Bicycle Safety Bill: It's Baaaaack

Tomorrow a public hearing on Bicyclist Safety Bill (aka S 1414) will take place in room B-2 of the Statehouse at 10 am. The bill is the same bill that Kerry Healey vetoed when she was governor helping Mitt out when they were both lame ducks. As we learned the first time around the executive office seemed to misinterpret the bill, thinking that it imposed a new set of rules on recreation. The bill's intention, aside from any signing statements, is intended to help secure the safety of cyclists in the Commonwealth under many existing laws. The re-filed bill will provide new methods of enforcement for the current laws.

And by current laws we mean laws on the books. They may not be current. Part of the bicycle safety bill repeals Section 11A of chapter 85 of the General Laws. What's 11A of chapter 85 you ask? Yeah, we did too. It's a law that requires all bikes to be registered with the city or town in which it is operated. Not so bad, but the penalty? One dollar. We won't go into the history of that code, we'll just guess that it's old enough that $1 was a valid fine. The re-filed bill will provide enhanced enforcement of laws that govern cycling on city streets – laws that will benefit the motorists using the roadways as well as those on bicycles. The language contained in the bill clarifies some of the laws already in existence, creates a training program for police (making sure they know the rights of the cyclists and the motorists), and in the last section strengthens the provision and penalty for "dooring" a cyclist. A law that may need updating, coming in section 14 of chapter 90 leads off with the following provision: "Every person operating a motor vehicle shall bring the vehicle and the motor propelling it immediately to a stop when approaching a cow." So stop when approaching a cow, and, while you're at it, quit dooring the bikers. With two cycle related deaths in Boston this year this bill should have a good amount of support, and is a bill worth supporting.

Image of "home delivery" of the morning paper to an Allston bike with a ripped off rear wheel courtesy of Flickr user technicolorcavalry. Sadly the search for bikes in Boston returned not only this image of a victim bike but also a whole bunch of images of bikers without helmets. As a daily bicycle commuter Bostonist reminds you to wear a helmet – kind of like ol' Bob reminded you to spay or neuter your pet. Everyday, repeatedly, at 11:57 am