Bicycle Alliance - Legislative Issues

Call for Legislation Suggestions

Each spring, the Bicycle Alliance Legislative Committee holds a meeting to discuss possible legislative initiatives for the upcoming year. If you ever said "There ought to be a law!", or just have some ideas to improve bicycling, the Committee would love to hear your thoughts. Please start to think about State-wide legislative issues you would like to see changed or improved. Feel free to check with your buddies, fellow bicycle club members, or any other good source for ideas and comments!

Send your ideas to Dave Janis by June 10th. All comments will be considered by the Legislative Committee as the Bicycle Alliance legislative agenda for 2010 is developed.

Legislative Updates

2009 Legislative Wrap Up: 21 May 2009

Every year, literally hundreds of bills are submitted to the Legislature for review and approval. Many are great ideas for great causes, some deserve to die, and few make it out for the Governor's signature to become law. The Bicycle Alliance is proud to report that two bills that we helped create on behalf of cyclists fall in the last category.

Our traffic signal bill took many twists and turns during the legislative session. The final outcome: SB5482 (Section 10) requires that all new traffic signals and substantially upgraded ones must be capable of being triggered by bicycles and motorcycles. Jurisdictions must also set up a procedure for recording signal complaints and prioritize those most in need of detection improvements if funding becomes available. Many thanks to Brian Faller of the Capital Bicycle Club for spearheading this effort.

Our Safe Routes to School bill made significant headway and moved policy into law: SubHB1793 strengthens the state's Safe Routes to School Program by placing it directly into statute and providing greater legitimacy and visibility to the program. This underscores both the importance of non-motorized transportation and the value of daily physical activity for our young people. This legislation sets the stage for seeking long term funding for implementation in future years.

In addition to our legislative successes, we made headway in raising awareness through two other legislative initiatives.

Thanks to earlier legislative efforts by the Bicycle Alliance, Washington state law (RCW 46.61.110) already requires cars to pass cyclists and pedestrians at a "safe distance." To assist in educating the public, we worked to define safe passing as a minimum of 3 feet in HB 1491/SB 5335. The bill made it through the House but not the Senate. The Bicycle Alliance will assess whether another attempt should be made to pass this or similar legislation in 2010 or just use the existing safe passing legislation as an adequate basis for educational efforts related to safe passing.

Our construction zone bill met with concerns from key agencies that said it was an unnecessary duplication of existing standards. We may focus on getting jurisdictions to increase compliance without a new law, and certainly on documenting the problems if legislation appears necessary. Thank you to Ralph Wessels of the Tacoma Wheelmen and BAW board member for doing much of the legwork on this one.

There are many categories of people behind successful legislation. The volunteers on our committee are backed up by professional staff. The Bicycle Alliance has a long-time professional lobbyist in Olympia, Michael Temple. Michael's knowledge of the process, the politics and the political people in Olympia is unmatched. It's what gets us bill sponsors, hearings and votes. When our signal bill died, he got it a second chance by inserting the language into legislation that was still alive. Thank you, Michael!

This year Michael was joined for the first time by a staff member from the Cascade Bicycle Club who also worked on behalf of cycling. We supported Cascade's "vehicular assault" bill, designed to make it a more serious offense when drivers injure cyclists. Unfortunately, the bill died-reminding us all that patience and educated legislators are keys to success in Olympia.

We are already planning for 2010. One thing we learned this session is that many of our politicians don't understand cycling. If we say "bicycle education" they think only of 10-year-olds. If we say "cars should be required to pass at a minimum of 3-feet," they say "bicyclists should ride on the right side of the bike lane or shoulder or cars don't have to pass safely." Obviously, part of our preparation this year will involve educating politicians. We'll be seeking partners in local bike clubs and people with a passion for cycling to succeed in that effort. We'll also be working to identify our legislative priorities. Please contact Dave Janis at the Bicycle Alliance office if you would like to be involved.

