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<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Changes to the traffic laws can only be made by the state legislature-
not by the governor, or the police, or the RMV.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Any
legislator can introduce a bill. For traffic-related issues they tend
to go to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security (<A
href="http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/j22.htm">http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/j22.htm</A>)
and then through the committee process like any other bill.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Which
is where the current Bicycle Safety Bill is. It had a hearing before the
Committee (on Public Safety and Homeland Security) in the spring, and now
all we can do is wait and check in periodically with the
sponsors.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>It
actually was passed by both houses last year, but then vetoed by the outgoing
administration, Kerry Healey specifically.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>And
this is timely (we couldn't have arranged a better plant) because we are sending
out the Action Alert below in our newsletter right now:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Action Alert: Help Get
Bicyclist Safety Bill Out of Committee</FONT></H3>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>We need your help to
get the Bicyclist Safety Bill out of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland
Security.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is essentially the
same bill that was passed by both houses of the Legislature last December, then
vetoed by the outgoing administration, forcing us to start over.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The bill, Senate 1414, called “An Act
Relative to Bicyclist Safety”, can be viewed </FONT><A
href="http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st01/st01414.htm"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>here</FONT></A><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>.<?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>The key
provisions of the bill are: police training on bicycle law; clarification of how
to safely pass a bicycle; clarification of how to safely make turns in front of
bicycles; “dooring” subject to ticket and fine; riding two abreast permitted
when it does not impede cars from passing; improved enforcement of bicycle law
for both motorists and bicyclists; and additional legal protections for
bicyclists who choose to ride to the right of other
traffic.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>The Public
Safety Committee held a hearing on this bill in June, and MassBike and others
testified in support of it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now we
need the Committee to report favorably on the bill, so that it can move to the
next step in the legislative process.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We are still a few steps away from getting the bill passed
again.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Here is what we need you to do:</FONT></STRONG><B><BR><BR><STRONG><FONT
face=Arial size=2>1. Email the co-chairs of the Public Safety Committee,
Senator James Timilty </FONT></STRONG></B><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>(</FONT></SPAN></STRONG><B><A
href="mailto:James.Timilty@state.ma.us"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>James.Timilty@state.ma.us</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>) and
Representative Michael Costello (</FONT><A
href="mailto:Rep.MichaelCostello@hou.state.ma.us"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Rep.MichaelCostello@hou.state.ma.us</FONT></A><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial>) <STRONG>to ask that S1414, An Act Relative to Bicyclist Safety, be
reported favorably.</STRONG><BR><BR><STRONG>2. Call or email your state
representative and your state senator and ask each of them to contact the
co-chairs of the Public Safety Committee to say they want S1414, An Act Relative
to Bicyclist Safety, reported favorably.</STRONG><BR><BR><STRONG>Your
participation counts – don’t assume that everyone else will do
it! <o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Click
here to find contact information for your State Representative (called “Rep in
General Court”) and State Senator (called “Senate in General
Court”).</FONT></P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><A
href="http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php">http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php</A></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=453360319-05102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org
[mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org]<B>On Behalf Of
</B>Lee Peters<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, October 05, 2007 2:55 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
Boston Critical Mass<BR><B>Subject:</B> [*BCM*] Politics<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear MassBike Lurkers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Who, at the state level, determines the Mass.
driving laws? Which committees?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>and</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Did that bike bill ever pass? The one
making it illegal to door a bicyclist.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>