Legislative Update for Virginia, Bills friendly to pedestrians & cyclists

From BikeWalk Virginia:

Several bills have been pre-filed in the Virginia Legislature which are important to bicyclists, pedestrians and trail users. Legislators are in session now. Please contact them right away on these critical topics. Continuous legislative updates can be viewed http://www.vabike.org/

BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN LAWS

SENATE BILL NO. 228 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 13, 2010

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-924 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pedestrians crossing highways.

Patron-- Barker

Referred to Committee on Transportation

Summary: Drivers to stop for pedestrians; installation of certain signs; penalty. (Bicycles are vehicles.)

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB1048

HOUSE BILL NO. 1048 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 13, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-816, 46.2-838, and 46.2-839 of the Code of Virginia, relating to following too closely and passing other vehicles.
Patron-- Kory
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Summary: following too close, passing bicycles by three feet.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+SB566
SENATE BILL NO. 566 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 13, 2010A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-816, 46.2-838, and 46.2-839 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-869.1, relating to motor vehicle offenses; penalties. (following too close, passing by three feet and careless driving)
Patron-- Ticer
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Summary: Relating to following too close, passing bicycles by three feet and careless driving. The careless driving portion will probably be dropped.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB752
HOUSE BILL NO. 752 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 12, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-833 of the Code of Virginia, relating to traffic lights. (allows bicycles and motorcycles to proceed on red when traffic lights fail to respond to sensors.)
Patrons-- Greason and Janis
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Summary: Bicyclist allowed to run red light if safe and wait is greater than 120 seconds.

HOUSE BILL NO. 22 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled December 16, 2009
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to use of handheld personal communications devices while operating certain vehiclesPatron-- Howell, A.T.
Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety

Summary: Includes bicyclist using handheld communications devices while operating a bicycle.

Failed in House Militia, Police & Public Safety Sub-Committee on 1/21/2010

Summary: Forbids use of personal communications devices (cell phones) while driving.

SAFETY

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+SB200
SENATE BILL NO. 200 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 12, 2010
A BILL to require installation of rumble strips on highways in the Commonwealth having speed limits of at least 55 miles per hour.
Patron-- Blevins (By Request)
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Summary: Installation of rumble strips. Rumble strips shall be installed on the sides of those highways in the Commonwealth with speed limits of at least 55 miles per hour.

TRAILS

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB845
HOUSE BILL NO. 845 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 13, 2010
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 13 of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-439.12:03, relating to individual and corporate income tax credit, related to certain easements.
Patron-- Morefield
Referred to Committee on Finance

Summary: Tax credit for granting certain easements on real property.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB1186
HOUSE BILL NO. 1186 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 13, 2010A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 13 of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-439.12:03, relating to individual and corporate income tax credit, related to certain easements.
Patron-- Phillips
Referred to Committee on Finance
Summary: Tax credit for granting certain easements on real property.

PLANNING

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HJ119
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 119 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 13, 2010
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the creation of a U.S. Route 1 Corridor. Report.
Patrons-- Surovell, Brink, Englin and Torian; Senators: Puller and Ticer
Referred to Committee on Rules

Summary: US Bicycle Route 1 uses this corridor.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB95
HOUSE BILL NO. 95 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 5, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.1-70.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to taking new streets into the state secondary highway system.
Patron-- Loupassi
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Summary: Requirements to ensure the connectivity of road and pedestrian networks with the existing and future transportation network

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB197
HOUSE BILL NO. 197 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 7, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.1-70.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to taking new streets into the state secondary highway system.
Patron-- Ware, R.L.
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Summary: Requirements to ensure the connectivity of road and pedestrian networks with the existing and future transportation network

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB222
HOUSE BILL NO. 222 Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 11, 2010A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 33.1-69.001, relating to design standards for state secondary highway system components.
Patrons-- Watts, Bulova, Herring, Keam, Kory, Plum, Scott, J.M., Sickles and Surovell; Senators: Barker, Howell, Petersen and Ticer
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Summary: Bicycles are not included in accommodations.

LANDOWNER LIABILITY FOR TRAILS

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+SB546
SENATE BILL NO. 546 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 13, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact § 29.1-509 of the Code of Virginia, relating to landowner liability arising from recreational activities; railroad rights-of-way.
Patron-- Edwards
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Summary: Landowner liability arising from recreational activities; railroad rights-of-way.* Ensures that railroad rights-of-way may be used for recreational purposes and for access to lands being used for recreational purposes without the easement holder owing a duty of care to the user. This exemption from civil liability already exists for landowners, but does not explicitly include railroad rights-of-way. The exemption does not apply if the landowner charges a fee for the use of the lands and does include gross negligence or willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition.

BILLS THAT MAY EFFECT BICYCLIST INDIRECTLY OR BE EXPANDED LATER

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB163
HOUSE BILL NO. 163 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 5, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-857 of the Code of Virginia, relating to driving abreast in a single lane.
Patron-- Orrock
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Summary: Motor vehicles passing in the same lane (including motorcycles.)

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+SB321

SENATE BILL NO. 321 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 12, 2010

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-857 of the Code of Virginia, relating to driving two abreast in a single lane.
Patrons-- Reynolds; Delegates: Armstrong and Merricks
Referred to Committee on Transportation
Summary: Motor vehicles passing in the same lane (including motorcycles.)