drivers to stop for--not merely yield to--pedestrians in crosswalks, when necessary. SB 101 would also benefit bicyclists crossing highways on sidewalks or shared-use paths. The similar SB 451 (Whipple), which also passed the Senate, has been merged with SB 101 as one bill. A similar bill, HB 539 (May), died in the House last week because some delegates opposed requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks when necessary. |
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The League these days [was: For all Virginia cyclists: support SB252 and SB 101]
Matt O'Toole wrote:
In all seriousness Luigi, thanks for posting this. I got an email newsletter from the Bikeleague today, and they had no mention of it. Why not, says I? Possibly because the League is now putting far too much priority on raising money, and far too little on preserving our rights to the road. :-( See http://www.labreform.org/ -- Frank Krygowski [To reply, omit what's between "at" and "cc"] |
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