Bicycle Alliance - Legislative Issues

Legislative Agenda: (2010-2011 Session)

Bicycle Alliance Board Adopts 2011 Legislative Agenda

Affecting the outcome of the political sausage-making process in the real world takes time, planning, advance work, coalition building and plenty of patience. So even though the legislature doesn't meet until January, the Bicycle Alliance has been working on its 2011 legislative agenda since last spring. If you're interested in helping to create a more bike-friendly Washington, we welcome your support.

The legislative agenda, adopted by the Bicycle Alliance Board at its August meeting, calls for passage of five primary pieces of legislation, as well as support of other legislation to make cycling safer and more convenient.

Priority legislation includes bills that would address:

Traffic safety education : require that the driving schools attended by motorists who have received a traffic ticket teach the Department of Licensing's approved curriculum for safe driving around cyclists and pedestrians. Such legislation was introduced during the 2010 session, but died without final action.
Mutual courtesy and safe passing : clarify the laws that define safe and courteous behavior for cyclists and motorists, including legislation governing how much space motorists should give cyclists when passing alongside them. Draft of proposed Legislation: "Concerning bicyclist and motorist mutual responsibilities"
Complete streets : create a framework for a grant program to create incentives for communities that adopt a "complete streets" policy to ensure that their streets are designed and built to accommodate cycling and walking. A "complete streets" bill was introduced during the 2010 session, but died without final action.
Lower speed limits : Give communities broader authority to lower speed limits to 20 miles an hour in neighborhoods with high pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Studies in Europe have shown that lower speed limits sharply reduce injuries and death.
Liability : Impose reasonable limits on the liability of communities that sign bicycle routes or produce bike maps. Currently, some communities don't mark or map routes at all because they fear they will be found liable for injuries suffered by cyclists who use the routes.

In addition to its main priorities, the Bicycle Alliance will also support legislation to better protect vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians, require the State Dept. of Transportation to include the external costs of driving when assessing the costs and benefits of its projects, and provide adequate transportation funding for cycling and walking.

The priorities will be fine-turned as the legislative session advances.

Besides the State priorities, our ongoing national priorities include federal complete streets policy, fair share for safety funding, promoting bicycling and walking, and the active community transportation act.

If you have questions or would like to help advance our legislative agenda, contact Bicycle Alliance Policy Director Dave Janis by email or at 224-9252, extension 302.

To find out what legislative district you are in and who your elected officials are, please see: apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder. Contact the Bicycle Alliance if you need assistance connecting with your legislators.

Legislative Updates

As the 2011 Legislative session continues to unfold, we post important updates and milestones on the progress of our priorities below.

Legislative Wrap Up 26 May 2011

The 2011 legislative session was a mixed bag for Washington bicyclists, with a few significant victories as well as some disappointing losses.

Bills that passed:

The vulnerable user bill (SSB 5326) will strengthen penalties under the state's negligent driving law for motorists who kill or severely injure bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users.

Under current law, the penalty for second-degree negligent driving, a non-criminal traffic infraction, is a flat $250 fine regardless of the harm caused to others. Under SSB 5326, motorists who drive negligently and kill or seriously injure a vulnerable user will pay a maximum $5,000 fine and lose their driver license for 90 days.

In lieu of that penalty, a driver may ask for a court hearing; in that case he or she will be required to pay a $250 fine, attend traffic school, and perform traffic safety-related community service.

The traffic schools bill (HB 1129) will broaden the requirement that driving courses include instruction about driving safely around bicyclists and pedestrians.

The law already requires this instruction as part of driver-training courses aimed at those working toward their first driver license. Under the new law, instruction for motorists ordered by a court to attend traffic school because of driving violations must include the same curriculum.

The "complete streets" bill (ESHB 1071) establishes (but doesn't fund) a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) grant program to encourage local jurisdictions to adopt "Complete Street" ordinances calling for the re-design of arterial streets to accommodate all users, including cyclists.

