UPDATE - 2010 MARCH 18
The Complete
Streets Work Group, their original work
accomplished, has formed an advocacy group to continue shepherding the
Complete Streets legislation through the 2010 state legislative session
that begins March 28. One of this group's objectives is to amend existing
Revised Statutes to bring them in line with the Complete Streets Report submitted in January
2010. Those changes include:
- Adding a component to driver's education on sharing the road with pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit vehicles (RS17:270);
- Adding six bicycle related definitions under Title 32 to remove ambiguity when speaking of facilities (RS 32:1);
- Adding one mobility aid related definition under Title 32 for the first time (RS 32:1);
- Modifying the definition of "Shoulder" under Title 32 to allow mobility aid users, bicyclists, and pedestrians to use the shoulder when no other accommodations are available (RS 32:1);
- Modifying the Colin Goodier Law to include exercising due care when passing a bicyclist and clarifying passing in a no-passing zone only when safe to do so (RS 32:76.1);
- Modifying hand signals to allow use of right arm and hand by bicyclists to signal a right turn (RS 32:106);
- Add exemption from making a hand signal if both hands are needed to control the bicycle (RS 32:106);
- Modifying riding as far right as practicable (RS 32:197) under certain conditions including:
- overtaking or passing a vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
- when preparing to turn left;
- when reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions including substandard width lanes;
- when approaching an allowable right turn;
- Removing the mandatory side path law (RS 32:197.[old]C);
- Adding allowing use of shoulder by bicyclists (RS 32:197.[new]C);
- Adding allowing bicyclist to ride on the left on one-way streets with two or more lanes (RS 32:197.D);
- Standardizing the speed limit to 25 miles per hour for streets upon which electric mobility aids may be used (RS 32:206);
- Adding allowing bicyclists to ride on roadway shoulders (RS 32:296.B.1) to match RS 32:1 above;
- Modifies areas of operation of electric personal mobility devices and reconciles roadway speed limits (RS 32:300.2);
- Adds "Improper opening or leaving open of vehicle door" section to RS 32;
- Adds "Motor vehicles operating in bicycle lanes" provision to RS 32;
- Adds "Special prestige plate: 'Share the Road'" provision to RS 47.463;
- Reconciles definition of "Bicycle facility" with that in RS 32:1 above;
- Modifies the Functions section of the Department of Transportation and Development to include Complete Streets wording (RS 48:21);
- Modifies use of highway funds for bicycle paths by reconciling wording with other modifications (RS 32:1 above), changes "may expend" to "will expend," and changes the emphasis from justifying why the state should establish, construct, and maintain bicycle facilities to justifying why the state should NOT build such facilities (RS 48:163.1);
- Deletes three existing exemptions from creating bicycling facilities (RS 48:163.1.C.[old]1-3) and replaces them with four new exemption conditions (RS 48:163.1.C.[new]1-4);
- Adds specific language regarding assigning maintenance responsibilities for sidewalks and bicycle facilities (RS 48:163.1.C.5);
- Modifies the percentage of the transportation trust fund that shall be expended in any given fiscal year (RS 48:163.1.D).
A PDF of the full wording of the proposed changes is attached. Take a look, pass it around, engage your representatives and senators. We'll be working on this diligently this session so expect regular updates.
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Ċ ď Mark Martin, Mar 18, 2010 6:52 PM
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