Use this simple form letter to email your delegate TODAY
Two bills under consideration this session by the Virginia Legislature would make bicyclists in Virginia safer on the roads. Both bills cleared the Senate and passed out of committees — They are expected to be up for a vote in the house TODAY 3/4/2016
Read about the two bills:
Dooring (SB 117) — This bill makes opening a vehicle door into the path of an oncoming bicycle a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of up to $50. As too many of us know, dooring can cause severe injury to bicyclists. Currently, there is no penalty in VA for passengers and drivers who put cyclists at risk in this manner. The lack of a ticketable infraction makes it harder for the victim of dooring to recover damages from insurance companies for his/her injuries. The creation of this traffic infraction would change that.
(SB 669) Converting traffic lanes to bicycle lanes will not reduce highway maintenance funds (SB 669)— This bill would remove a disincentive for cities and towns to replace traffic lanes with bike lanes. Currently, highway maintenance funding is calculated based on the number of lane miles the city or town maintains. Under this bill, municipalities will not have their maintenance funding reduced if motor vehicle lane miles are converted to bicycle-only lanes. This is great for municipalities wishing to engage in traffic calming, road diets, and other street safety projects.
