BikeWalkNC

North Carolina’s advocate for safe cycling and walking

Lisa Riegel

Bicycle Safety Law Study (HB232) Update

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The recommendations in NCDOT’s  HB232 Bicycle Safety Law Study report are now in the hands of the General Assembly.   We’ve boiled down the key points to help you spread the word.

BikeWalk NC supports, among other items:

  • Allowing motorists to cross a solid yellow line to pass bicyclists.  This will make it easier for motorists to pass cyclists and we want to be passed!

We oppose Limits to Lane Positioning

  • Requiring riding to the right encourages same-lane passing.
  • Bicyclists don’t ride in the middle of the lane to be rude – it is a defensive move to signal to motorists that same-lane passing is not safe. It also makes us more conspicuous from behind.
  • Same-lane passing is not safe on most NC roads.

We oppose Requiring Group Ride Permitting

  • Further study is appropriate before any such restrictions are imposed – even NCDOT admits group riding is a small problem that hasn’t been evaluated sufficiently.
  • BWNC has collaborated with experts to develop group ride best practices we hope you’ll all follow.
  • We want to encourage group riding in our state – it is big business – attracting tourist spending and raising millions for charities.  Plus it saves us money by keeping us healthy.

Riding double- or single-file is already current practice for most bicycle groups.  If a new law to limit riding to two-abreast is considered, allowance must be made for formation changes and at intersections, as otherwise motorists would be further impeded.

Find your legislator here and talk to them now, before they return to Raleigh April 25th.  Let them also know why cycling is important to you and our state, and share any unsafe encounters you’ve had with motorists.

See also the article BikeWalk NC Feedback on NCDOT’s H232 Study Report for more detailed information.

HB232 Bicycle Safety Law Study – Working Group Discusses Safety Benefits of Riding Two Abreast – No Legislation Recommended to Limit This Existing Right

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The Working Group brought together by NCDOT pursuant to House Bill 232 to study bicycle safety laws held their final meeting November 18th. The group focused on the legislative directive to look at whether cyclists should be required to ride single file or allowed to ride two or more abreast. The committee unanimously approved a motion to recommend no new regulations on riding abreast and instead for NCDOT to develop an education and outreach program (with funding) to promote safe group riding practices, safe cycling, and safe motoring, including advice spelled out in the resolution drafted by NCDOT that the preferred method of passing bicyclists is a lane-change pass.

The consensus was that riding two abreast is often safer than single file.  Here are some points made during the discussion.

  • James Gallagher (UNC Highway Safety Research Center) and enforcement representative Chris Knox both scoured general statutes and reached out to experts and did not find anything that prohibits riding two or more abreast.
  • Absent law against, cyclists riding two or more abreast is legal.  Steve Goodridge (BWNC) pointed out that a few municipalities in NC have traffic laws that may conflict with state law as they place restrictions on riding abreast or require riding single file.
  • James Gallagher also searched research and found none that suggested riding single file is safer.
  • Each person on the committee was asked to share their view for the record on riding two abreast. No one thought it was safer or provided rationale to support requiring single file.  Virtually all shared thoughts that supported riding two abreast such as:
    • No recorded hits from behind when riding two abreast. Numerous single file riders have been hit from behind.
    • Riding two abreast makes the bicyclists more visible, appear “bigger”
    • Riding two abreast makes motorist pass in other lane, which is safer (most crashes are from same lane passing)
    • Riding two abreast tightens group and thus facilitates passing for motorists
    • Gallagher added that only 3 states restrict it (39 states specifically allow it)

The committee had previously taken action on some of the other legislative directives – here is a summary of actions taken from previous meetings.   Recommended legislation included:

  • Allowing crossing of solid yellow line to pass bicyclists when safe
  • Requiring rear lighting or reflective clothing

Thank you to our cycling supporters that attended the meeting; some came in from Charlotte.

NCDOT will now assemble the committee recommendations into a report document, and write its official legislative recommendations into that document. The draft report and recommendations will be made available for public comment and likely revisions before being provided to the legislature. BikeWalk NC and the cycling community will need to pay close attention to the report document, but even more important is what the legislature decides to do with it.

