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Introduction
| Legislative Updates
| Legislative Agenda
| Advocacy Day
| Resources
| Archives
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
and by contacting your legislators in support of selected bills [see Legislative Agenda below].
The Bicycle Alliance is always seeking any ideas or suggestions you have regarding bicycling legislation
in the State of Washington.
Legislative Updates
12 March 2010
SB 6345 Passes, Goes to Governor
We are pleased to report that
Senate Bill 6345
(making texting and using a handheld cell phone while driving a primary offense)
has been passed by the House in its original version. Now that it has been approved by the legislature, it just
awaits Governor Gregoire's signature.
8 March 2010
HB 3001 misses the cut; SB 6345 still alive
We are disappointed to report that
HB 3001,
Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools, did not get on the Senate floor in time
to pass before the March 5th cut-off.
The bill was amended to include the proposed Vulnerable Users legislation.
Thanks for all your support and efforts to get this passed.
The Bicycle Alliance continues to be committed to educating motorists and we will be proposing more
legislation to do so.
Last week the House passed an amended version of the cell phone bill
(Senate Bill 6345).
While they supported the ban on texting while driving, the House weakened the Senate
bill by reducing handheld cell phone use back to its current status as a secondary offense.
The Senate has rejected the amended version and pushed the bill back to the House.
Please take action!
Write
or call your legislators by Wednesday March 10th and ask them to pass the ORIGINAL version
of SB 6345. [Write via www.votervoice.net/groups/driven]
The session officially ends on Thursday, so time is of essence.
Here are a couple of media stories on the recent developments with SB 6345:
Seattle Times: Distracted driving: House of wimps
King 5 News: Lawmakers split on how tough to make distracted driving bill
2 March 2010
Bills still progressing
The Bicycle Alliance continues to work on several important bills:
-
HB 3001,
Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools.
This proposed legislation has been passed by the House and will be voted on by the full Senate soon.
Contact your Senator right away and ask them to vote “Yes” on HB 3001 as amended by the Senate.
Find your Senator
to get their contat information. We prefer that you phone them rather than send an email.
-
SB 6345 /
HB 2635,
will make texting and using a handheld cell phone while driving a primary offense.
The bill passed the full Senate and the House Transportation Committee. It is now in Rules.
Check back here soon and look out for Action Alerts to find out what to do next.
24 February 2010
Bills still alive and well
The Bicycle Alliance continues to work on several important bills:
-
HB 3001,
Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools.
Was passed by the full House, the Senate Transportation Committee, and is now in Senate Rules for consideration.
We expect it to pass out of rules and get a favorable floor vote.
-
SB 6345 /
HB 2635,
will make texting and using a handheld cell phone while driving a primary offense.
The bill passed the Senate and is now before the House Transportation Committee where it is scheduled for a
vote on Feb. 24. We are working to get more support as it is too close to call.
17 February 2010
Only 3 weeks left!
While the session ends March 11, the Bicycle Alliance is working two bills that are still on the way to passage.
Here is an update on those bills:
-
HB 3001,
Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools,
was passed unanimously by the full House and is making its way through the Senate.
-
SB 6345 /
HB 2635,
which will make texting and using a handheld cell phone while driving a primary
offense was passed by the Senate and is making its way through the House.
These bills did not make it out of the House or Senate before the cutoff:
-
HB 2911,
Creating a Complete Streets Grant Program, was not voted on by the full House,
and so it will not become law this session.
-
SB 5838,
the Vulnerable Roadway User Bill, was not voted on by the Senate. Therefore, it will not become law this session.
We will keep you advised as to the progress of the two bills that are still active and may issue "Take Action"
alerts. We will also continue to work with our partners on future complete streets and vulnerable users
legislation. Thanks for all your help! Your support helps all bicyclists.
8 February 2010
Fast and Furious Action in Olympia
Due to the shortness of this year's legislative session, things are moving at a fast clip.
Here's a quick synopsis on the status of bills that the Bicycle Alliance of Washington is working on.
-
HB 3001,
Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools, was passed unanimously by
the House Transportation Committee and is waiting for a vote in the House Rules Committee.
We hope this will happen this week.
