HB 2768

markjgi-@yahoo.com

2003-05-07



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Friends, This is a brief letter about the propsed law concerning bikes and stop signs from Scott Bricker at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. As well as contact info for elected folks and a copy of BTA's letter in support of the proposed law. FWIW a similar law already exists in Idaho and it works well. Mark Ginsberg



Scott Bricker <bric-@teleport.com> wrote:

HB 2768, which allows cyclist to treat stop signs as yield signs, passed the House 47-9. It has not yet been assigned to a Senate Committee so it's hard to know who to direct comments to. Rep. Prozanski, rep.floyd-@state.or.us, is the sponsor of the bill. The BTA will also inform Shift members of the bill's progress.

The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing today (not a public testimony, the bill still will require a public testimony for it to move on.) While it's not clear if the bill will actually be referred to this committee, below are the Senators on the Senate Transportation Committee and a text version of a letter of support that the BTA wrote to the House before it went to the floor. I believe that if we contact these Senators, we should shed a positive light on this bill, not muck it with other types of bicycle-car controversy.





Thanks



Scott Bricker

BTA



--------------------------------



Senate Transportation Committee

Sen. Rick Metsger, Chair (D), District 26 mailto:sen.rick-@state.or.us

503-986-1726

Sen. Bruce Starr, Vice Chair (R), District 15

mailto:sen.bru-@state.or.us 503-986-1715

Sen. Ryan Deckert (D), District 14 mailto:sen.ryan-@state.or.us

503-986-1714

Sen. Dave Nelson (R), District 29 mailto:sen.davi-@state.or.us

503-986-1729



Don't know your Legislators?

http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/findset.htm









Bicycle Transportation Alliance

Supports

HB 2768 - Bicycles Yield at Stop Signs



The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

organization whose mission is to create healthy, sustainable communities by

making bicycling safe, convenient and accessible for all Oregonians. With

over 3,200 members, a network of seven statewide chapters, and education

programs in 17 cities and towns, the BTA represents bicyclists and the

interests of the Bicycle Industry. The BTA advocates to pass laws that will

help bicyclists operate as safe and efficient vehicles and increase

opportunities for bicycling, bicycle recreation, and tourism.



In the 2001 Legislative Session the BTA worked to pass HB 3712- Safe Routes

to School. The BTA's Safe Routes to Schools platform demonstrates our

commitment to bicycling as part a regular mode of transportation that will

safely obey all traffic rules and regulations.



The BTA supports the passage of HB 2768 because it makes cycling easier,

safe, and more attractive for people in Oregon.



HB 2768 allows bicyclists to recognize stop signs as yield signs, requiring

them to maintain and yield the right-of-way but not requiring a zero mile

per hour stop. Many suburban and urban streets have intersections without

traffic signs where all vehicles effectively yield. In other cases a

four-way intersection in a neighborhood has only two stop signs, helping

clarify vehicle right-of-way and decrease automobile speeds for the safety

of children and pedestrians. Only the most high-traffic streets have

four-way stops and traffic lights to help control vehicle flow and speeds.

Under this bill, bicyclist will follow right-of-way rules at all of these

intersections, maintaining the predictability created by vehicle code and

the safety considerations that warranted the traffic control device.

.

HB 2768 is based on a similar law in Idaho. Idaho transportation planners

find that non zero mile per hour stops for cyclists are safe, do not impact

crash rates, make cycling easier, and do not endanger children or

pedestrians. This bill would also be consistent with existing traffic

exceptions in the Oregon Code, e.g., stop signs that allow cars to proceed

without stopping if turning in a particular direction.



HB 2768 also recognizes that bicycles:

 Move slowly;

Pose little or no danger to pedestrians and children in neighborhoods;

Can stop instantly at slow speeds;

Are not the target vehicles, rather cars, that warrant neighborhood stop

signs; and

 Benefit greatly from continuous movement, even when it is slow, because of

the force required to stop and restart a bicycle.



HB 2768 has received a great deal of attention from bicycle planners and

cyclists who are part of the BTA network, and the BTA has heard strong

support. Please Support HB 2768.





 ATTACHMENT part 2 application/msword name=Testimony.HB 2768.Prosanski.doc



Mark J. GinsbergAttorney At Law851 SW 6th Ave., Ste. 1600Portland OR 97204(503) 542-3000Fax (503) 248-6800 markjgi-@yahoo.com



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<DIV>

<DIV>

<DIV>Friends,</DIV>

<DIV> </DIV>

<DIV>This is a brief letter about the propsed law concerning bikes and stop signs from Scott Bricker at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. As well as contact info for elected folks and a copy of BTA's letter in support of the proposed law.</DIV>

<DIV> </DIV>

<DIV>FWIW a similar law already exists in Idaho and it works well.</DIV>

<DIV> </DIV>

<DIV>Mark Ginsberg<BR><BR><B><I>Scott Bricker <bric-@teleport.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV>

<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">

<DIV>

<DIV><BR>HB 2768, which allows cyclist to treat stop signs as yield signs, passed the House 47-9. It has not yet been assigned to a  Senate Committee so it's hard to know who to direct comments to. Rep. Prozanski, <A href="mailto:rep.floyd-@state.or.us">rep.floyd-@state.or.us</A>, is the sponsor of the bill. The BTA will also inform Shift members of the bill's progress.</DIV>

