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Welcome to Velo Vision magazine, covering specialised bikes, cycling as transport and human power. It's a quarterly dose of cycle inspiration.The current issue is Issue 16. The next issue is out early March 2005.
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Misguided Montana law threatens obligatory wrong-way cyclingIn a misguided attempt to make the roads safer, a Montana congressman is proposing changes to the which, amongst other things, would oblige cyclists to ride against the flow of traffic on rural roads. Opposition is mobilising... You can read the draft legislation at http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2001/billhtml/HB0212.htm It starts thus: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REQUIRING BICYCLISTS TO RIDE AGAINST THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC WHEN RIDING OUTSIDE OF THE LIMITS OF AN INCORPORATED OR UNINCORPORATED CITY OR TOWN; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 61-1-103, 61-8-333, 61-8-601, 61-8-602, AND 61-8-605, MCA." The bill is being proposed by Congressman Jeff Pattison, whose motivation, it is rumoured, was the death of a close friend who was hit from behind while cycling. His intentions may be good, but this legislation is, frankly, daft. Already, opposition to the bill is mobilising. John Williams of Tracy-Williams Consulting in Missoula has circulated the following email widely. Contacts are listed below for anyone who'd like to add their voice. *********** House Bill 212, sponsored by Jeff Pattison of Glendive is one of the most dangerous pieces of bicycle legislation I've seen in the 30 years that I have worked in bicycle safety and have followed such things. It would require bicyclists riding outside incorporated or unincorporated towns to ride against traffic. For decades, those of us in the bicycle safety field have worked to reduce the number of casualties --- injuries and deaths --- due to bicycle crashes. We have based our work on a solid understanding of cycling and bicycle crash statistics and studies. We have developed training programs aimed at all ages, we have produced safety literature that focuses on the most critical problems, and we have worked with the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws & Ordinances to create laws that reflect an understanding of safe cycling. We have further worked with legislatures all over the country to enact decent bicycling laws based on the provisions of the NCUTLO's Uniform Vehicle Code and Model Traffic Ordinance. Based on my years in bicycle safety, here are some comments on the bill: 1. Wrong-way riding is a major cause of bicycle crashes. All the studies show this. In developed areas, most such crashes happen at intersections and involve motorists and bicyclists entering intersections at 90-degrees to each other. Motorists do not look for someone coming from the wrong way. The statistics on rural bicycling crashes show that they often take place after dark and involve cyclists riding on a relatively narrow road with no lights and a driver who has been drinking. There are straight-forward ways to solve this problem,some of which improve conditions for motorists regardless of the presence of a bicyclist and NONE of which involve implementing confusing traffic laws. 2. Introducing two contradictory sets of rules of the road will do nothing but confuse people. Youngsters, for example, will not be able to differentiate between the times they should follow one set of rules and the times they should follow the other. Many motorists and bicyclists already think it's a good idea to ride against traffic. If it's legal outside of town, they will believe it makes sense in town. 3. By differentiating between "in town" and "out of town" riding in this way, we would require bicyclists --- of all ages --- to switch sides of the road at a point where motorists are beginning to speed up. This switching is already a major cause of serious bicycle crashes and to require it at a point where motorists are accelerating is very dangerous. 4. In Western Montana, the boundaries between "in town" and "out of town" are becoming increasingly fuzzy as we sprawl outward. Just how a bicyclist would tell when to ride with traffic and when to ride against traffic will be just as fuzzy. Further, as pockets of development grow up along highway corridors, one could easily imagine cyclists having to cross and recross high speed roads frequently in order to comply with this law. This is a lethal pattern of behavior that has already been identified as leading to serious bicycle crashes. We should not formalize such lethal behaviors as law. 5. The bill requires bicyclists riding in rural areas to stop and walk across the road when they wish to make a right turn. This is something that bicyclists are unlikely to do and is something that law enforcement folks are equally unlikely to enforce. Creating such scoff-laws is counterproductive to the goals of traffic law enforcement. +++ What can be done to reduce the relatively small number of fatal bike crashes that happen on rural roads? First, we should establish a basic policy of providing shoulders whenever such roads are reconstructed. Wisconsin has had such a policy for years and it is improving conditions for bicyclists statewide. In addition, studies conducted at Texas A&M; suggest adequate shoulders also reduce the frequency of run-off-the-road crashes for motorists; and they reduce highway maintenance costs. Build a better road and it costs less in the long run. Second, we should encourage bicyclists to use bicycle lights and other visibility aids whenever they ride at night. This applies in town and out of town. The bike light and reflector law is on the books and is enforceable. Further, the equipment is readily available. Encouraging the use of bicycle helmets is another important factor, as is encouraging the use of such equipment as rear view mirrors (like those that clip to a bicyclist's helmet or glasses). Third, we should encourage traffic safety groups and professionals in their efforts to curb drunk driving. This will save bicyclists' lives, as well as the lives of motorists, their passengers, and pedestrians. None of these improvements introduce laws that require contradictory patterns of behavior. And, as has been said many times, consistency is an important cornerstone of traffic safety. +++ All in all, HB212 is a very bad bill and it deserves a quick death before it causes any real deaths on the road. ***************** The Congressman proposing the bill: Jeff Pattison 123 Cain Rd. Glasgow, MT 59230 Montana Department of Transportation bicycle links http://www.mdt.state.mt.us/planning/ctep/bicycle.html State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator MT DOT Carol Strizich [email protected] Governor Judy Martz's mail web page: http://www.discoveringmontana.com:88/gov/mailform3.htm Posted on 18 January 2001 Your comments ...
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