A few weeks ago, the BTA unveiled their Senate Bill 299 (PDF here), an “omnibus” bill that includes several new provisions.
The last section (Section 6) of that bill included amendments to ORS 811.440 which deals with laws pertaining to, “When motor vehicles may operate on bicycle lane.”
In their initial draft of the bill, the BTA sought to add an amendment that have given explicit legal rights for vehicles to enter a bike lane when,
“overtaking or passing on the right a vehicle signaling an intention to make a left turn.”
This confused and concerned many cyclists. They wondered why the BTA would be lobbying to add language to a law that would allow cars to drive in the bike lane.
One response left on a BTA blog post said,
“I think that it is a dangerous move to make the solid white line of a bike lane more permeable and that is what this new language seems to do.”
And another,
“I don’t think cyclists should pander to driver’s impatience. Let’s…keep the car provisions out of this bill entirely”.
And another,
“This provision will create…a multiple threat condition for the pedestrian. It essentially turns the bike lane into an additional lane to be used by speeding motorists! Please get this out of the bill!”
BTA Policy Director Scott Bricker defended the proposed amendment by saying members of the BTA Legislative Committee — the body that guides all BTA legislative policy — sought to “clarify how all traffic uses the roadways” and they wanted to “make the law more seamless”.
Bricker explained that in getting a bill to pass in Salem, one must consider a variety of viewpoints and appeal to legislators with a wide range of opinions about bicycles and bike lanes.
However I just got an update that, after a meeting with the BTA Legislative Committee today, they have decided to remove these Section 6 amendments (lines 41 and 42) from the existing bill draft and re-submit the bill next week.
Bricker said that although some members of the Legislative Committee felt strongly about keeping these motor vehicle-related amendments in the bill, they heard cyclists’ concerns and decided to respond.
In addition to those changes Bricker says they’ll add language that before entering a bike lane (in any situation) cars must,
“first yield right-of-way to other occupants of the bike lane.”
This is a great example of how your input does make a difference and how lucky we are that the BTA listens to it!
Keep up with the ’07 bike legislation on the BTA website.