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Gov vetoes safe passing bill
UPDATE from Bike Texas:
“Dear fellow Texas cyclists, We are stunned. After passing SB 488 through both houses of the legislature with overwhelming bipartisan margins and responding to every legislator’s concern with information or compromise, Governor Perry killed the bill today. In spite of the huge number of phone calls in the span of two very intense hours, Governor Perry vetoed the Safe Passing bill, SB 488. Thanks to all of you who responded to the BikeTexas Action Alert today and called the Governor’s office. We are extremely disappointed with the Governor’s action. In our view, this reflects a cavalier attitude on the part of the Governor toward the deaths of the 1000 vulnerable road users that are killed annually in Texas. It is well known that Rick Perry rides a bike on the streets and on the trails. Unfortunately, ordinary Texans do not have a security detail to shield them from motorists who drive dangerously. BikeTexas strongly disagrees with the reasoning stated in the veto message from the Governor below. Law enforcement, prosecutors, AAA, AARP, Texas Motorcycle Rights Association and Texas Towing and Storage Association joined BikeTexas in supporting SB 488 because they also believed this bill could have saved lives. We will keep you informed regarding the next steps. Please stay tuned. Respectfully, Robin Stallings Executive Director BikeTexas”
Cyclists take note.
The Texas Bicycle Coalition just sent out an action alert, saying that Gov. Perry plans to veto the Safe Passing Bill and asking cyclist to call and insist that he allow SB 488 to pass.
Here’s what the Coalition’s email says:
“Every cyclist in Texas must call Governor Perry today and insist that he allow SB 488 to pass! The governor mistakenly thinks that the bill puts all of the responsibility on the motorist. There might be time to save the bill if you hurry and make the calls. This is the most important call we have ever asked you to make. Our lives depend on it.
BikeTexas was notified at 12:30 pm CST that Governor Perry plans to veto the Safe Passing Bill. This veto can happen within the next couple of hours TODAY. We need every cyclist in Texas to call NOW and tell the Governor to pass SB 488. More than 1000 vulnerable road users in Texas die every year. This bill will save lives!
You must give the bill number.
CALL both phone NUMBERS:
(512) 463-4375
(512) 463-2000 Governor’s main switchboard until 5 p.m.”
For more information about the bill, go to http://www.biketexas.org/content/view/1115/881/.
The bill requires that cars and light trucks give “vulnerable road users” like cyclists a 3-foot berth when passing. It also requires heavy trucks a 6-foot berth.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment Categories: cycling
Comments
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By zap
June 19, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this
Reading on some other forums, apparently there is wording in there that if a vehicle has 2 lanes in the same direction, approaching a cyclist or vulnerable vehicle, that they need to actually change lanes completely.. That’s a bit beyond the 3 foot rule, and I can understand how it would get Veto’d with something like that.. how stupid is the guy who proposed that? Just put in the 3 foot clause, that’s all we need. Who cares what lane they are in..
By Steph
June 20, 2009 7:25 AM | Link to this
Pam,
Are there any plans for a program that would train cyclists on how to stay safe on the roads? Maybe I’m wrong for saying this, but it always feels like the bulk of the responsibility is place on vehicle drivers. There are some very smart cyclists on the roads, but there are many who could use some guidance. The reason I ask here and now is that just yesterday I was safely passing a cyclists when she swerved right in front of me, so I swerved almost into the wrong lane, she never checked to see if there was a car coming, this was on 51st St near the Intramural Fields so there are always cars coming. Drivers can “safely pass” all day but what do you do when stuff like this happens. I don’t mean to start an anti-cyclists rampage but this needs to be addresses.
By pam leblanc
June 20, 2009 7:51 AM | Link to this
Hi Steph, Pam here. The Austin Cycling Association offers a great street cycling class certified by the League of American Bicyclists. It provides classroom and on the road cycling instruction. I took the class a few years ago and wrote about it. Definitely worth the time. Check the ACA website at http://www2.austincycling.org.
By Steph
June 20, 2009 11:40 AM | Link to this
That is wonderful! Are there any plans to publicize the class in a way that will encourage more people will take advantage of it?
By the dude
June 22, 2009 8:39 AM | Link to this
Pam,
Are there any plans for a program that would train motorists on how to stay safe on the roads? Maybe I’m wrong for saying this, but it always feels like the bulk of the responsibility is place on cyclists. There are some very smart motorists on the roads, but there are many who could use some guidance. The reason I ask here and now is that just yesterday I was safely passing a motorist when she swerved right in front of me, so I swerved almost into the wrong lane, she never checked to see if there was a cyclist coming, this was on 51st St near the Intramural Fields so there are always cyclists coming. Cyclists can “safely pass” all day but what do you do when stuff like this happens. I don’t mean to start an anti-car rampage but this needs to be addressed.
By Pam LeBlanc
June 22, 2009 10:37 AM | Link to this
Hey Dude, nicely said. As I always say, there are irresponsible motorists and irresponsible cyclists. The problem is, there’s much less margin for error when you’re not surrounded by all that metal in a car. The city of Austin’s recently approved Bicycle Plan includes provisions to educate motorists about cyclists. It also includes provisions to educate law enforcement officials so they understand that bicycles are vehicles and legally allowed on roadways. Check out the details (pay attention to Chapters 3 and 4 in particular) at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/councilmeetings/itemattachments.cfm?meetingid=172&itemid=10338&item=61. In order to make Austin a truly bike-friendly city, motorists have to accept cyclists on the roads. That means paying attention, expecting to see them and slowing down.
By Kirk Young
June 28, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this
Cyclist are always proclaiming that they have a legal right to be on the road. They are correct. They are also supposed to obey all the laws of the road. This includes a law that prohibits obstructing traffic. I drive Quinllan Park Rd everyday. A long section of it is one lane in each direction, withh no shoulder or curb, it has several steep inclines and sharp corners. Only a true idiot would ride a bike on that road, but they are on it every day. I have rounded the curves many times going less than the speed limit and almost clipped a bike. If a car is coming the other direction, I am not going to cause a head on collision. The bike rider is going to get run over, and I will not even get a ticket because the bike was impeding traffic. I have instructed my wife and children to do the same.Bicycle safely,wear a car.
By David Lewis
December 30, 2009 10:58 PM | Link to this
Kirk young 28 June 2009-You are talking like a moron. It is your legal duty as a motorist to drive responsibly and share the road with other road users. You are aware of the hazards of Quinllan Park Road, so drive accordingly in a safe manner, slow down to a stop if you come across a cyclist or a pedestrian, and do not overtake until it is safe to do so. No wonder cyclists are at risk when there are idiots like you driving motorvehicles in a dangerous manner and instructing your family to do likewise. Your attitude is fired by a lack of your own brain power and not by the cyclist riding on a road he/she is legally entitled to ride.