Bills that didn't make it this year:

The "20 mile-an-hour" bill (HB 1217) would have given cities broader authority to establish 20 mph zones on some streets to lower accident rates and help protect vulnerable users. The bill died in the Senate Transportation Committee after passing the House on a 96-0 vote.

A Transportation project-design bill (HB 1700) would have encouraged higher-quality cycling and pedestrian facilities by allowing greater flexibility in design standards.

A transportation-funding bill (HB 2053) would have increased DOL fees, with some revenue earmarked for the "Safe Routes to School" program.

Bills on the Governor's Desk 20 April 2011

Complete Streets, HB1071, now awaits the Governor's signature.
Vulnerable Users, SB 5326, is waiting for the Governor's signature.
HB2053 is a transportation fee bill that would raise $162 million in additional fees from licenses and other sources. This bill currently allocates $5 million for Safe Routes to School programs, up from the original allocation of $2 million. It is currently in the Rules Committee.

Traffic School Bill Signed into Law! 14 April 2011

It's official-Traffic Schools will soon be teaching drivers how to safely interact with bicyclists and pedestrians. Governor Chris Gregoire signed HB1129 into law on Monday and it takes effect 90 days after close of the legislative session.
The Bicycle Alliance will be contacting all traffic schools and providing them with the approved curriculum. We will also do follow up to ensure that traffic schools are using it. Thanks to everyone who supported this bill with emails, letters, phone calls and testimony.
Here's a quick rundown on other bills that we have worked on:

Complete Streets, HB1071, passed house concurrence by a 53-43 vote. It now goes to the governor for signature.

HB 1700, which addresses transportation project design in a way that could greatly benefit bicycle and pedestrian facilities, died on the Senate floor.
Vulnerable Users, SB 5326, is waiting for Senate concurrence.
And a new development... HB2053 is a transportation fee bill that would raise $162 million in additional fees from licenses and other sources. This bill currently allocates $5 million for Safe Routes to School programs. The Bicycle Alliance recently testified in favor of this bill.

Legislature Makes Great Progress! 6 April 2011

The Bicycle Alliance's Traffic School Safety Education bill, HB 1129 awaits the Governor's signature.
The Complete Streets bill SHB 1071 was passed in the Senate, but amended. It now just needs House concurrence then goes to the Governor for her signature. HB 1700, which addresses transportation project design in a way that could greatly benefit bicycle and pedestrian facilities, is currently in Senate Rules. Once pulled from Rules, it goes for a Senate floor vote. It has already passed in the House.
Vulnerable Users, SB 5326 has passed the House which amended the bill. Next up is Senate concurrence, and if that occurs, then it is off to the Governor.
The current proposed budget still includes the combined $11 million for the Safe Routes to School and Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety programs. We will continue to track these programs in the budget.

Legislature Marches On 30 March 2011

The Bicycle Alliance's Traffic School Safety Education bill, HB 1129 has passed the House and Senate and now awaits the Governor's signature. Our Local Authority Speed Limit bill HB 1217 had a hearing at the Senate Transportation Committee on Monday, March 14th. However, it was not voted on by the committee and therefore has died for this session.
The Complete Streets bill SHB 1071 passed the Senate Transportation Committee and is now in Senate Rules. Once pulled from Rules it can go for a floor vote in the Senate. It has already passed on the House floor. HB 1700, which addresses transportation project design in a way that could greatly benefiting bicycle and pedestrian facilities, passed the Senate Transportation Committee and is currently in Senate Rules. Once it is pulled from Rules, it goes for a Senate floor vote. It has already passed in the House.
Vulnerable Users, SB 5326 has passed the House and Senate Judiciary and Rules Committees. It has passed the Senate and next up is a House floor vote.
The current proposed budget still includes the combined $11 million for the Safe Routes to School and Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety programs. We will continue to track these programs in the budget.

