CALL TO ACTION: bikes proceed on LPI and safety stop in Virginia legislature

[Gillian Burgess]

Hi friends,

We have a real chance to make cycling safer (which makes all transportation safer) in Virginia - the House will consider two bills that will allow Virginians biking to (1) proceed on an LPI and (2) treat a stop sign as a yield. 

Both include requirements to yield to pedestrians. The LPI provisions would eliminate one incentive for people to bike on the sidewalk. Both would make biking safer and thus get people out of cars, making streets safer for all.  

The Virginia legislature moves very fast - hearings are likely to be tomorrow and Thursday. Please email or call asap.

Thanks!

G

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ACT TODAY TO SUPPORT SAFER BIKING: Virginia House Transportation Subcommittee #3 meets Wednesday 01/18 and is expected to vote on two bicyclist safety initiatives as described below. If these bills pass on Wednesday, they will be likely be voted on Thursday morning 01/19 in the full House Transportation Committee. Please act today to ask your Delegate to support Delegate Rip Sullivan’s HB 1589, and Delegate Betsy Carr’s HB 1773.

               

TAKE ACTION:  If your Delegate is in House Transportation (list below), call or send an email asking them to support HB 1589 and HB 1773.  You can look up your Delegate and their phone number via this tool. 

• Identify yourself as someone who bikes and lives in their district, include your full address. List any organizations you represent.
• Ask that they support HB 1589 and HB 1773- including the bill numbers makes life easier for them
• Explain benefits of the bills from your perspective. For example,
• Delegate Rip Sullivan’s HB 1589, “Pedestrian control signals; applicability to persons riding bicycles and other devices.”
• This bill would authorize bicyclists to proceed on the pedestrian Walk Signal.
• This initiative would provide bicyclists with the safety benefits that accrue from “Leading Pedestrian Intervals” (LPI) – the 4 to 7 seconds of head-start that makes it safer for people crossing the street to avoid being struck by a right-turning vehicle.
• This is a bi-partisan initiative with a corresponding bill in the Senate, Senator Favola’s SB 847 with Senator Bill DeSteph (R) as Chief co-patron
• Virginia jurisdictions are increasingly providing LPI walk signals as part of their safe streets initiatives. Allowing bicyclists like me to start crossing the street just a few seconds before the car next to me at a light could save my life. I’ll greatly appreciate your support for HB 1589.
• Delegate Betsy Carr’s HB 1773, “Exception to stopping requirement; bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device.”
• This bill would authorize bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs. This is a proven safety measure, recommended by the National Traffic Safety Highway Administration (NHTSA) [1] and adopted in nine other states to date.
• Delegate Carr’s bill is modeled after similar legislation in Delaware, where a 5-year study of the Safety Stop in Delaware was shown to contribute to a 23% reduction in bike crashes at stop-sign controlled intersections.
• In 2021, the House of Delegates voted 75 to 24 to approve an earlier version of this initiative as part of a Bicyclist Safety Act – HB2262. With your leadership and support, I am confident that this updated version will pass the House and Senate!  
• In 2021, the Senate directed a Virginia State Police to lead a study with stakeholders. Delegate Carr’s HB 1773 now includes provisions to address stakeholder concerns. For example
• Virginia State Police started with Delaware’s law as a model, which sets limits on which intersections are allowed based on the number of lanes. The legislated study concluded generally favorably when this criteria of Delaware legislation was included. As a result, HB 1773 limits the Safety Stop to intersections where no approaching roadway has more than three travel lanes.
• AAA asked that this initiative include a minimum age to account for cognitive development of young people.  Delegate Carr’s HB 1773 would not apply to bicyclists under 15 years old.
• As a person who bikes in Alexandria, and elsewhere in Virginia, I will greatly appreciate your support of Delegate Carr’s HB 1773.
• [1] NHTSA’s Bicyclist “Stop-As-Yield” Laws and Safety Fact Sheet, March 2022, accessed 12/01/2022
• If your Delegate is a bill sponsor - Rip Sullivan or Betsy Carr - thank them for championing this issue!

 

House Transportation members: Austin (Chair), LaRock (Vice Chair), Bloxom, Wyatt, Avoli, McGuire, Runion, Wiley, Taylor, Durant, Anderson, Tata, Ward, McQuinn, Carr, Bagby, Murphy,

 

PLEASE ACT TODAY!

Thanks for your help in advocating for safer cycling for all.

 Jim

Jim Durham, 703-508-0762

Advocacy Committee Chair, Virginia Bicycling Federation

Alexandria, VA 22304