For those of you not on the CRC or MBC list. Here's what I wrote.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: gunnar fiendracer@gmail.com Date: Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 6:49 PM Subject: Fwd: [CRC] H.B. 4304 To: Gunnar Shogren gshogren@gmail.com
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: gunnar fiendracer@gmail.com Date: Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 6:47 PM Subject: Re: [CRC] H.B. 4304 To: "crcyclists@googlegroups.com" CRcyclists@googlegroups.com Cc: MonBikeClub monbikeclub@googlegroups.com, Bicycle Board bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com
On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 3:57 PM, Frank Gmeindl fgmeindl@gmail.com wrote:
The WV Senate unanimously passed H.B. 4304 after they slightly amended the bill that the House amended substantially before they passed it to the Senate. If the governor signs it, it will become law July 1.
The bill that the Senate passed is attached and at http://www.legis.state.wv.us/bill_status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB4304%20SUB....
The bill:
- Requires motorists to allow 3-feet when passing a bicycle;
Although it is a nice figure for education purposes, it is not very enforceable. Who has a yard stick while riding or driving? I have advocated for passing in the next lane. Yes, crossing the center line completely. You're crossing over the center partially when passing within 3', why not cross the whole thing to make things safer for everybody? If someone knows that they have to pass in the other lane then they will probably make damn sure that they can, other wise with you gutter riders the cars will pass with the least amount of movement possible. Have the rules for when you're allowed to cross the center (double yellow line) changed? More inconsistency and ambiguity. Bah.
- Requires bicyclists to ride in bike lanes or if no bike lane, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway... but there are exceptions (read the bill);
Requires us to ride in bike lane, even if poorly or dangerously constructed. Sounds great! How many folks know how to say "practicable" let alone understand what it means? And the rest is nice and ambiguous, probably not enforceable.
- Repeals the requirement for bicyclists to ride on a side path and not the road;
See above.
- Repeals the requirement to have a bell.
"bling bling" Neither here nor there in the grand scheme. Some of my bikes have a bell, some do not. Other than on the rail trail the bell isn't really that useful. When I'm on my bikes all of them have a loud mouth.
And what's up w/ the vehicles having to give audible signal as they pass? Whose idea was that? HOOOOONK!!! "Hey I was doing as the law said, sorry if I made you mess your shorts and crash."
The exceptions should make interesting discussion on rides, and certainly with motorists and law enforcement officers. For example, where should you ride in a sub-standard width lane?
I doubt there will be any discussions as the population at large remains ignorant.
Today I rode up Rt 100. You folks w/ skinny tires are not gonna like it there. It's fine though if you know what to expect, have the right equipment and ride with your head up. For probably 90% of the time I was smack dab in the middle of the right hand lane. Any more and it wasn't "practicable" or safe for me. 100% of the cars and trucks passing me did so completely in the other lane. Everyone. And they all just did it. No fussing, no beeping, no swearing. As every car passed me I gave them a small hand-wave/gesture. Every on coming car got that wave/gesture as well. I'm doing my best to show them that we're all out there together.
4ank
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