Senate bill still alive, full update posted here.

HB1683 and 2194, the three foot bills sponsored by Delegates Tuscano and Ebbin were killed this morning in a close 4 to 3 vote in  House Subcommittee #2. 

Voting in favor were Delegates Jeion A. Ward, Betsy B. Carr, and William H. Cleaveland,.  

Opposing the bills were Delegates  Charles W.  Carrico, (Chair), John A. Cox,, G. Glenn Oder, T. Scott Garrett.

Senator McDougle’s bill in the Senate is still alive.

Join IMBA staff, club leaders, and advocates from around the region for the IMBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Summit.

Plans are underway to make the weekend of July 22-24 an informative and festive IMBA regional summit. Details are still being hashed out, but get ready to spend the weekend with IMBA staff, land managers and other advocates in Harrisonburg, VA, learning the latest in trail management, volunteer motivation, best practices in advocacy, as well as state break-out sessions. And don’t forget your bike, as the plan is do a ride Sunday in one of the two IMBA Epics in the vicinity. Check back at IMBA’s website for more info, or contact VBF board member Chis Scott (chris@mountaintouring.com).

Attached is a current list of bills  the VBF is tracking.  See other articles (below) for detailed commentary.

To check the current status of a bill click on the corresponding bill number.

Three bills  related to following to close and passing cyclists (3 foot passing bill)

The VBF supports with amendments:

SB 928, Patron: Sen. Ryan T. McDougle   (R) – Senate District 4

HB1683, Patron: Delegate David J. Toscano   (D) – House District 57

HB2194, Patron: Delegate Adam P. Ebbin   (D) – House District 49

Bills related to the  use of handheld personal communications devices while operating certain vehicles including bicycles (cellphones and texting),

the VBF supports

HB1404, Patron: Delegate Algie T. Howell, Jr.   (D) – House District 90

SB1351, Patron: Senator Tommie Norment (R) – Senate District 3

Bills related to traffic lights,

the VBF supports

HB1981, Patron: Delegate Thomas A. Greason   (R) – House District 32

HB1991, Patron: Delegate Bill Janis   (R) – House District 56 (incorporated into HB1981)

Bills related to the  Reckless Driving,

the VBF supports

HB1993, Patron: Delegate Bill Janis   (R) – House District 56

Bills related to permitting hunting on Sunday,

the VBF opposes

SB850, Patron: Senator J. Chapman Petersen   (D) – Senate District 34

HB2442, Patron: Delegate Mark L. Keam   (D) – House District 35

HB2443, Patron: Delegate Mark L. Keam   (D) – House District 35

Bills related to the  Route 1 Corridor,

the VBF supports, with amendments

HJ603, Patron: Delegate Scott A. Surovell   (D) – House District 44

Bills related to the  Transportation Infrastructure Bank,

the VBF supports with amendments

HB2527, Patron: Delegate Williams J. Howell(R) – House District 28

HB1582, Patron: Delegate John A. Cosgrove   (R) – House District 78 (incorporated into HB 2527)

Bills related  to general powers and duties of the Commonwealth Transportation Board

the VBF supports with amendments

HB1957, Patron: Delegate Thomas Davis Rust   (R) – House District 86

SB1135,  Patron: Senator Frank W. Wagner   (R) – Senate District 7

Bills related to reckless cycling,

SB905, Patron: Senator R. Creigh Deeds   (D) – Senate District 25

…met this afternoon at 2.

Among a long list of bills “Stricken at the Request of the Patron” were:

• SB740-Lucas, VDOT to ban the use of bridges for Motorcycles and Mopeds during high winds
• SB905-Deeds relating to reckless operation of a bicycle

These bills are no more for this session, hence can be removed from your list of concerns.

SB1370, requiring rumble strips on all highways having a speed limit of at least 55mph, was “Passed by for the Day” which means that it may be on the docket for this committee next Thursday at 2. In discussing this bill with the VDOT reps and with several Senators, I learned that “All highways in VA have a speed limit of 55 mph, unless otherwise posted”, and that a number of rural roads are not posted, in which case their default speed limit is 55 mph.

VDOT is taking no official position on this bill, but is stating that the Fiscal Impact of such a bill would be $4 billion, which is more than enough to set this bill aside for a long time. Accordingly, the Senators I spoke with, who would rather not be in opposition to a bill that has no chance of going anywhere, told me not to worry about this bill, and just let the Fiscal Impact take care of it.

I intend to follow their advice, although if the bill comes up for discussion next week or in the future, I do intend to voice opposition.

SB928, McDougle’s 3 ft. passing bill, was not on the Docket today, so I expect to see it next Thursday, after we see how the identical House Bills make out next Wednesday morning in House Transportation Sub-Committee 2.