The 2007 legislative session in Salem has been a busy one for bike bills. Here’s a rundown of where things stand on the ones I’ve been following.
House Bill 3314 – Vulnerable Users of a Public Right of Way
This bill (text), which seeks to create a new offense for inflicting serious injury or death to a “vulnerable user of public way”, passed the House on Friday afternoon by a vote of 45-9.
Read about all the drama over on the BTA blog. This is a huge step forward for this bill and given that it had bi-partisan support (even after some pessimism and tough questions) in the House, it would seem to have a great chance of making it through the Senate.
Senate Bill 729 – Fixed Gear Bill
This bill (text), which clarifies that fixed-gear bicycles don’t need an additional brake if they meet a performance standard, passed the Senate (22-6) last month and is now in the House. It has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee (which usually understands and respects bike issues) and will receive a public hearing and work session this Wednesday (5/16).
Backers of this bill have done a good job in educating legislators that this is simply a matter of housekeeping and I expect it will pass the committee and the House vote and end up being signed into law.
Senate Bill 926 – Build Three New Velodromes in Oregon
This bill (text), which would direct state lottery funds to build three new velodromes in Oregon, remains stuck on the desk of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. It passed its first committee hearing, but insiders say the chances of the state using $3.5 million to fund velodromes is slim.
Concerns stem from the bill’s politically sensitive and sacred cow funding source (Measure 66) and a reluctance to fund (what is considered) bicycle recreation over salmon habitat and state parks land acquisition and conservation. While this bill may not move forward this session, it has been a very important step that will end up forcing Oregon State Parks to re-examine how they prioritize the funding of bicycle projects in the future.
I was closely involved with this bill from its inception and I feel that no matter what happens this session, it has been an amazing education for everyone involved. This bill has laid important groundwork and has educated lawmakers about the impact of bicycle recreation on communities across Oregon.
House Bill 3020 – Roadside Memorial Signs, “Eric’s Law”
This bill (text), which directs ODOT to erect and maintain a roadside memorial sign for a pedestrian or bicyclist killed in motor vehicle accident (by request) of immediate family member, is on the desk of the House Ways and Means Committee. It passed out of the Transportation Committee but now it awaits the green light from Ways and Means before it can be voted on by the House.
Named “Eric’s Law” after the late cyclist Eric Kautzky, this bill has strong emotional momentum. The Eric Kautzky Memorial Track Race happened on Saturday and this week’s Ride of Silence will also honor Eric’s death.
House Bill 2297 – Reduce Speed on Residential Streets
This bill (text), which would reduce vehicle speeds to 15mph on all “narrow” roadways (defined as “not of sufficient width to allow one lane of traffic in each direction”), passed out of House and is moving along in the Senate. On Thursday (5/10) it passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee and is headed for a full vote on the Senate floor.
Read my report on this bill (from back in February) for more info and perspectives.
As you can see, bicycles have had a big impact in the halls of Salem this session. For more legislative updates, stay tuned here and to the BTA Blog. You can also delve into my article archives for extensive coverage of the 2007 legislative session.