-
SB 6345,
which will make texting and using a handheld cell phone while driving a primary offense, was passed by the
Senate last week and sent to the House.
-
HB 2911,
Creating a Complete Streets Grant Program, was passed by the House Transportation Committee and sent to Rules.
-
SB 5838,
the Vulnerable Roadway User Bill, made it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and referred to Rules.
3 February 2010
Advocacy Day Update
Traffic School Safety Education Bill Continues to Progress!
HB 3001
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools is the bill that the
Bicycle Alliance of Washington drafted and is leading the effort.
We are happy to report it was voted unanimously out of the House Transportation Committee and
now goes to the House Rules Committee. Thanks to Bicycle Alliance volunteer Brian Faller for all his
work and testifying on our behalf.
What you can do to help Traffic School Safety Education (HB 3001):
- It is time to build support in the House for this bill. Please contact your representative
and ask for their support. Please send separate emails for each bill. Representatives Email List.
Unsure whose district you live in?
Find your legislator here.
While a vote on the House floor has not been scheduled yet, it is important to build support now.
If they serve on the House Transportation Committee
thank them and tell them you appreciate their continued support!
- There is not a Senate version of this bill yet, but Bicycle Alliance staff is working on it.
We will update you as soon as we are ready for you to take action and keep an eye on our
web site and keep an eye on our web site.
Complete Streets Hearing
On Transportation Advocacy Day the House Transportation Committee held a hearing on
HB 2911
Creating a Complete Streets Grant Program. Barbara Culp, the Alliance's ED was one of several speakers that
testified on its behalf. The hearing went favorably.
Cell Phone Bill Makes Progress in Senate
Senate Bill 6345
was voted out of the Senate Transportation Committee and is out of the Senate Rules Committee.
Many thanks to all of you who sent messages to Senators in support of this bill!
The House version House Bill 2635 was heard in the Transportation Committee but no vote has been taken.
Cell Phone Bill (HB 2635):
The House is waiting to see what the Senate does. We will update you soon regarding action to take.
26 January 2010
Upcoming Advocacy Day and Hearings on Bills
Hearings Scheduled for Complete Streets and Traffic School Education Bills This Week!
Two bills supported by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington are scheduled for legislative action this week.
The House Transportation Committee will hold hearings on HB 2911 Creating Complete Streets Grant Program and
HB 3001 Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools. The hearings are slated for this Thursday,
January 28 at 3:30PM, which coincides with Transportation Advocacy Day.
A representative from the Bicycle Alliance will speak in favor of both bills.
What you can do to help:
Cell Phone Bill Voted Out of Senate Transportation Committee
Senate Bill 6345, which would make cell phone use and texting
while driving a primary offense,
was voted out of the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday evening. Next stop for the bill is the
Senate Rules Committee. Many thanks to all of you who sent messages to Senators in support of this bill!
Transportation Advocacy Day is Thursday, January 28!
It's not too late to sign up and join us in Olympia for this annual event!
Dave Janis of the Bicycle Alliance will lead a breakout session covering the Cell Phone and Traffic School Education bills. Executive Director Barbara Culp is participating in a breakout session on Complete Streets.
14 January 2010
Action Needed: Cell Phone/Distracted Driving Bills are Moving!
On Monday, January 18, House Bill 2635 and
Senate Bill 6345
will be heard in their respective Transportation Committees. These bills will strengthen the state's ban on
using a handheld cell phone while driving and texting/emailing while driving by making these primary offenses
instead of secondary ones. That means police will not have to wait for drivers to commit an additional
violation before issuing a ticket.
The Bicycle Alliance of Washington is a member of the
Driven to Distraction Task Force
and strongly supports these changes. The evidence is overwhelming that driving while phoning or texting are
dangerous as drunk driving, and that current state law has not been effective in
getting drivers to put down their phones while they drive.
The link below will take you to a site with more info about this legislation and allows you to send an email
to all key legislators. Please take a moment to send a message in support of these bills, and
share this message with others!
Act now: www.votervoice.net/groups/driven
You can find more information at:
www.nodistractions.org.
Legislative Agenda: (2010 Session)
Our 2010 priorities were discussed at a spring strategy meeting, refined during the summer,
and approved by the Board.
