Stop Light Bill becomes law

From TNBikeAdvocates@googlegroups.com:

HR3131/SB3057 (a.k.a. the Stop Light Bill) is now law with an effective date of July 1, 2010. If you listened to the debate in the House Transportation Committee on this Bill, you will remember that a key concern of Rep Floyd and Johnson was how this law going to be communicated to bicyclists. If not done correctly, these assemblymen warned somebody is going to get hurt or killed. Even though Rep Brooks commented that know one was hurt with the motorcycle version, Floyd and Johnson had a much lower opinion of the maturity of bicyclists.

Rep Brooks said he was sure that the bicycling community would present this law in a manner that minimizes the potential for abuse. In order back up Rep Brooks’ promise, I prepared a page on our Web Site, http://www.bikewalktn.org/stoplight.html to clarify what the law changes. I have shared this information with Rep’s Brooks, Johnson, Floyd, and Sen Woodson.

I encourage every bicyclist to share this Web Page with Clubs and affiliate members. It helps to “grease the skids” so when we have our next piece of legislation we don’t have bad experience from the Stop Light Law defeating it.

--Tom

Support more funding for bike projects

BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (Ore.) introduced H.R. 4722, the Active Community Transportation Act of 2010 in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 2, 2010. Encourage your U.S. representative to co-sponsor the legislation now!

The Act would create a $2 billion program to fund dozens of communities around the country to improve their trail, walking and biking networks. Your community could ultimately receive some of these funds, better allowing you and your neighbors to walk and bike to the places you live, work, play, shop and learn.

Bike-friendly legislation

A great bill was introduced yesterday in Tennessee legislature. Everyone should contact their state senators and representatives to let them know your thoughts!*SB 3057 by *Woodson ( HB 3131 by *Brooks H) Traffic Safety - As introduced, authorizes bicycles to proceed through intersections with inoperative vehicle detection devices due to the weight of the bicycles. - Amends TCA Section 55-8-110.
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB3057

Find My Legislator website
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators/

(Technically, it is metal content, not weight, that triggers the detection but certainly carbon fiber bikes don't weigh as much as metal bikes!)