Bills Continue to Make Progress 9 March 2011

The Bicycle Alliance's Traffic School Safety Education bill, HB 1129 and the Complete Streets bill SHB 1071 had hearings at the Senate Transportation Committee on March 9. Both hearings went well with many supporters testifying. Next we need to get the bills voted out of the committee and on the Senate floor.
Our Local Authority Speed Limit bill HB 1217 is scheduled for a hearing at the Senate Transportation Committee on Monday, March 14th at 3:30 PM, in Senate Hearing Room #1 in the Cherberg Building. If you are in Olympia, please attend and sign in "Pro."
If your Senator is on the Transportation Committee, please contact them right away and ask they vote "Yeah" I committee and also support these 3 bills in the Senate. Look at the link above to find out how to contact your Senator.

Hearings Scheduled for Bills 3 March 2011

HB 1129 (Traffic School) is scheduled for a Senate Transportation Hearing on Wednesday, March 9th at 3:30 in Senate Hearing Room 4 in the Cherberg Building.
SHB 1217 (Local Authority Speed Limit) scheduled for a Senate Transportation Hearing on Thursday, March 10th at 3:30 in Senate Hearing Room 4 in the Cherberg Building.

Updates on Progress of Bills 2 March 2011

The Bicycle Alliance's two bills, Traffic School Safety (HB 1129) and Local Authority Speed Limit, aka 20 mph (SHB 1217) still await action in the Senate. We are now working hard to get a hearing in front of the Senate Transportation Committee. Keep an eye on our website for updates and look out for action alerts.
The Vulnerable Users bill (SB 5326) has passed the Senate and a public hearing in the House Committee on Judiciary (HB 5326) was held on March 2nd. The bill now awaits committee action.
Complete Streets, SHB 1071, has passed the house and awaits Senate action.
HB 1700, which would modify the requirements related to designing various transportation projects, is in House Rules after a substitute bill was introduced.

Several Bills Making Progress 9 February 2011

The Bicycle Alliance's two bills, Traffic School Safety (HB 1129) and Local Authority Speed Limit, aka 20 mph (SHB 1217) passed on the House floor on Monday, 92 yes, 0 no. Next up is getting action in the Senate. Keep an eye on our website for updates and look out for action alerts.
The Vulnerable Users bill (SB 5326) was passed 6-2 by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Next stop is the Rules Committee, then on to the full Senate. It is scheduled on February 10th for executive session in the House Committee on Judiciary.
Complete Streets, SHB 1071, has passed out of the Transportation Committee and is currently in the Rules Committee. It awaits consideration on the House floor.
A new bill was introduced, HB 1700, that would modify the requirements related to designing various transportation projects. The intent of the bill is that the Washington State Department of Transportation provide for the needs of all road users in planning, programming, design, construction, retrofit, operations, and maintenance. The bill gives local jurisdictions the authority to use a variety of design guidelines. The sponsors are Fitzgibbon, Angel, Appleton, Armstrong, Rolfes, Johnson, Clibborn, Rivers, Reykdal, Ormsby, Upthegrove, Liias, Billig, and Moeller. The bill has been referred to the Transportation Committee.

Mutual Responsibilities Bill Tabled: 26 January 2011

The Mutual Responsibilities bill (HB 1018/SB 5193) was an ambitious undertaking by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and its Legislative Committee to better define what is expected and required of bicyclists and motorists to safely share the road. There were many good elements to the bill, including a definition for safe passing and providing bicyclists the same protections as pedestrians when they were in trail crossings, crosswalks and sidewalks.

While we conducted outreach with clubs across Washington, attorneys within the bicycling community, and solicited extensive input from within our own organization, we received extensive comments from cyclists both in favor and in opposition. In light of this, the Bicycle Alliance has chosen not to pursue the bill during this session and the sponsors have agreed to table it.