It is not too early to touch bases with your district's State Senator and two Representatives
about our 2010 bicycling priorities. Fall provides a great opportunity to talk with your
legislators in a more relaxed atmosphere. Just set up a phone or in-person meeting,
introduce yourself, mention our priorities, and ask for their support! Once the legislative session begins,
it can be more difficult to meet with your elected officials.
To find out what legislative district you are in and who your elected officials are, please see:
apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder
Our priorities for the 2010 legislative session:
- Safe Routes to School: During this time of economic downturn, our goal is to protect existing funding and find ways to improve the program to better meet the demand from schools around Washington State.
- Complete Streets
[HB 2911
]: We want to ensure that roads are designed with all users in mind and to tie grant funding to projects that meet this requirement.
- Texting and cell phone use
[HB 2635/
SB 6345]: Currently, using a hand-held cell phone while driving is a secondary offense and can be ticketed only when a motorist is stopped for a primary infraction, like speeding. This bill proposes to make distracted driving a primary offense.
- Vulnerable Roadway User Bill
[HB 2774 /
SB 5838]
: Introduced in the 2009 session by the Cascade Bicycle Club but not passed into law,
this bill would make it easier for prosecutors to hold drivers more accountable in collisions where they
kill or seriously injure cyclists and pedestrians. The BAW will again support this bill and offer our
assistance to help pass it.
More info at: Vulnerable User Bill FAQs
- Mutual Courtesy and Safety Act: This attempts to refine existing safe passing laws by
defining a minimum safe passing distance and other measures to improve education and enforcement.
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools
[HB 3001
]: Many motorists are sent to traffic school for defensive driver training when they receive traffic citations. This initiative would require traffic school curriculum to include approved information for driving safely among bicyclists and pedestrians.
Transportation Advocacy Day - Olympia
The 2010 Transportation Advocacy Day was held in Olympia on January 28 and attended by over
120 concerned citizens from throughout the State. During TAD attendees were able to meet
in person with their elected State officials, both Senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Many folks also attended hearings, held on the same day, on bills the Bicycle Alliance is
advocating for on behalf of bicyclists throughout the State.
The attendance at hearings, and ongoing personal contacts with legislators,
are essential in moving our legislative priorities through the legislative process.
Thanks to everyone who attended TAD and helped move the priorities forward!
The 2011 Transportation Advocacy Day will be held on February 10, 2011.
For detailed information and a link to the 2011 TAD registration, please check back here in late fall of 2010.
Legislative Resources
This section contains information and handouts that can be consulted for quick reference,
printed for distribution or included in your organization's electronic newsletter,
or placed in your group's resource web page.
- BAW Mission Statement :
This is a copy of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington mission statement. The mission statement guides the work of the BAW, including the work of the Committee. This is a one-page document.
- Legislative Information Resources :
This helpful document is full of handy references about such topics as where to find out about laws under consideration,
who your legislators are, how you can attend Transportation Advocacy Day, and more.
- 2010 Bicycling Washington Legislative Summary
A great one page handout on the key BAW legislative priorities for 2010, and highlights of our 2009 work.
If you want a concise handout on what BAW is doing for bicyclists throughout the State,
this is the handout to pass out to folks!
- Past Accomplishments :
This document covers the years 2006-2008 and summarizes many of the successful efforts the BAW has undertaken
for bicyclists throughout Washington. A longer discussion of 2009 work is included in the
Previous Legislative Efforts section.
- Legislative Committee Charter :
This is a copy of the Legislative and Statewide Issues Committee charter. This document provides details
on the purpose and operation of the Committee. This document is several pages long and would be very useful
for someone considering volunteering to serve on the Committee or anyone who would like a
more in depth understanding of how the Committee works.
- Bicycle Alliance Legislative Committee Membership 2010
If you would like to see additional resources,
please contact Bob Duffy,
or just email the Bicycle Alliance with your suggestions.
Previous Legislative Efforts
2008-2009 Legislative Session
Past Accomplishments :
This document covers the years 2006-2008 and summarizes many of the successful efforts the BAW has undertaken
for bicyclists throughout Washington.
Introduction
| Legislative Agenda
| Legislative Updates
| Advocacy Day
| Resources
| Archives
|
