[SBC] bike bill veto

[alanjane at highstream.net]

David:

Has MassBike considered getting out some press release about this?

Otherwise the public, bicycling and non-bicycling, will think Healey was doing
us all a favor vetoing meddling legislation when in fact all "sides" (I think)
were in favor and these are regulations in effect (are they?) in most other
States.

The only press I've seen (an AP release) was the day the legislature passed it
and the only fact it gave was wrong - that now bicyclists will have to ride
single file.

Alan

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Healey Vetoes Bill at Last Minute

MassBike is sorry to announce that Lt. Governor Kerry Healey has vetoed the
Bicycle Safety Bill, H5372 (formerly the Bicyclists’ Bill of Rights and
Responsibilities, H5194).  From the extremely brief veto letter, which you can
read at http://www.massbike.org/news/Bike safety - veto.pdf, it appears that
Healey completely misunderstood the intent of the bill, believing it to impose
new regulation on “recreational affairs”.  In reality, the bill would have
strengthened the laws that protect all bicyclists from dangerous motorist
behaviors such as unsafe passing and turning and “dooring”, required the police
to receive training on bicycling issues, and provided for the evenhanded
enforcement of the law for both motorists and bicyclists.

Unfortunately, there is no time left in the legislative session to pursue a veto
override.  We’ll be working with our supporters in the Legislature to file a new
bill this month, and we will start the process anew.  And we’ll make sure the
Patrick administration knows that bicycles are vehicles, and that bicyclists
face real dangers on Massachusetts roads.

While we didn’t get the ultimate prize this time around, in many ways this was a
victory for bicyclists.  Support for the bill extended throughout the House and
the Senate: many legislators showed themselves to be friends of bicycling,
doing their best to move the bill along.  We also garnered support from the
highest levels of MassHighway and the DCR, as well as local officials
throughout the state.  The bicycle industry in Massachusetts stepped up to show
the support of the business community.  And, most importantly, we mobilized all
of you, MassBike’s 3,000+ members, to speak up for bicyclists’ rights.  The
power of grassroots bicycling advocacy is real, and growing!

Finally, please join me in expressing MassBike’s gratitude for everything
retiring Rep. Anne Paulsen, the bill’s principal sponsor, has done for
bicycling in Massachusetts.  Her tireless support has raised the profile of
bicycling issues and led to real, positive changes that will be felt for many
years to come.  Thanks Anne!



David Watson

Executive Director