bikeadm

 

House Transportation Committee Chairs John Torbett, Frank Iler, and Phillip Shepard and HB232 bill sponsor Representative Jeter are working to improve bicyclist safety and reduce conflicts between motorists and bicyclists by proposing the adoption of many of the valuable recommendations from the HB232 Bicycle Safety Law Study conducted this past fall.   We believe that implementation of House Bill 959: DOT Proposed Legislative Changes will add to the safety of all bicyclists and motorists on public roadways.

Readers can view the entire proposed committee substitute here, but a few of the main points include:

• Legalizing the commonly-used right-hand turn signal for right turns
• Extending the motorists’ legal protection as vulnerable road users to bicyclists
• Requirements for lights or reflective gear on bicyclists at night (we recommend more specific requirements)
• Allowing vehicles to pass slower-moving bicycles and mopeds
• Requiring the DOT to provide educational programs for bicyclists and motorists
• Revising the definitions of autocycles, mopeds, and electric assisted bicycles

BikeWalk is especially excited about the directive to educate motorists and bicyclists about the best practices on the roads. We think that if motorists are educated about best practices when encountering bicyclists, such as changing lanes to pass, and bicyclists follow the laws and best practices, conflicts will decrease. BWNC hopes to be able to work with the DOT and many of you on this education program moving forward, as we believe a grassroots approach will be more effective and less costly. Either way, more funding, is needed to implement this education program.

The bill also adds a definition for electric assisted bicycles, or “e-bikes.” BikeWalk NC worked with the NCDOT (DMV) to add this specific language, because otherwise, e-bikes would be classified as motorcycles, unable to meet those requirements, and thus not be allowed on our roads. BikeWalk NC would like to thank the NCDOT and DMV for working with us to recommend modifications to the legislature and to People for Bikes for helping us understand the emerging technologies, federal exemptions in place, and how other states are addressing e-bikes.

The desired language for defining e-bikes and other bike safety law provisions were added to HB959 through a Proposed Committee Substitute (PCS) that was discussed by Senate Transportation Committee members on May 24. Revised House Bill 959 was introduced on the House floor today and could be heard as soon as tomorrow (May 26) . Please let us know if you have concerns/comments about these changes or let the legislators know directly.

The NCDOT HB232 report deviated in a couple areas from the recommendations of the state-wide expert panel that they established. BWNC opposes the areas where NCDOT deviated (i.e. requiring permits for group rides and requiring cyclists to ride to the right of center on some roads). Fortunately, the House Transportation Chairs did not include these items where there is not agreement. However, the Chairs have repeatedly stated that they plan to revisit and propose more changes in the long session (Spring/Summer 2017). In the meantime, we all need to work on communicating the benefits of being able to easily and safely walk and bike in North Carolina to our state’s leadership. Find your legislator here and let them know why cycling is important to you and our state.

Lisa Riegel, executive director of BikeWalk NC, joined the North Carolina Vision Zero Taskforce.

In 2014, the North Carolina Strategic Highway Safety Plan adopted the NC Vision Zero

Vision Zero is a proven, data-driven approach to reducing transportation-related injuries and saving lives. Vision Zero’s goal is to work toward the only acceptable number of traffic deaths and serious injuries: zero.

Vision Zero works to protect all  road users, including bicyclists and pedestrians. Between 2010 and 2014, bicyclists and pedestrians represented 14 to 17 percent of all traffic fatalities in North Carolina (NHTSA, 2014 FARS report). However, the most recent household travel survey (2009 ACS) shows that only about 2 percent of North Carolina work-commute trips are made by walking or cycling. All road users would be safer as a result of focusing on the most vulnerable road users.

Vision Zero also seeks to prevent overrepresented fatality types. Bicyclists and pedestrians, and minorities and youth in particular, are overrepresented among road fatalities. Approximately 40 percent of pedestrians hit or killed in North Carolina between 2008 and 2012 were African-American. The 2010 U.S. Census reports that 21.5 percent of North Carolinians are African-American. Eliminating fatalities in these overrepresented groups would have a dramatic impact on all roadway fatality rates and would better ensure safe travel for all citizens, regardless of race, age or income.

BikeWalk NC hopes that the task force will further Vision Zero’s goals by making important recommendations and implementing them in North Carolina to reduce (eliminate) bicycling and pedestrian crashes.

The task force members represent the five E’s central to the initiative: Engineering, Education, Enforcement, Emergency Response and Everyone. Members include representatives from the North Carolina Highway Patrol, NCDOT, health profession, NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program, Drivers Education, Students Against Destructive Decisions, and more. What the members have in common is that they  all recognize that every life matters and are committed to work toward the goal of no fatalities.