This important bill will improve the safety of bicyclists throughout
the Commonwealth, but we need your help. The bill, now designated S. 2573 (formerly S. 1414), was passed by the Senate earlier this year thanks to the efforts of retiring Senator
Pamela Resor and our other friends in the Legislature. It is now in the House Ways and Means Committee. It needs to get reported favorably by the committee,
enacted by both houses of the Legislature, and signed by the Governor before the end of this year. We are making a push to get this done now.
The key provisions of the bill are: police training on bicycle law; clarification of how to safely pass a bicycle; clarification of how to safely make turns in front of
bicycles; "dooring" subject to ticket and fine; riding two abreast permitted when it does not impede cars from passing; improved enforcement of bicycle law for both motorists and
bicyclists; and additional legal protections for bicyclists who choose to ride to the right of other traffic. The full text of the bill can be found here. For more details about the bill, including links to the affected statutes, see our previous Action Alert,
Here is what you can do:
1. Call or email Representative DeLeo, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, directly and urge him to support bill S. 2573, An Act Relative to
Bicyclist Safety. His email is Robert...@state.ma.us and his phone number is 617-722-2990.
2. Call or email your own state representative and ask him or her to contact Representative DeLeo in support of the bill.
Your participation counts – don't assume everyone else will do it!