2009 Legislative Session Successes: 8 May 2009

Cyclists have reason to celebrate! Two of our legislative priorities have made it through the session and have been signed into law.

SB5482 (Section 10) requires that all new traffic signals and substantially upgraded ones must be capable of being triggered by bicycles and motorcycles stopped at intersections. Jurisdictions with vehicle-activated traffic signals must also set up a procedure for recording signal issues and prioritize those most in need of detection improvements if funding becomes available.

SubHB1793 strengthens the state's Safe Routes to School Program by placing it directly into statute and providing greater legitimacy and visibility to the program. This underscores both the importance of non-motorized transportation and the value of daily physical activity for our young people.

Thanks to all of you who helped us push these two bills through the legislature! An in depth review of this year's legislative session will be in our June edition of The Advocate.

BAW's Dave Janis at far left as Gov. Chris Gregoire signs 2009 Safe Routes bill into law.

2009 Legislative Session Update: 21 April 2009

A letter from BAW President, Kristin Kinnamon:

Every year, literally hundreds of bills are submitted to the Legislature for review and approval. Many are great ideas for great causes, some deserve to die, few make it out for the Governor's signature to become law.
I am proud to say that as of this writing, two bills that we helped create on behalf of cyclists look likely to fall into that last category.
It takes preparation, partnerships and people to get a bill passed in Olympia. With the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, cyclists in our state have all three things working in our favor. The BAW Legislative & Statewide Issues Committee, made up of bicycle advocates from all over the state, first met last spring to plan for the 2009 legislative session. We identified our priorities and researched laws and current practices to build a case for support. Because we've been working in Olympia a long time, we knew what the arguments might be for and against our bills.
So part of our preparation was building partnerships with groups like the Washington State Patrol, which opposed our 3-foot safe passing law last year. We got key cities on board with our traffic signal activation bill. The Obesity Prevention Coalition formed to encourage more kids walking and biking to school brought many groups together to support our shared "Safe Routes to School" legislation.
There are many categories of people behind successful legislation. The volunteers on our committee are backed up by professional staff. The Bicycle Alliance has a long-time professional lobbyist in Olympia, Michael Temple. This year Michael was joined for the first time by a staff member from the Cascade Bicycle Club who also worked on behalf of cycling. Michael's knowledge of the process, the politics and the political people in Olympia is unmatched. It's what gets us bill sponsors, hearings and votes. When our signal bill died, he got it a second chance by inserting the language into legislation that was still alive.
Bike Alliance staff and volunteers are the ones who helped get other people involved in this process. They organized panels of experts to speak to committees, sent out "action alerts" to Bike Alliance members, wrote articles for websites and bike club newsletters. The power of "the people" really does come into play in Olympia, and everyone of you who wrote an email, made a call or met with your legislators on behalf of bicycling helped make a difference.
The legislative session has not ended as I write this, but already we are planning for 2010. One thing we learned this session is that many of our politicians don't understand cycling. If we say "bicycle education" they think only of 10-year-olds. If we say "cars should be required to pass at a minimum of 3-feet," they say "bicyclists should ride on the right side of the bike lane or shoulder or cars don't have to pass safely."
Obviously, part of our preparation this year will involve educating politicians. We'll be seeking partners in local bike clubs and people with a passion for cycling to succeed in that effort. We'll also be working to identify our legislative priorities. What bills that died this year should we revive? What new ideas and approaches should we bring forward? What will make the biggest differences for cyclists' safety and comfort and encouragement?

Transportation Advocacy Day - Olympia

On Transportation Advocacy Day Feb. 24 we meet in Olympia to learn about legislative issues, meet with your legislators and network with other advocates.

Tuesday February 24
9am - 5pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
2020 Franklin St. SE
Olympia

The Bicycle Alliance has an ambitious legislative agenda and we'll also be supporting our partners in pushing for :

Longterm Funding For Transportation Solutions
Safe Routes To School
Transit Oriented Communities
Reducing Global Warming
Safety For All

Talking points and details to come. If you are planning on attending you can Register online now. Carpool, take the train, even bike down for the day (it's been done!).

