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BIKEIOWA © 2010
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Des Moines, IA
Bicycle enthusiasts have shifted gears and
revamped legislation intended to improve safety for riders
and others on Iowa roadways in hopes of getting a measure
to Gov. Chet Culver’s desk this session.
A House subcommittee has begun work on a proposal that
would expand state law governing vehicle passing rules to
include overtaking a bicycle by requiring a motorist to
pass a bicycle on the left while staying at least 3 feet
from the bicycle.
The provision also requires the overtaking vehicle to
maintain a safe distance away from another vehicle or bike
before returning to the right lane of a highway, while the
overtaken vehicle is prohibited from speeding up to
prevent the passing vehicle from moving back into the
right lane.
The proposed House language also provides protections for
a “vulnerable user” of a roadway, crosswalk or shoulder
that would apply to a pedestrian, person riding an animal,
the operator of a tractor or machine that doesn’t have an
enclosed cab, a skateboarder, a rollerblader/rollerskater,
highway worker, a person riding an electric scooter or
bicyclist.
The new protection applies whether the vulnerable user is
using the highway in accordance with the new code chapter
or not, although the person could be fined or cited for
violating a separate law that might apply.
The proposed House language states a vehicle operator
cannot drive carelessly or unnecessarily close to a
vulnerable user or knowingly throw or project an object or
substance at the user. The legislation includes scheduled
fines for violations and adds enhanced fines and driver’s
license suspension in situations where a violation causes
serious injury or death.
“It’s a start, it’s a good start, I think,” said Rep.
Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City. “With the deaths that we’ve
had this year and years before in Iowa, I think we need to
do something. There’s a consequence.”
The proposed changes were made after Senate File 117, a so-
called bill of rights for bicyclists, passed the Senate
last year but stalled in the House. Steckman said she was
hopeful the new approach could get the bill moving in the
legislative process.
Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, a key Senate backer, said
he believed the House changes improve the bill but he
preferred the Senate language that requires a separation
distance of 5 feet for vehicles passing or following a
bicyclist.
“Three feet is not a very big passing zone at 60 mph.
We’ve had 27 (bicycle) fatalities over last four years. I
think a greater level of protection might be warranted,”
Bolkcom said. “I think we would want to continue to
negotiate. We’ll have to see what comes over and what
people want to do.”
Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield, a member of the House
Human Resources subcommittee considering the changes to
S.F. 117, said the bill “has a lot of problems,” including
the fact it is not being considered by either House
transportation or public safety panels.
Baudler said he would support a requirement that
bicyclists wear bright orange or yellow apparel, such as
deer or small-game hunters in Iowa do so they could be
better seen and identified by vehicle operators in judging
their speed. He also said he had a problem protecting
people who are breaking Iowa laws, such as electric
scooter operators or others listed as vulnerable users who
should not be on highways or shoulders.
Rep. Brian Quirk, D-New Hampton, chairman of the House
Transportation Committee, said he would give the bill
a “50-50 shot” at House passage, noting it does not
address safety concerns he has and may create a false
sense of security for bicyclists when dealing with a multi-
ton truck that can’t “stop on a dime.”
“It’s going to put people in harm’s way,” he said. “The
law of physics tends to take over.”
Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, said he appreciated House
members willingness to work on the issue and he was
hopeful the issue could move forward this session.
“Our main goal is to make it a safer place out there on
the roads,” he said. “I don’t think any motor-vehicle
operator wants to run over a cyclist and certainly
cyclists don’t to get run over. So we’ve got common ground
right from the start and I’m hopeful that we can work
something out.”
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(457 views)
Source: http://gazetteonline.com/sports/2010/02/03/bike-advocates-shift-gears-on-safety-legislation
Note: Some or all of this material may be copyrighted.
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