Bicycle Safety Laws Study – Last Meeting to be Held Nov 18th

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The last meeting of the House Bill 232 Bicycle Safety Laws Study working group will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, from 10 am to 2 pm, at the NCDOT Transportation Building in the Emergency Information Center (EIC) Conference Room   – 1 South Wilmington Street in downtown Raleigh (same location as the last meeting). Here is a link in Google maps.

Important issues will be discussed during this meeting:

 (1) Whether bicyclists on a roadway should be required to ride single file or allowed to ride two or more abreast.

(2) Operating position in roadway

(3) Aggressive driving, harassment, and distracted driving laws

(4) Vulnerable road user protection

We would like to get a few advocates to this meeting.  We are also asking key advocates to reiterate the safety reasons for riding two abreast and that this flexibility should not be limited.  The room seats 60, so there should be room to attend to listen to the debate.  You will need to check in at the front security desk and receive a visitor’s badge (please bring a picture ID). Security will then direct you to the EIC, which is on the first floor of the Building.

Here are the October 6 Meeting Minutes that include resolutions/decisions made so far.

A final report with recommendations for improvements is due from NCDOT to the General Assembly by the end of the year (December 2015).

 

Success! Bike Lane Prohibition – Removed from Bill

Lake Pine Bike Lane

The Senate and House passed  House Bill 44 and after much negotiation (over three months) the right decision was made and the bike lane prohibition was REMOVED.

We have so many of you all to thank for this outcome, but especially House Conferee Leadership, for supporting our position on this bill.  We had support from environmental groups; health advocacy organizations; many businesses like Performance Bicycle and New Belgium Brewing Company; local bicycle advocacy organizations; transportation and academic professionals; and so many more.

The original proposed legislation would have been a barrier to our state’s Complete Streets Policy and our newly-adopted Vision Zero Policy (a safety improvement goal – more on that later!).  We do not need unnecessary regulations that are overly prescriptive and limit a community’s ability to balance safety, economic development and congestion relief.   We should be encouraging more safe, walkable, bicycle-friendly communities.

 

Bike Safety Law Study (HB232) Working Group Begins Work

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The first meeting of the House Bill 232 Bike Safety Law Study working group was convened by NC DOT on Friday, August 7th. The statue requires the working group to discuss:

  • How faster-moving vehicles may safely overtake bicycles on roadways where sight distance may be inhibited.
  • Whether bicyclists on a roadway should be required to ride single file or allowed to ride two or more abreast.
  • Whether bicyclists should be required to carry a form of identification
  • Other issues the group identifies

 

NC DOT selected nine members for the working group based on statutory specifications:

  • Law Enforcement Representative: Master Trooper Christopher Knox – State Highway
  • Bicycle Industry Representative: Wes Dickson – Owner of Sycamore Cycles in Brevard
  • Agriculture Industry Representative: Fred Burt – Farmer in Fuquay-Varina
  • Trucking Industry Representative: Crystal Collins – NC Trucking
  • County Government Representative: Chris O’Keefe – Director of Development Services, New Hanover County
  • Municipal Government Representative: Jim Westmoreland – Greensboro City Manager
  • UNC Highway Safety Research Center Representative: James Gallagher – UNC Highway Safety Research Center staff
  • NCDOT Representatives:
    • Kevin Lacy – NCDOT State Traffic Engineer
    • Lauren Blackburn – NCDOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Division Director

The working group as provided by statue, elected a chairman, Jim Westmoreland. Some of you may remember him as one of the welcoming speakers at our last Bike Summit in Greensboro (2014). The working group, as permitted by statute, elected three additional members to fill the total maximum of 12 to get additional expertise and geographical coverage:

 

  • Chuck Hobgood: Bicycle tourism – Cycle NC, NC Amateur Sports, etc.
  • Sergeant Mike Montanya – Greenville Police Department, Traffic Safety
  • Steven Goodridge: Certified Bicycling Safety Instructor, BWNC board member

 

Here is the link to the NCDOT DRAFT meeting minutes.   The next meeting is scheduled for September 11th from 10-2 in Room 161 (DOT Traffic Engineering Conference Room) of the NCDOT Mobility and Safety offices, located at 750 N. Greenfield Parkway in Garner. Parking is available in the surface lot in front of the building.

 

 

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