This bill needs your support now.

As FABB reported yesterday, SB928, the Senate version of “three feet to pass,” was passed 40-0 by the full Senate yesterday. Now it heads to the House. Bud Vye writes:

“On the floor of the full House and Senate, bills which reach there have readings, after which there are opportunities to debate them.

The required readings are usually dispensed with when a bill is uncontested.

The final Senate vote was taken today and the bill passed unanimously along with a batch of other uncontested bills.

Tomorrow is crossover day, so the bills that have passed in each house CROSS OVER to the other house.

The Speaker then assigns them to a committee. 928 should go to Transportation, but could theoretically go to any committee.

If it does, its possible that the Chairman of Trans (Joe May) could assign it to a subcommittee, or could keep it in the full committee, if they do not have a large number of bills to consider. If we stay in full House Trans, could be as early as Thursday a.m. If we go into a subcomm, it probably will be #2 again, a week from tomorrow @ 7 a.m.

I’m keeping an eye on it, and we DO need to gear up for letters to House Trans.”

So be ready to write in support on Wednesday, in advance of the House Transportation Committee meeting on Thursday.

Please note: there’s no need to contact Del Oder. He has heard plenty from us and other cyclists, and has indicated that he will support the Senate version of this legislation.

Another VA Locality Supports Trails and Bikeways

The Charles City County Board of Supervisors   unanimously passed a resolution  supporting bicycling and calling for an active transportation network. 

The resolution passed unanimously at the Board meeting on January 25.

This makes Charles City the fifth locality in Central Virginia – after Ashland, Hanover County, New Kent and the City of Richmond –  to pass pro-bike/ trail resolutions.

US Bike Routes 76 (TransAmerica Route), the East Coast Greenway  and the Virginia Capital Trail all pass through the county.

SB928/McDougle Following too closely & 3 ft. passing sailed through Senate Transportation this afternoon with no opposition. Thanks to Ruth Stornetta and Scott Paisley who made the trip from Charlottesville, Kim Whitley from Virginia Beach, and Allen Muchnick who came down from Arlington to join Champe and I in supporting the bill, which was patroned nicely by Sen. McDougle.

Perhaps even more importantly, Allen & I met with Del. Glenn Oder from Newport News after the meeting, and he agreed to support the bill in committee AND TO HELP GET IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH, if we will call off the dogs who have been filling up his IN box and making him the bad guy, and continue our efforts to get our “peloton riders” to clean up their act.

Accordingly, I hereby issue the call for NO MORE CALLS or EMAILS to Del. Oder on this topic. (other than to thank him for voting for the bill, when it gets back to House Transportation) and to spread the word to our “peloton brethren” that they are hurting the cause, and that I am getting tired of constantly having to apologize for their riding habits, to such people as Del. Oder and Del. Cox.

Also, SB1370/Blevins Requiring the installation of rumble strips on all highways with a speed limit of 55 mph or higher was Passed By Indefinitely by a 14 -1 vote, with only the patron voting for it, as VDOT states a $4 billion fiscal impact for the bill.

I don’t think we will have any trouble getting through the Senate floor with 928.

Then Crossover comes next week, and we may be back in House Trans Sub 2 or directly to House Transportation, if they do not have too many bills to consider.

In any case, DO NOT call or Email Del. Oder on this bill. I promised him you wouldn’t!

But be ready to weigh in with the other delegates when called upon.

Your presence at the National Bike Summit will positively impact funding for pedestrian and bicycling projects. In 2011, the Federal Transportation bill will be reauthorized. AAA is lobbying to remove transportation enhancement monies from the funding bill. These funds have been used to construct local greenways and trails alternative transportation corridors.

Meet with your Congressman or their transportation staff to discuss cyclist’s transportation needs on and off road. The Virginia delegation will meet with Virginia Senators, Webb and Warner, or their staff. Congressional visits will be scheduled by VBF Northern Virginia member, Allen Muchnick. Champe Burnley, president of the Virginia Bicycling Federation, and Bud Vye, legislative education, welcome you to visit the Hill. Please provide Muchnick your contact information and your congressman’s name at Muchnick@capaccess.org. CC: Champe, champe_burnley@hotmail.com

Your congressional district needs to be represented. Please come for the entire bike summit or for the day!

Important note from Allen: you need NOT register for the National Bike Summit conference with the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) to participate in the lobby visits on Capitol Hill, and if you do register with LAB, I already have your information. We need Virginia bicycling advocates who are NOT attending this conference to attend a lobby meeting for YOUR member of the House of Representatives. For the past 10 National Bike Summits, several Virginia Congressional Districts have NEVER been represented by any local constituent.

LOBBY DAY AGENDA — THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011

8:30am–4:00pm
Alternate Session –- Bike Facilities in DC Tour and Hands-On Design Session

For those that are not able to participate in the Congressional meetings on the Thursday (Lobby Day), Toole Design Group, in conjunction with the District of Columbia Transportation Department, are developing a brainstorming and design activity session, along with a bike tour of some of D.C.’s latest new cycle tracks and other bikeways. We will be looking at ways to integrate bicycling into the transportatio n mix along with pedestrians, cars, buses, and streetcars on a busy downtown street. No matter what your background is – this day is guaranteed to set your creative side free!

9:00am–5:00pm
Meetings with Members of Congress House and Senate Office Buildings — Capitol Hill

9:00am–5:00pm
National Bike Summit Lobby Day Headquarters

General Board of Church and Society
100 Maryland Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002

5:00pm–7:00pm
Congressional Reception

Senate Dirksen Office Building – Room G-50