Bike-Related Bills in the 2014 Virginia General Assembly

[mattotoole]

Tim, thanks for posting this.

We have an action item today: if your state senator is on the Senate Transportation Committee, please send them a quick note before they meet tomorrow afternoon. This includes Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington), Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke), and Sen. Chuck Colgan (D-Manassas) if we know anyone out there. Click through for links to the contact info, and talking points if you want them. But a quick note is all that’s really needed.

Please Help Support ’3 Feet’ & ‘Dooring’ in Senate Committee

Please share this on your mailing lists and social media too.

We’ll updates to this thread rather than start new ones.

[mattotoole]

A little victory today — thanks to everyone who wrote, and helped spread the word.

http://www.vabike.org/3-feet-gets-thru-senate-transpo-dooring-postponed/

House Transportation Subcommittee 2 meets Monday 7am, probably w/ HB82/HB811 ‘Following Too Closely’ on the docket.

[mattotoole]

If you or anyone you know is in Del. LeMunyon’s district (Chantilly area) please drop him a note this weekend, before the committee meeting on Monday.

On the docket are Following Too Closely, No Passinng at Crosswalks, and Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalks:

http://www.vabike.org/in-house-sub-2-mon-01-20-14/

WABA members will get a notice too (thanks Greg!):

http://org.salsalabs.com/o/451/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=14888

Please help generate some letters this weekend.

[mattotoole]

First, the Dooring bill, SB225, will be in Senate Transportation Committee tomorrow. If you haven’t done so already, please contact your senator and ask for their support. If it’s Chap Peterson, the patron, send him a note of thanks!

Here’s the report from today and yesterday. Following Too Closely cleared committee so will go to the House floor, while No Passing at Crosswalks was Passed By (postponed for further discussion).

http://www.vabike.org/hb82-cleared-hb320-delayed/

[Arlingtonrider]

Thanks for posting this info. WABA/Greg made it awesomely easy to send supportive emails. It would be cool if they could do that again.

[mattotoole]

@Arlingtonrider 75286 wrote:

Thanks for posting this info. WABA/Greg made it awesomely easy to send supportive emails. It would be cool if they could do that again.

I hope to do a better job of that with an updated post about this year’s bills, for when they’re finally up for a full House or Senate vote.

Greg and Shane have been a great help, and we really appreciate it.

[mattotoole]

Del. Kory’s HB 320, “no passing stopped vehicles at crosswalks” was Tabled (killed) in committee today. Partisan politics?

We’re working on new language for the winter mask bill. Contact Bud if you’d like to help.

Here’s the report: http://www.vabike.org/no-passing-vehicles-at-crosswalks-drafting-a-new-winter-mask-bill/

I will continue to update the following page with the revised list of bills. Please continue to link to and share it:

http://www.vabike.org/bike-legislation-2014/

[Terpfan]

Any friendly legislators outside of the committee of jurisdiction willing to try tacking those bills as amendments on to other bills on second reader on the full chamber floor? Just put a variation into the amendment so it’s slightly different and hope the committee chair (or his/her staff) doesn’t notice. Once upon a time I worked in the state legislative setting (not there) and became familiar with some of those tricks. Other avenues when it looks like it’s going down is offering a sunset provision. If it still looks like it’s crashing and burning, try to at least turn it into a study and give youself something to build from.

[mattotoole]

Terpfan: it just doesn’t work that way! Besides there being a germane-ness rule, we don’t have that kind of juice politically.

A little victory today though — HB 82, Following (Bicycles) Too Closely, was passed by the House. On to the Senate now, where things are looking good. The other bills we have may be tougher.

[PotomacCyclist]

Maybe rename some of the bills, such as “It’s Not Alright to Kill People with Your Cars bill.” That would get people’s attention.

[Terpfan]

@mattotoole 75834 wrote:

Terpfan: it just doesn’t work that way! Besides there being a germane-ness rule, we don’t have that kind of juice politically.

A little victory today though — HB 82, Following (Bicycles) Too Closely, was passed by the House. On to the Senate now, where things are looking good. The other bills we have may be tougher.

I’m not familiar with the VGA, but I have seen it work that way before. You’re right, it requires some political juice, good timing and friendly legislators. However, I would suggest keeping the sunset provision and study options open. It’s all about the momentum and long game.

Great to hear on HB82. We’ll take any victory. And, in protest of idiotic laws, I wore my ski mask on my commute this morning. The poor folks in Buzz probably thought I was going to rob the place in a neon green jacket as I fumbled with my colder fingers to get the mask off before ordering a coffee.

[mattotoole]

Everyone please see today’s report from Bud.

SB 225, Chap Petersen’s dooring bill, may be be up for a Senate vote tomorrow. Call your senators! Ask your friends in other parts of the state to contact theirs.

Update: ‘dooring’ passed the Senate today (Wed.) I posted the tally, of who voted for/against.

[mattotoole]

If you’re in VA you probably got the WABA alert. If not, it’s here:

http://org.salsalabs.com/o/451/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15090

As these 3 bills have been passed by either the House or Senate and each is now headed to the other, in reality we’re more than halfway there. We can do it, but we need everyone’s help.

What I’m asking everyone do do is, please share the above link in your social media, and email it to your friends around VA. I have friends in all corners of the state, and I know you do too.

Many thanks to Greg for working overtime to pull this together. Do not let him buy his own beer!

[mattotoole]

HB 542, the face mask bill, was passed 40-0 by the Senate. Now it just needs the governor’s signature.

But Del. Barbara Comstock’s HB 82 “following too closely” was killed in committee, in a motion by Sen. Kenny Alexander (D-Norfolk). Tell your Norfolk cycling friends to have a word with him.

http://www.vabike.org/a-big-disappointment/

“Three foot passing” and “dooring” will be heard by House committee Monday at 7 AM. If you haven’t written to your delegate about these bills, please do so now.

[peterw_diy]

The mask bill passed, but only after being significantly weakened. The original language for HB 542 added two conditions to the mask prohibition: 1) wearing the mask with intent to conceal identity and 2) while committing or attempting to commit a felony or serious misdemeanor. With the original HB 542 language, wearing a Pussy Riot mask to a gay rights rally would have been OK.

Before being passed, the 2nd condition was dropped. Now you can only dress like a member of Pussy Riot if it’s during a polar vortex or if you can convince the jury that you didn’t “intend” to conceal your identity. It’s an improvement, but far less than what it could have been, as the amended law still allows people to be cited based on what the police believe their intent to be.

[Author]

Posts