More than an hour was spent this afternoon in the Senate Trans Comm with a heavyweight slugfest between Sens. Saslaw & Watkins, who have competing bills over what type of equipment may be used to conduct auto emission tests in the EPA non-attainment areas (which are primarily in NoVA). Saslaw (who I believe is a former auto dealer) is championing the existing equipment, which was expensive for the inspection stations to buy and now they want to be able to get their expense out of it. Watkins is championing a new, cheaper, easier to use device (not fully tested against the other for accuracy) in the name of innovation and competition. Question didn’t get resolved or compromised and will be resumed next Wed.

Getting to bills of primary interest to us —

As promised, and reported this a.m. SB101/Blacksburg to install a contraflow bike lane on a one way street, was WITHDRAWN by the patron

SB333/banning mo-peds from all highways higher than 35mph Has been continued to the 2013 session at the request of the patron, and referred to VDOT’s non-conventional vehicle study group, which tends to meet during times when the legislature is not in session, and discusses and makes recommendations on such topics as “What kind of license does it take to ride a mo-ped?” “Does that same license permit you to ride a motorcycle?” Must you wear a helmet to ride a mo-ped?” etc.

Since bicycles are NOT considered a “non-conventional” vehicle, we do not have a seat on this committee, nor do we want to have one.

Due to the time taken up with the emission test equipment debate, Sen. Barker did not have his SB633/Helmets mandatory for all cyclists 14 & under, statewide” heard and it was carried over until next Wed. [continue reading…]

US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was in Richmond today where he spent time visiting with Mayor Dwight Jones and touring  parts of Richmond’s I-95 corridor.

After the Mayor’s meeting, LaHood then spent time on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University discussing today’s transportation environment with students Wednesday afternoon. [continue reading…]

Patron Eileen Filler-Corn requested that her HB 706/Motorists to Stop for Pedestrians in marked crosswalks “Go Bye for the Day” which was granted in House Trans. Sub 2, so we will probably see it next Wed. @ 7 a.m.

Del. Lopez did a very nice, and well prepared, job of presenting HB784, his very first bill as a legislator, which was the “Drivers shall exercise Due Care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian or bicyclist” Although I, and representatives of several other groups, spoke in favor of the bill, and no one from the floor spoke against it, it was defeated 3-2. Unfortunately the vote was along strict party lines, with Chairman John Cox, and Delegates Scott Garrett (Lynchburg) & Barbara Comstock (McLean), all the R’s, voting against, with Betsy Carr (Richmond) & Jeion Ward (Hampton), the two D’s on the sub comm, voting for.

Learned after the meeting that both the House & Senate patrons of the bills to permit the City of Blacksburg to install a contra flow bike lane on one street, HB 857 & SB 101, have decided to withdraw these bills, which should be done at Senate Trans this afternoon, and House Trans tomorrow. I can not take any credit for this development, which I believe is due to the efforts of Va. Transit Assn. added to the contacts that Champe & I had made earlier. In any case, we are please to see that this bill will not be going forward. [continue reading…]

Over on the Senate side, SB264/Ebbin’s Don’t follow bicycles, etc. too closely bill passed the Senate by a 28-12 vote, which would appear to be good news, but it passed Senate Transportation unanimously, only to see Carrico and McDougle turn around and vote against it on the floor. My Senator, Stosch also voted against it, which does not make me happy. RABA people who have McDougle 698-7504, Stosch 698-7512, and McEachin 698-7509 might want to give them a call and let them know how surprised, and disappointed, they are to see that they voted against this bill, and those that have Watkins 698-7510, should call his office and thank him for his support.

Then, on Wed. afternoon, in the Senate Transportation Committee, we have three bills of interest—

SB 101 Where the City of Blacksburg is asking for authorization to install a contra flow lane for bicycles (a bike lane going counter to the direction of a one way street).  Many of us feel they already have the authority to do so. [continue reading…]