It’s time to help support two of the most important pieces of legislation for bicyclists in Virginia this year. If your legislators are listed below, please write to them immediately, and ask them to support these bills in committee. In particular, SB 546 will be heard in the morning (Monday), so send your legislator a note now if you’re still up, and if not, then first thing in the morning. HB 1048 will be heard Wednesday morning, but send your letter ASAP.
SB 546 amends Virginia’s landowner liability law to specifically protect railroads from recreational use liability. This includes bike and pedestrian crossings as well as rails with trails. We believe railroads are protected under current statute, but they’ve countered that they’re not specifically mentioned. This amendment removes all doubt. This bill will be heard in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee on Monday morning. If your Senator is on this committee, as listed here, please contact them immediately and ask them to support SB 546: Ticer (Chairman); Whipple, Hanger, Watkins, Reynolds, Puckett, Ruff, Blevins, Obenshain, McDougle, McEachin, Petersen, Northam, Stuart, Marsden.
HB 1048 changes the minimum distance for passing a bicyclist to three feet, from the current (ridiculous) two feet. Fifteen other states now have three feet to pass laws. HB 1048 also prohibits a motorist from following a bicyclist too closely, to prevent harassment by tailgating. This bill will be heard in House Transportation Subcommittee 2 on Wednesday morning. If your delegate is Carrico, Oder, Rust, Garrett, Cox, Ward, or Carr, please contact them and ask them to support HB 1048. Rust, Oder, and Garrett are probably the swing votes, so they’re the ones we especially need to write to.
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