LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The LMB would like to  thank all of our members who contacted their legislators to support this bill. We also want to thank Senator McManus for introducing the bill and the co-sponsors, Senators Kuipers, Birkholz, George, Garcia, Allen and Leland.  

We are also extremely grateful to Todd Scott of the Michigan Mountain Biking  Association and Nancy Krupiarz of the Michigan Trails and Greenways  Alliance for their support in getting this bill passed.

Listed below are the key provisions of this law (taken word from word from the law).

- Yield the Right of Way
- Mandatory Side Path
- Exceptions to Far Right
- Parking a Bicycle on a Sidewalk

If you would like to view the entire law please go to the following site:

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005
2006/billenrolled/Senate/pdf/2006-SNB-1224.pdf

Once again thank you for your support and don’t forget to thank your Representatives and Senators for their support.

YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY
Section 257.612.1(a)
Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians and bicyclists lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.

Section 257.612.1(d)
The vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and bicyclists lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

MANDATORY SIDE PATH
Section 257.660.3
Where a usable and designated path for bicycles is provided adjacent to a highway or street, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device may, by local ordinance, be required to use that path.

EXCEPTIONS TO FAR RIGHT
Section  257.660a 
A person operating a bicycle upon a highway or street at less than the existing speed of traffic shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except as follows:

(a) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(b) When preparing to turn left.

(c) When conditions make the right-hand edge of the roadway unsafe or reasonably unusable by bicycles, including, but not limited to, surface hazards, an uneven roadway surface, drain openings, debris, parked or moving vehicles or bicycles, pedestrians, animals, or other obstacles, or if the lane is too narrow to permit a vehicle to safely overtake and pass a bicycle.

(d) When operating a bicycle in a lane in which the traffic is turning right but the individual intends to go straight through the intersection.

(e) When operating a bicycle upon a 1-way highway or street that has 2 or more marked traffic lanes, in which case the individual may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.

2-ABREAST RIDING
Sec. 257.660b.
Two or more individuals operating bicycles upon a highway or street shall not ride more than 2 abreast except upon a path or portion of the highway or street set aside for the use of bicycles.

PARKING A BICYCLE ON A SIDEWALK
Sec. 257.660d.
(1) An individual may park a bicycle on a sidewalk except as prohibited by an official traffic control device.

(2) An individual shall not park a bicycle on a sidewalk in such a manner that the bicycle impedes the lawful movement of pedestrians or other traffic.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
SB 1225
Senator Tom George introduced SB 1225, a companion bill to SB 1224, that mandates education about bicyclists and their rights in driver-training courses. It is currently in the Senate Transportation Committee for review. We will keep the bicycle community posted concerning needed action to support SB 1225