Anti-Bike Bill in the Legislature is Still Alive and Next Week is Important

[Carey Rogers]

HB 1650 (Carter) - SB 1716 (Gardenhire) is scheduled for a hearing in both the Senate and the House next week. This is the bill restricting the use of state gasoline tax revenues for pedestrian, bicycle, and other non-vehicular facilities. The sponsor has negotiated a “compromise” with the Department of Transportation but it is still a very bad precedent.

 

The bill is scheduled for the Senate Finance Ways and Means Revenue Sub-Committee on March 1.  The Vice-Chair of the sub-committee is Senator Thelma Harper of Nashville and Senator Steve Dickerson of Nashville is a member.  Please contact them to oppose the bill especially if you’re a constituent.

sen.thel...@capitol.tn.gov

sen.steven...@capitol.tn.gov

The Chair of the committee is Senator Doug Overbey who was the sponsor of the Jeff Roth Three foot law and a former board member of the Jeff Roth Foundation. He should oppose this bill but was unsure when he was contacted last week.

sen.doug...@capitol.tn.gov

 

The bill is re-scheduled for the House Transportation Sub-Committee on March 1 and there is a very good chance it will be voted out of sub-committee. The Chair noted she was receiving many emails opposing the bill and there have been several news articles quoting the sponsors. We are having an impact so continue to oppose this so called compromise.   However, the bill now has five co-sponsors including Courtney Rogers who is Vice-Chair of the full Transportation committee. That is not a good sign.

Find your legislator here:

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators/

 

Sign the petition if you haven’t already done so.

http://walkbikenash.blogspot.com/2016/02/sen-gardenhire-and-rep-carter-propose.html

 

It’s received some publicity.

http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2016/02/22/with-new-legislation-republicans-scoffing-at-sissy-bicyclists

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/feb/22/bicyclists-irate-over-bill-restrict-gtax-spen/351278/?platform=hootsuite

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HB 1711 (Smith) - SB 1705 (Briggs) is the bill changing the state law on electric bicycles and will be heard in Senate Transportation February 29. This law will mandate adult helmet use for one class of e-bikes and create a class of “bicycle” that doesn’t require the rider to pedal. Senator Jeff Yarbro of Nashville is on the committee.

sen.jef...@capitol.tn.gov

I intend to write him to:

Make sure cities can control the use of e-bikes on greenways

Oppose mandatory helmet use on bicycles

Question why a moped that doesn’t require the rider to pedal is a bicycle

 

Opinions are those of the author and represent no other person or organization.  Apologies if you receive this email more than once but just use the delete key.