NCDOT has released their final report on the H232 Bicycle Safety Law Study. See the documents linked below:
The report differs little from the draft report, and still makes recommendations to restrict bicyclists’ use of our roadways (restriction to right half of travel lane, limit to two abreast within a single lane, permits for informal group rides) that are counter to the votes of the study committee. The immediately obvious changes include:
- Modification of NCDOT’s recommendation that bicyclists be restricted to the right half of their travel lane. NCDOT’s new proposed restriction on bicyclist lane position would apply to any road with a maximum posted speed limit greater than 35 mph.
- Modification of NCDOT’s recommendation on group ride permit requirements; NCDOT’s new recommendation is that informal groups of more than 30 cyclists riding together comply with the laws and permit requirements that currently apply to bicycle races.
- Inclusion of over 500 pages of public feedback comments. (Thanks to everyone who wrote to NCDOT.)
BikeWalk NC’s feedback on the original draft can be found here. Obviously we are disappointed that NCDOT’s proposed new bicycling restrictions are still in the report. We will update our comments to reflect the revised report and discuss next steps for the advocacy community in a future post.
