Bike traffic signal bill passed the Senate.(Photo © J. Maus) Senate Bill 130 (text), that would add green, yellow and red bicycle signals to Oregon’s list of officially accepted traffic control devices, has passed the Oregon Senate. The ODOT-backed bill passed yesterday by a vote of 28-1. The only “no” vote came from Senator Jeff … Read more
HB 2602, a bill proposed by Rep. Mike Schaufler (D-Happy Valley) that would create a new law prohibiting the use of headphones while bicycling, has been pulled from the schedule of the House Judiciary Committee. As we reported last week, the bill was slated for a public hearing tomorrow (2/10). Our friends at Eugene Bicyclist … Read more
Stephanie Routh, WPC.(Photos © J. Maus) Advocates who want to make it safer to walk are leading a charge to revise Oregon’s crossing law. This will be the third consecutive legislative session that advocates have attempted to change ORS 811.208 (“Failure to stop and remain stopped for pedestrian”); but with the non-profit Willamette Pedestrian Coalition … Read more
This morning I posted a story stating that Senator Ginny Burdick was introducing a bill (SB 604) that would allow bicycle operators to roll through stop signs and flashing red lights – a.k.a. the Idaho stop law. Now I have confirmed that Burdick never intended to push for the bill as it was introduced yesterday. … Read more
More bike signals ahead? Maybe.(Photo © J. Maus) As we reported yesterday, PBOT’s Signals and Street Lighting Division Manager, Peter Koonce, was in Salem yesterday to testify in support of a bill (SB 130) that would give official state backing to bicycle traffic signals. (ODOT is behind the bill, PBOT is supporting it.) Below is … Read more
Rep. Mike Schaufler proposed the bill. House Bill 2602 (text), which would create a new law to prohibit the use of headphones while operating a bicycle, has just been scheduled for a public hearing. The bill is on the agenda of the House Judiciary Committee for Thursday, February 10th at 1:00 pm.
UPDATE: We have learned from the BTA that the entire text of the bill is just a placeholder that Sen. Burdick plans to swap out for different language. According to the BTA, Burdick plans to address the issue of rolling through an intersection when the light does not have a bike sensor and/or fails to … Read more
Bike traffic signals on the agenda in Salem today.(Photo © J. Maus) The Oregon State Legislature is getting down to business this week and there’s a bike-related bill that’s already getting some action. Senate Bill 130 (text) would add green, yellow and red bicycle signals to Oregon’s list of officially accepted traffic control devices. The … Read more
Portland hopes new law will lead to 20 mph limit on streets like these.(Photo © J. Maus) As we reported back in October, the City of Portland is working the legislature to gain more control over speed limits. Mayor Sam Adams is aware of the impact high speed motor vehicles have on our neighborhoods and … Read more
Should it be illegal?(Photo © J. Maus) Lost in last week’s kerfluffle about a potential ban on biking with kids, was another bill proposed in the current Oregon legislative session that deserves our attention. House Bill 2602 (text), sponsored by Representative Michael Schaufler (D-Happy Valley), would create a new traffic violation for “unsafe operation of … Read more
On a rural road in a “frontier” county this would be perfectly legal if HB 2507 passes.(Photo © J. Maus) In 2009, the Oregon State Legislature passed a law (ORS 811.507) that makes it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone while driving (hands-free headsets are allowed). The law was great news for traffic safety … Read more
State Representative Jules Bailey has just told us that he has been in touch with Rep. Mitch Greenlick about HB 2228, the controversial bill that would create a new Oregon law making it illegal to transport a child six years or younger on a bicycle or in a bike trailer. Bailey says that the two … Read more