<DIV><BR>The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing today (not a public testimony, the bill still will require a public testimony for it to move on.) While it's not clear if the bill will actually be referred to this committee, below are the Senators on the Senate Transportation Committee and a text version of a letter of support that the BTA wrote to the House before it went to the floor. I believe that if we contact these Senators, we should shed a positive light on this bill, not muck it with other types of bicycle-car controversy.<BR><BR><BR>Thanks<BR><BR>Scott Bricker<BR>BTA<BR><BR>--------------------------------<BR><BR>Senate Transportation Committee<BR>Sen. Rick Metsger, Chair (D), District 26 <A href="mailto:sen.rick-@state.or.us">mailto:sen.rick-@state.or.us</A><BR>503-986-1726</DIV>

<DIV><BR>Sen. Bruce Starr, Vice Chair (R), District 15<BR><A href="mailto:sen.bru-@state.or.us">mailto:sen.bru-@state.or.us</A> 503-986-1715</DIV>

<DIV><BR>Sen. Ryan Deckert (D), District 14 <A href="mailto:sen.ryan-@state.or.us">mailto:sen.ryan-@state.or.us</A><BR>503-986-1714</DIV>

<DIV><BR>Sen. Dave Nelson (R), District 29 <A href="mailto:sen.davi-@state.or.us">mailto:sen.davi-@state.or.us</A><BR>503-986-1729<BR><BR>Don't know your Legislators?<BR><A href="http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/findset.htm">http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/findset.htm</A><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Bicycle Transportation Alliance<BR>Supports<BR>HB 2768 - Bicycles Yield at Stop Signs<BR><BR>The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit<BR>organization whose mission is to create healthy, sustainable communities by<BR>making bicycling safe, convenient and accessible for all Oregonians. With<BR>over 3,200 members, a network of seven statewide chapters, and education<BR>programs in 17 cities and towns, the BTA represents bicyclists and the<BR>interests of the Bicycle Industry. The BTA advocates to pass laws that will<BR>help bicyclists operate as safe and efficient vehicles and increase<BR>opportunities for bicycling, bicycle recreation, and tourism.<BR><BR>In the 2001 Legislative Session the BTA worked to pass HB 3712- Safe Routes<BR>to School. The BTA's Safe Routes to Schools platform demonstrates our<BR>commitment to bicycling as part a regular mode of transportation that will<BR>safely obey all traffic rules and regulations.<BR><BR>The BTA supports the passage of HB 2768 because it makes cycling easier,<BR>safe, and more attractive for people in Oregon.<BR><BR>HB 2768 allows bicyclists to recognize stop signs as yield signs, requiring<BR>them to maintain and yield the right-of-way but not requiring a zero mile<BR>per hour stop. Many suburban and urban streets have intersections without<BR>traffic signs where all vehicles effectively yield. In other cases a<BR>four-way intersection in a neighborhood has only two stop signs, helping<BR>clarify vehicle right-of-way and decrease automobile speeds for the safety<BR>of children and pedestrians. Only the most high-traffic streets have<BR>four-way stops and traffic lights to help control vehicle flow and speeds.<BR>Under this bill, bicyclist will follow right-of-way rules at all of these<BR>intersections, maintaining the predictability created by vehicle code and<BR>the safety considerations that warranted the traffic control device.<BR>.<BR>HB 2768 is based on a similar law in Idaho. Idaho transportation planners<BR>find that non zero mile per hour stops for cyclists are safe, do not impact<BR>crash rates, make cycling easier, and do not endanger children or<BR>pedestrians. This bill would also be consistent with existing traffic<BR>exceptions in the Oregon Code, e.g., stop signs that allow cars to proceed<BR>without stopping if turning in a particular direction.<BR><BR>HB 2768 also recognizes that bicycles:<BR>> Move slowly;<BR>> Pose little or no danger to pedestrians and children in neighborhoods;<BR>> Can stop instantly at slow speeds;<BR>> Are not the target vehicles, rather cars, that warrant neighborhood stop<BR>signs; and<BR>> Benefit greatly from continuous movement, even when it is slow, because of<BR>the force required to stop and restart a bicycle.<BR><BR>HB 2768 has received a great deal of attention from bicycle planners and<BR>cyclists who are part of the BTA network, and the BTA has heard strong<BR>support. Please Support HB 2768.<BR><BR><BR></DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></DIV>> ATTACHMENT part 2 application/msword name=Testimony.HB 2768.Prosanski.doc </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV><BR><BR><ADDRESS>Mark J. Ginsberg</ADDRESS>

<ADDRESS>Attorney At Law</ADDRESS>

<ADDRESS>851 SW 6th Ave., Ste. 1600</ADDRESS>

<ADDRESS>Portland OR 97204</ADDRESS>

<ADDRESS>(503) 542-3000</ADDRESS>

<ADDRESS>Fax (503) 248-6800 </ADDRESS>

<ADDRESS><A href="mailto:markjgi-@yahoo.com">markjgi-@yahoo.com</A></ADDRESS>

<ADDRESS> </ADDRESS><p><hr SIZE=1>

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