Representative Jamie Pedersen, the prime sponsor in the House had this to say:

"Senator White and I are really pleased at the attention that the Mutual Responsibilities bills helped to draw to the important issue of how motorists and cyclists can safely share the roads. We have received a lot of valuable feedback about the proposed changes that we need to consider to improve the bills. We have therefore asked the Transportation Committee chairs not to schedule the bills for a hearing during the 2011 session."

Update on Three Bills: 19 January 2011

Traffic School Safety Education HB 1129: Previously, the Bicycle Alliance got legislation passed and a curriculum approved that requires all driver education schools in the state to teach the Washington State Department of Licensing's approved curriculum for safe driving around bicyclists and pedestrians. This proposed legislation requires the same curriculum be taught in traffic school, which is what drivers could attend in connection with a condition of a deferral, sentence, or penalty for a traffic infraction or related criminal offense. Such legislation was introduced during the 2010 session, but died without final action. The prime sponsor is Representative Brad Klippert and it has bipartisan support.
Blog post: Teaching traffic schools attendees to safely interact with bikes and peds a priority for the Bicycle Alliance

Mutual Responsibilities HB 1018/SB 5193 recognizes the responsibilities of motorists and bicyclists to share the road safely. A key provision of this bill is a clear definition of safe passing. Motor vehicles traveling under 35 mph must maintain a minimum distance of 3 feet when passing bicycles and pedestrians. At 35 mph or more, a minimum of 5 feet is required. Current law requires bicyclist traveling slower than the normal flow of traffic to ride as near to the right as is safe. The bill identifies exceptions to this rule and that the bicyclist can judge what is safe. The prime sponsor is Rep. Jamie Pedersen.
Blog post: Cyclists and motorists are mutually responsible for sharing the road
Local Authority Speed Limit HB 1217 provides much needed protection for bicyclists and pedestrians by allowing local jurisdictions to set blanket 20 mph speed limits on non-arterial streets in residential and business districts. Current law providing this authority is extremely limited, and with the exception of school zones may normally be done only after an engineering and traffic study has been conducted. Representative Cindy Ryu is the prime sponsor of this bill which has solid bipartisan support.
Blog post: Legislation to allow lower speed limits introduced in WA State legislature

Traffic School Bill Introduced: 13 January 2011

Teaching traffic school attendees to safely interact with bikes and pedestrians
The Bicycle Alliance of Washington wants motorists in traffic school courses to be taught how to safely interact with bicyclists and pedestrians. HB 1129, introduced this week by Representative Brad Klippert of Kennewick, would incorporate bicycle and pedestrian traffic safety curriculum in traffic schools. Many cities and counties offer traffic school courses to motorists who have committed traffic-related offenses as a condition of deferral, sentence or penalty.
The Department of Licensing approved curriculum was developed by the Bicycle Alliance and is a requirement in drivers education programs in Washington State. The Bicycle Alliance would make the curriculum available at no cost to traffic schools.
"Teaching drivers how to safely interact with bicyclists and pedestrians has only been a part of drivers education for a few years," stated Bicycle Alliance Policy Director Dave Janis. "Incorporating the curriculum into traffic schools gives us an opportunity to reach drivers who most likely did not receive this training previously."

Mutual Responsibility Bill Introduced: 5 January 2011

Mutual Responsibility Bill Defines What it Means to Share the Road

A new bill proposed by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington better defines how motorists and bicyclists can safely share the road.
HB 1018, the Mutual Responsibility bill, acknowledges that motorists and bicyclists have responsibilities to safely share the road with each other. The bill, sponsored by Representative Jamie Pederson of Seattle and an avid bike commuter, is based on similar legislation passed in Colorado and Vermont.
Among the bill's key points:

Defines a safe passing distance of bicycles by motorists based on their travel speed.
Specifies that drivers must exercise due care to avoid colliding with bicyclists
Clarifies that motorists may cross the center line when overtaking a cyclist or pedestrian
Specifies that cyclists ride to the right in through lanes, use bike lanes or shoulders unless the bicyclist deems it is unsafe or impractical to do so
Clarifies unsafe conditions that may require cyclists to ride in other lane positions
States that bicyclists yield to pedestrians when riding on sidewalks, crosswalks or trails.

