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2004 SESSION

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SB 252 Bicycles, mopeds, etc.; restrictions on use on roadways.

Introduced by: R. Creigh Deeds | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Operation of bicycles and similar vehicles. Requires the driver of any vehicle overtaking another vehicle (whether a "motor vehicle" or not) proceeding in the same direction to pass at least two feet to the left of the overtaken vehicle. The bill also allows a person operating a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped to signal a right turn or pull to the right by extending the right hand and arm in a horizontal position straight from and level with the shoulder beyond the right side of the bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped, and may signal slowing down or stopping by extending the right arm downward. Additionally, the bill allows persons riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, or electric power-assisted bicycles on a highway to ride two abreast if they do not impede the flow of traffic. Helmets required by local ordinances for persons riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, or electric power-assisted bicycles on the highway must at least meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard. Persons using roller skates or skateboards or riding toys or other devices on wheels or runners on the highways (except bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles) must keep as near as safely practicable to the far right side or edge of the right traffic lane so that they will be proceeding in the same direction as other traffic. It also provides that every bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, and moped, when in use between sunset and sunrise, must be equipped with a headlight on the front that emits a white light visible in clear weather from a distance of at least 500 feet and a red reflector visible from a distance of at least 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlights on a motor vehicle. This bill is the same as HB 552.

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Operation of bicycles and similar vehicles. Requires the driver of any vehicle overtaking another vehicle (whether a "motor vehicle" or not) proceeding in the same direction to pass at least two feet to the left of the overtaken vehicle. The bill also allows a person operating a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped to signal a right turn or pull to the right by extending the right hand and arm in a horizontal position straight from and level with the shoulder beyond the right side of the bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped, and may signal slowing down or stopping by extending the right arm downward. Additionally, the bill allows persons riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, or electric power-assisted bicycles on a highway to ride two abreast if they do not impede the flow of traffic. Helmets required by local ordinances for persons riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, or electric power-assisted bicycles on the highway must at least meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard. Persons using roller skates or skateboards or riding toys or other devices on wheels or runners on the highways (except bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles) must keep as near as safely practicable to the far right side or edge of the right traffic lane so that they will be proceeding in the same direction as other traffic. It also provides that every bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, and moped, when in use between sunset and sunrise, must be equipped with a headlight on the front that emits a white light visible in clear weather from a distance of at least 500 feet and a red reflector visible from a distance of at least 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlights on a motor vehicle.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Operation of bicycles and similar vehicles. Requires that the driver of any "motor vehicle" (rather than the driver of any "vehicle") when overtaking and passing another "vehicle" (rather than another "motor vehicle") pass at least two feet to the left of the overtaken vehicle; allows operators of bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, or mopeds to signal right turns by extending the right hand and arm in a horizontal position straight from and level with the shoulder beyond the right side of the bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped, and to signal slowing down or stopping by extending the right arm downward; allows persons riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, or electric power-assisted bicycles on highways to ride two abreast, provided they do not impede traffic and provided that they do not use more than a single lane; repeals authority for local governments to require by ordinance that persons riding bicycles and electric power-assisted bicycles use paths provided for their use and not the roadway; requires that bicycle helmets at least meet the Consumer Product Safety Committee standard, rather than the standards of the American National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation; requires that persons using bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, mopeds, roller skates, skateboards, or toys on any highway for transportation purposes shall keep as near as safely practicable to the far right side or edge of the right traffic lane, so that they will be proceeding in the same direction as other traffic; requires red taillights on bicycles, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds when they are used between sunset and sunrise, and revises the standards for headlights used on bicycles, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds.