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Fixie bill passes Senate by wide margin

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward


BTA lobbyist Scott Bricker reports that Senate Bill 729, which seeks to amend the brake requirement for bicycles, passed through the Senate in Salem today by a landslide margin of 22-6.

A no hand-brake fixie
spotted downtown last week.
File photo: 3/30/07

The bill, which passed through committee just one week ago, would create a performance standard for bicycle brakes (a bicyclist would have to be able to stop a bicycle in 15 feet when riding 10 mph) and would specifically exempt fixed geared bicycles from needing a separate brake to do this.

Now the bill must be passed in the House. According to Bricker, the big question is whether the bill will be heard in the Transportation or the Judiciary Committee. Bricker likes its chances in the Transportation Committee, but he says it stands a good chance in both.

If the bill passes committee in the House, it will very likely pass a floor vote and end up becoming law. Stay tuned.

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