…as HB82 “don’t follow non-motorized vehicles more closely than is reasonable and prudent” was Passed by Indefinitely in the Senate Transportation Committee this afternoon.

Several Committee members were out of the room, and we will have to wait to see how the vote is posted on the website. Since it was a voice vote, that may be all that is stated. I believe I heard the Chairman say that there were four No votes (in favor of the bill), which would have been Favola, Colgan, Marsden (all Northern VA D’s) plus one other, perhaps Chairman Deeds himself.

Here’s the vote (this is on a motion to TABLE THE BILL so a YEA is a vote AGAINST):

• YEAS–Deeds, Marsh, Newman, Watkins, Puckett, Smith, Miller, Carrico, Alexander–9.
• NAYS–Wagner, Marsden, McWaters, Colgan, Favola–5.
• ABSTENTIONS–0.

Sen. Carrico kept his 100% record intact of voting against ANY bicycling safety legislation by vigorously speaking in opposition to the bill, primarily along the lines of “Bicycles move so slowly along rural roads, that when cars come upon them, they have to slow down, and then it takes them longer in the other lane at slower speed in order to get past the bicycle.” None of that really had anything to do with this blll which pertains to Following too closely, and not passing.

Since it is almost impossible in these meetings to rebut, or debate, unless asked to by the Chair or the Senator asking the question, assertions like this, even if illogical, often have to go unanswered.

One piece of good news, as expected, HB 542, the bill which will permit the wearing of a mask outdoors, as long as you do not appear to have the “intent to conceal your identity” received final passage in the Senate today by a 40-0 vote.

Now we have our final two bills, “3 ft. passing” & “Don’t open your vehicle door into moving traffic”, which will be heard in House Transportation Sub 2 on Monday morning at 7 a.m.  (If you haven’t written to your legislators about these bills, please do so now.)

Read more about Virginia’s new mountain biking mecca. (Grind TV)

Did you know that Harrisonburg is an IMBA Ride Center, one of only 17 worldwide?

“The Black Loop Project isn’t scheduled to be finished until the summer of 2014, but here is a sneak peek of some of the new moves the trails have to offer.” (Northern Virginia Magazine)

HB542, the Mask Bill, after testimony by the Motorcycling rep and me, sailed right through the Senate Courts of Justice Committee with no opposition and now goes on to the Senate floor, where final passage is about as certain as anything we ever see at the Legislature.

Next up is HB 82, Don’t Follow Too Closely, in the Senate Trans Committee after adjournment on Wednesday afternoon.

Although there have been some responses to my appeal to send emails in support of the remaining three bills (the Salsa program shared with us by the Washington Area Bicycling Assn. logs how many, and to which Legislator) I have been disappointed at the resounding level of apathy shown by the vast majority of RABA members.

Responses would still be very helpful, and I urge the rest of you to weigh in, as it never will be any easier than it is made by this program:

http://org.salsalabs.com/o/451/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15090