would you be willing to jump in on a group to pursue this matter??<br>
<br>
<div style="CLEAR: both">Tom</div>
<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Jim Leonard <jim_bcm@xuth.net><br>
To: Boston Critical Mass <list@bostoncriticalmass.org><br>
Sent: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 4:46 pm<br>
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Politics<br>
<br>
<div id=AOLMsgPart_0_9b132905-657a-4ba7-8f13-a43bf7dcf6c2 style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; MARGIN: 0px; COLOR: #000; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff"><PRE style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><TT>Because it was such a bitch for me to find, I'm posting a url for the
full text of the bill (why isn't this listed on massbike's website?):
<A href="http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st01/st01414.htm" target=_blank>http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st01/st01414.htm</A>
So that you can find the text of the laws that this bill would be
modifying, Mass General Law can be found here:
<A href="http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/" target=_blank>http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/</A>
section 85-11a-d (most of the bicycling laws) can be found starting here:
<A href="http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/85-11a.htm" target=_blank>http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/85-11a.htm</A>
and click next a few times. (note that the entire first section that
this link points to would be stricken entirely by the new bicycle bill.
--jim
On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 03:52:37PM -0400, Nadav Carmel wrote:
> Changes to the traffic laws can only be made by the state legislature- not
> by the governor, or the police, or the RMV.
>
> 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" target=_blank>http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/j22.htm</A>) and then through the committee
> process like any other bill.
>
> 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.
>
> It actually was passed by both houses last year, but then vetoed by the
> outgoing administration, Kerry Healey specifically.
>
> 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:
>
> Action Alert: Help Get Bicyclist Safety Bill Out of Committee
> We need your help to get the Bicyclist Safety Bill out of the Committee on
> Public Safety and Homeland Security. 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. The bill, Senate
> 1414, called “An Act Relative to Bicyclist Safety”, can be viewed here.
>
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> The Public Safety Committee held a hearing on this bill in June, and
> MassBike and others testified in support of it. Now we need the Committee
> to report favorably on the bill, so that it can move to the next step in the
> legislative process. We are still a few steps away from getting the bill
> passed again.
>
>
>
> Here is what we need you to do:
>
> 1. Email the co-chairs of the Public Safety Committee, Senator James
> Timilty (<A href="mailto:James.Timilty@state.ma.us">James.Timilty@state.ma.us</A>) and Representative Michael Costello
> (<A href="mailto:Rep.MichaelCostello@hou.state.ma.us">Rep.MichaelCostello@hou.state.ma.us</A>) to ask that S1414, An Act Relative to
> Bicyclist Safety, be reported favorably.
>
> 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.
>
> Your participation counts – don’t assume that everyone else will do it!
>
>
>
> Click here to find contact information for your State Representative (called
> “Rep in General Court”) and State Senator (called “Senate in General
> Court”).
>
> <A href="http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php" target=_blank>http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php</A>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <A href="mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org">bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org</A>
> [<A href="mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org]On?">mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org]On</A> Behalf Of Lee
> Peters
> Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 2:55 PM
> To: Boston Critical Mass
> Subject: [*BCM*] Politics
>
>
> Dear MassBike Lurkers,
>
> Who, at the state level, determines the Mass. driving laws? Which
> committees?
>
> and
>
> Did that bike bill ever pass? The one making it illegal to door a
> bicyclist.
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
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</TT></PRE></div>
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