This legislation began as a safe passing bill two years ago but did not pass. The Bicycle Alliance and its legislative committee listened to concerns expressed by legislators and law enforcement, then gathered additional input from bike clubs and other stakeholders to make this a more comprehensive bill for sharing the road safely.

"The law enforcement community recommended that safe passing distance vary depending upon the speed of the motorist and cyclists wanted us to point out unsafe conditions that force them to take the center of a travel lane, and move out of bike lanes and shoulders," explained Policy Director Dave Janis. "By clarifying existing laws and adding a few new sections, we believe that our roads will be safer for all," he added.

You can read text of the Mutual Responsibility bill (with info boxes explaining proposed changes), and more information on the Legislation page. Contact Dave Janis for more information.

You can find a summary of the 2009-2010 Legislation Session Wrap-up on the 2009-2010 Archive page.

Transportation Advocacy Day - Olympia

Transportation Advocacy Day on February 10th was a huge success! Over 115 advocates, including 16 sponsors attended, representing bicycling, walking, transit, rail, and those that work the connections with transportation, health, and land use. These advocates held meetings with 30 legislative districts!

Featured guests included Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond, Senator Scott White (D-46) and Representative Andy Billig (D-3). They gave us a candid lay of the land as to what is happening in the legislature and what we must do to implement our vision. Even with the current budget crises, they see some positive signs.

Seven Bicycle Alliance board members attended, coming from Arlington, Dixie, and points in between. Staff was also well represented. Barbara Culp, Executive Director, opened the proceedings, and Dave Janis, Policy Director, facilitated two breakout sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety. Staff also participated in the Transportation for Washington Campaign press conference.

Next year, Advocacy Day will be Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Legislative Resources

This section contains information and handouts that can be consulted for quick reference, printed for distribution or included in your organization's electronic newsletter, or placed in your group's resource web page.

BAW Mission Statement : This is a copy of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington mission statement. The mission statement guides the work of the BAW, including the work of the Committee. This is a one-page document.
Legislative Information Resources : This helpful document is full of handy references about such topics as where to find out about laws under consideration, who your legislators are, how you can attend Transportation Advocacy Day, and more.
2011 Bicycling Washington Legislative Summary A great one page handout on the key BAW legislative priorities for 2011, and highlights of our 2010 work. If you want a concise handout on what BAW is doing for bicyclists throughout the State, this is the handout to pass out to folks!
Past Accomplishments : This document covers the years 2006-2008 and summarizes many of the successful efforts the BAW has undertaken for bicyclists throughout Washington. A longer discussion of 2009 work is included in the Previous Legislative Efforts section. [An updated handout will be available later in 2010.]
Legislative Committee Charter : This is a copy of the Legislative and Statewide Issues Committee charter. This document provides details on the purpose and operation of the Committee. This document is several pages long and would be very useful for someone considering volunteering to serve on the Committee or anyone who would like a more in depth understanding of how the Committee works.
Bicycle Alliance Legislative Committee Membership 2011
Leglislative Issue Action Item Form [pdf]

If you would like to see additional resources, please contact Dave Janis, or just email the Bicycle Alliance with your suggestions.

2011 Legislative Session Cutoff Dates

January 10, 2011 First Day of Session
February 21, 2011 Last day to read in committee reports in house of origin, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
February 25, 2011 Last day to read in committee reports from House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees in house of origin.
March 7, 2011 Last day to consider bills in house of origin (5 p.m.).
March 25, 2011 Last day to read in committee reports from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
April 1, 2011 Last day to read in opposite house committee reports from House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
April 12, 2011* Last day to consider opposite house bills (5 p.m.) (except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session).
April 24, 2011 Last day allowed for regular session under state constitution.

* After the 93rd day, only initiatives, alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, messages pertaining to amendments, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session may be considered.