Liz McNett Crowl (far left), BAW board member from Mt Vernon, provided testimony in support of the Safe Routes to School legislation. The bill had a hearing before the House Transportation Committee on February 24.

2009 Legislative Agenda:

The Legislative and Statewide Issues Committee works year-round to identify, research and prioritize key issues for cycling that need to be addressed at the state level. The Bicycle Alliance works with a professional lobbyist in Olympia to forward that agenda - he is our eyes and ears, but members are our voice. Help support our agenda by attending Transportation Advocacy Day on Feb. 24 and by contacting your legislators in support of these bills. See the Washington State Legislature homepage for help finding your legislator; click the bill number below to track the following bills:

School Transportation Funding (HB 1793/SB 5743): These companion bills propose increasing the dedicated state funding for "safe routes to schools" grants which allow local school districts to fund infrastructure, education and encouragement programs that support walking and bicycling to school. The bill would extend the state's commitment to the Center for Safe Routes To School, a statewide resource providing training and best practices.

Traffic Actuated Signals (HB 1403): When a car arrives at a signalized intersection that is "traffic actuated," it is detected either by an in-pavement magnetic loop or by an optically-based video camera system. This bill would require cities, counties and the state to make all new traffic-actuated signals detect bikes and motorcycles and to upgrade equipment at existing signals when significant upgrade work is being done. The Washington Road Riders are supporting us on this bill.

3-Foot Passing (HB 1491/SB 5335): Thanks to earlier legislative efforts by the Bicycle Alliance, Washington state law (RCW 46.61.110) already requires cars to pass cyclists and pedestrians at a "safe distance." To assist in educating the public, we are seeking to define safe passing as a minimum of 3 feet. Both the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs support the bill as a driver education tool.
Seattle Times news article: To pass a bicyclist, bill calls for 3-foot clearance (17 Feb 2009)

Construction Zones (HB 1535): Construction projects often create dangerous barriers for non-motorized travelers when proper planning could provide safe alternatives. The bill supported by the Bicycle Alliance will require compliance with Manual of Uniform Traffic Code Devices standards (which are already adopted by most jurisdictions) so that people who use wheelchairs, bikes or their own two feet are considered important user groups when construction, repair, utility or maintenance closures and detours are necessary. standards (which are already adopted by most jurisdictions) so that people who use wheelchairs, bicycles or their own two feet are considered important user groups when construction, repair, utility or maintenance closures and detours are necessary.

Transit Oriented Development (HB 1490, SB 5687): These bills promote dense, multimodal transportation, particularly near major transit routes and stations such as light rail. Jurisdictions would be required to set standards for safe walking and cycling around "transit oriented development" and to establish and consider "level of service" standards for cycling and walking in the transportation plans.

Residential Infrastructure (HB 1360/SB 5377): This bill would establish state grants to support dense housing near major transit stops by funding infrastructure improvements including sidewalks and streets.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (HB 1819/SB 5735): At the request of Gov. Gregoire, these bills would have Washington join the regional "cap and trade" program that includes western states and British Columbia. Currently, caps on individual transportation emissions are not part of the regional framework.

Sunscreen Devices (SB 5581): At the request of the Washington State Patrol, this bill would set additional limits on the amount of sunscreening allowed on windshields, with the goal of ensuring safe visibility into and out of vehicles.

DOT Rail Alignment (HB 1717): This legislation allows state agencies to conduct land swaps and move forward with development of a cross-state trail in the Milwaukee Road railroad corridor between Ellensburg and Lind. The law is set to sunset this year - this bill extends the timeline to 2019.

Public Trails and County Revenue (HB 1659):This bill allows a county to use existing sales and use tax revenues to build recreational trails, with emphasis on trail connections in urban growth areas.