We're watching and working within The North Carolina General Assembly for threats and opportunities related to bicycle and pedestrian laws and funding.
From the Executive Director:
The 2019 Legislative Action Plan
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN RALEIGH? It is a hodgepodge of definitions, bills, amendments and funding conversations that are driving this 2019 NC General Assembly’s long session. We knew something was coming. The rise of shared mobility companies and their ever changing products from bikes, to scooters, to eBikes (all in 18 month’s time) have created cheers and sneers in homes, the workplace and in the general assembly. BikeWalkNC has worked hard to ensure that private ownership and use of our feet and personal mobility that highlights the bicycle are not affected and more importantly do not negatively impact existing bicycle and pedestrian laws.
TAKE ACTION: We have 1-2-3 calls to action, today.
1.
FIRST is to join us in our fight to restore all the bicycle and pedestrian funding that was cut in 2013 and give North Carolinians, across the state their rightful access to federal funding by having the state provide the match to federal funding instead of placing that burden on local municipalities.
By now, most of you know about the H157 the Bicycle Registration Bill which would require all adult bicycles to be registered and to sport license tags. It is a bill that arose out of a single complaint about cycling in Wilkes County, an incredible tourist and local cycling destination in our state. BikeWalkNC has long championed the ineffectiveness of such regulations. We want to stop this bill for sure, but doing so will still leave us with an unfunded mandate for active transportation infrastructure.
With that consideration, we hope you will join us in our effort to channel the passion of the cycling community to create a positive call for solutions, reflect the goals of larger planning organizations like RPOs and MPOs and educate everyone on the policies of the past that created the situation we are in today. You can add support to our request by adding your name to request restoration of bicycle and pedestrian funding.
SIGN YOUR SUPPORT HERE »
2.
The SECOND call to action is to help you learn how to be better advocates and share professionally and respectfully your opinions through direct contact with your legislative representatives.
Especially now, we need every person who walks or rolls to understand that our legislative body is directly impacting how our infrastructure is designed and funded and how we safely transport ourselves and our families. In a recent comment by our board member Steve Goodridge, “We must passionately advocate for both pedestrians and lightweight vehicle operators to focus on improving the roadway environment- physically, socially, and politically - in order to protect the democratization of vehicle choice while avoiding increased conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles on our roadways and in pedestrian spaces.”
Scooter Definition Action- H77
BikeWalkNC supports the effort to define these new types of transportation options and the effort to help define their place in our transportation network. We hope that you contact members of the House Regulatory Reform Committee before April 1 and share your opinion.
OVERVIEW: The proposed committee substitute for House Bill 77 would provide a statutory definition for electric standup scooters and exempt them from registration requirements. CURRENT LAW: Current law does not provide a definition for scooters or specifically authorize their use. It is unclear whether a scooter may fall under the definition of moped and be regulated as such. Read the legislation here »
In addition to signing our Action Alert, we hope that you will join us and contact the members of the House Transportation Committee before April 1 and share your opinions on scooter definition bill.
Find Transportation Committee Reps »
ADVOCACY 101:
How to make a compelling call
When an issue is important to you, let your representative know by putting your personal spin on a message with these basic parts....
Hello, my name is ________________ and I am a constituent, cyclist and walker in [city/state]. I am calling today as a constituent and advocate on behalf of BikeWalk North Carolina to urge [Senator/ Representative] ______________ to request a vote [for/against] [bill number and name]. I’m concerned about this issue because….
Thank you for your attention to my request and I look forward to hearing
Senator/Representative _____________’s position on [issue].
[Leave your name, home address and phone number so the office can follow up with you at a later time.]
3.
Sidewalk Rule Making
Please see below concerning the Construction and Maintenance of Sidewalks, 19A NCAC 02D.0406. This rule is now open for public comment. The public comment period will close April 18, 2019. BikeWalkNC supports mentioning bicycle facilities whenever sidewalks are mentioned. This suggestion and any questions or comments should be sent to: Rulem...@ncdot.gov.
OUR SUGGESTED LANGUAGE...
9A NCAC 02D .0406 CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF SIDEWALKS AND BICYCLE FACILITIES
(a) When If a highway construction project having to do with the widening of an existing street requires that an existing sidewalk OR BICYCLE FACILITY be torn up to make room for the widening, the Department of Transportation shall replace the sidewalk OR BICYCLE FACILITY.
(b) The Department shall will evaluate the need for proposed sidewalks OR BICYCLE FACILITIES in the planning process. The Department shall will assess information provided by the local government, Transportation Advisory Committee, and departmental Departmental engineering studies.
(c) The Department shall will analyze the existing and projected future need for a pedestrian facility OR BICYCLE FACILITY in every major highway project planning report. The Department may construct a sidewalk OR BICYCLE FACILITY if the need is documented and funding is available.
(d) The Department and the local sponsor shall negotiate financial responsibilities for a new sidewalk based on planning studies.
(e) The Department shall execute a pedestrian facilities AND BICYCLE FACILITIES maintenance agreement specifying responsibility for long term maintenance with the lead government entity or other local sponsor prior to construction for a proposed sidewalk OR BICYCLE FACILITY.
Lastly, we want you to know that BWNC continues to monitor changes happening with Active Routes to School funding and sidewalk construction and maintenance guidelines. We have also been selected to help review and select projects.
Active Routes To School Update
Upcoming:
8th Annual North Carolina BikeWalk Summit!
Save the Date
Images credit: Simong.com
Check out our latest blog:
Cyclist and Pedestrians DO Pay Fuel Taxes
Bicycle Registration and Plate Proposal Draws Ridicule
Thanks for taking action and joining us!
Contact us!
Terry Lansdell
dire...@bikewalknc.org
P.O. Box 531, Cary, N.C. 27512
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