This is old news by now but hopfully better late than never as it’s worth mentioning: Richmond Area Bicycling Association (RABA) is the Bikeleague’s Club of the Year for Region 3 for 2008.

With 3 fellow VBF board members from RABA I hear a lot about their doings, and they’re a great club indeed. Any cyclist in the Richmond area who’s not involved already should definitely look them up — they seem to have something for everybody.

After the disappointing loss early this morning on the Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalks bill, all three bills in the Senate Transportation Committee this afternoon sailed right through with only HB1876 the Prohibition of Text Messaging by Drivers having much discussion.

HB 2008, Prohibiting Bicycles on Interstate Highways, but recognizing that they are permitted in the bike lanes on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (I-95) and on segments of I-66, and leaving the Commonwealth Transportation Board with the authority to make decisions on limited access highways and Interstates, on a case by case basis was reported out with little discussion.

As was HB 2019, which allows the Commonwealth Transportation Board to establish transportation corridors (including bicycling accommodations)in connection with the establishment of the Statewide Transportation Plan.

Then, late in the afternoon, I learned that HB 2088, the Railroad Access bill, has been placed on the Uncontested list, which means it will move on to the Senate floor, without having to be heard in the Rules Committee. Much as I enjoy going down there, I was thrilled to learn that I could do something else on Friday afternoon.

While it’s never over til its over, I believe none of these four bills will have any problems on the Senate floor, and don’t think you need to make any further calls or emails (other than to thank anyone you’ve previously contacted for their consideration).

Thanks to all of you that made contacts!

It certainly was helpful and we had a very productive session overall. The Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalks bill got further than it ever had, and one of these years is going to make it all the way.

After being shunted from the Sub-Committee of the House Courts of Justice Committee late yesterday afternoon to the docket of Sub- Committee 2 of the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee early this morning, the bill was presented very ably by Sen. George Barker of Alexandria, and spoken in support of by the usual lineup of witnesses, with no one speaking against.

Del. Shuler of Blacksburg moved to Report the bill, but the motion FAILED TO GET A SECOND from the other three members of the committee (all rural Republicans) — Chairman Cline of Lexington, Gilbert of Woodstock, and Poindexter of Glade Hill — so it goes into the books as LEFT IN COMMITTEE.

Technically, not as bad as Passed by Indefinitely, Defeated on a Motion to Report, or Tabled, but dead for this session, nonetheless.

Thanks to Sen. Barker for an excellent job of patroning the bill before a sub-committee consisting entirely of rural or small town representatives, and to all who made contacts in support of the bill.

Til next year, when we go again!

Update: SB 1239, stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, is now dead for 2009.

SB1239, Motorists to Stop for Pedestrians in Cross Walks, was not heard yesterday in the House Courts of Justice Committee’s Civil Sub- Committee, but will be heard on Wednesday afternoon, when the Sub- Committee re-convenes. Senator Barker, the patron of the bill, has agreed to some changes in the bill (including a key change that will remove “Un-Marked Crosswalks” from the language) that will address some of the problems that some of the delegates have had with the bill. With those changes, I believe the bill has an excellent chance of passage. [continue reading…]