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LMB Bike Advocacy Center  |
Please contact your legislature today on the following important issues! To find out who your Representatives and Senators are visit: www.vote-smart.org. |
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| LMB's Current Advocacy Priorities |
Tell your Legislator to Support HB 6299 and HB 6300,
and SB 1492 and SB 1493 to make roads safer for cyclists.
Representatives Andy Coulouris (D-Saginaw) and David Palsrok (R-Manistee) on June 29, 2008 introduced House Bills 6299 and 6300, which enhance penalties for moving violations causing physical injury or death to bicyclists and other vulnerable roadway users.
Senator Tom George (R-Kalamazoo) introduced Senate companion bills (SB 1492 and 1493) with the same language on September 11, 2008.
These bills will make Michigan roadways safer for bicyclists and all vulnerable users of our taxpayer-funded road system.
Bill Excerpts:
(1) A “VULNERABLE ROADWAY USER” IS DEFINED AS A PEDESTRIAN OR A PERSON OPERATING A NONMOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION DEVICE (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A BICYCLE).
(2) A PERSON WHO COMMITS A MOVING VIOLATION AND AS A RESULT CAUSES INJURY TO A VULNERABLE ROADWAY USER ON A HIGHWAY WHO IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN 1 YEAR OR A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $1,000.00, OR BOTH.
(3) A PERSON WHO COMMITS A MOVING VIOLATION AND AS A RESULT CAUSES DEATH TO A VULNERABLE ROADWAY USER ON A HIGHWAY WHO IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT IS GUILTY OF A FELONY PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN 15 YEARS OR A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $7,500.00, OR BOTH.
> Download Complete Bills in PDF (HB 6299) (HB 6300) (SB 1492) (SB 1493)
Note: The House Bills (HB) and Senate Bills (SB) are identical.
Please write your Representative and Senator today and ask him or her to support HB 6299 & 6300 and SB 1492 & 1493!
Click here for a sample letter and a link to find your Representative. Also, please make sure to thank your legislator if he/she is sponsoring or co-sponsoring one of these bills, or commits to voting for it. Copy LMB with any letter of support you receive. (1494)
Support SB 1494 (Bike Safety Curriculum in Drivers Education)
SB 1494 introduced by Senator George (R-Kalamazoo) on September 16, 2008 and referred to the Transportation Committee states that,"Classroom instruction shall include information concerning the laws pertaining to bicycles and shall emphasize awareness of the operation of bicycles on the streets, roads, and highways of this state."
> Download Complete Bills in PDF (1494)
Write your Senator today in support of SB 1494.
Find your Senator
Support SB 1461 and 1462 (Bicycle Exemption in HOV lanes)
Senate Bill 1461 (Judson Gilbert, R - Algonac) would amend the Michigan Transportation Fund law to permit the Michigan Department of Transportation, or the governing body of a county, city, or village, to designate one or more lanes of a highway as a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane, which could be reserved during certain periods for the exclusive use of buses and HOVs.
Senate Bill 1462 (Judson Gilbert, R - Algonac) would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:
- Provide that when any lane had been designated as an HOV lane and marked appropriately with signs and pavement markings, the lane would have to be reserved during the periods indicated for the exclusive use of buses and HOVs.
- Exempt bicycles, emergency vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, utility vehicles, motorcycles, buses, and other specified vehicles from the restrictions imposed on HOV lanes.
- Provide that a violation of an HOV lane restriction would be a civil infraction subject to a maximum fine of $100 and costs.
- Define "high-occupancy vehicle" as any motor vehicle carrying not fewer than a specified number of occupants, including the driver.
> Download Complete Bills in PDF (SB 1461) (SB 1462)
Write your Senator today in support of SB 1461 and 1462.
Find your Senator
Stop the Raid on Act 51 Non-motorized Funding
The League of Michigan Bicyclists asks the Governor and Michigan Legislature to:
• Stop all attempts, by whatever means, to divert mandated 1% non-motorized funding.
• Reaffirm Michigan’s thirty-year-old commitment to mandate 1% of the Michigan Transportation fund to non-motorized transportation.
• If possible, increase funding for these most energy-efficient of all transportation modes as ways to cut Michigan’s and America’s “oil addiction.”
Learn More About Act 51 Non-motorized Funding
Read the Issue Paper (Word)
Complete the Streets
The League of Michigan Bicyclists asks the State of Michigan to:
• Require the State roadway system to accommodate safely all users of the public right-of-way, including pedestrians, people requiring mobility aids, bicyclists, and drivers and passengers of transit vehicles, trucks, automobiles and motorized cycles.
• Require all MDOT employees involved in planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of the State transportation system fully consider the needs of non-motorized travelers.
• Require all recipients of Act 51 Funds to adhere to the state’s “Complete Streets” (see first bullet, above).
Read the Issue Paper (Word)
Learn More About Complete Streets
