See the person, not just the bike

Dear [Your Elected Official],

<p>As a constituent who bikes, I urge you to support bicycling safety bills now up for consideration in the Senate.</p> <p>This year’s bills have been thoughtfully workshopped with the Virginia Department of Transportation. They are critical to Virginia meeting its goals to stem and reduce the troubling increase in traffic fatalities and the transportation sector’s 52% contribution to Virginia’s greenhouse gas emissions, as reported by Virginia DEQ.</p> <p><strong>HB 657 - Del. Sullivan - Bikes May Proceed on Walk Signal.</strong> At many intersections, people in crosswalks are given a few seconds to begin crossing before drivers heading in the same direction, improving their visibility (especially for turning drivers). The extra visibility from this Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) is proven to reduce crashes and should be extended to bicyclists in the roadway (who must still stop for pedestrians). Current law incentivizes bicyclists to enter a sidewalk to benefit from this safety feature, which can create conflicts with pedestrians.</p> <p><strong>HB 1077 - Del. Carr - Safety Stop.</strong> This bill would allow bicycle riders (aged 15 and older) to treat stop signs as yield signs in limited circumstances, a proven safety measure endorsed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). By enabling riders to get across small intersections more quickly, this measure has been shown to reduce crashes (23% and 14% reductions in Delaware and Idaho, respectively, after enactment). Virginia would join a growing list of ten states and Washington, DC in aligning state law with this proven and NHTSA-endorsed safety measure.</p> <p><strong>HB 1266 - Del. Willett</strong> - Bike Safety Omnibus. This bill would allow two-abreast bicycling on low-speed roadways while maintaining the current prohibitions on riding 3 or more abreast. Two-abreast bicycling is a critical and proven safety measure that 1) allows parents to buffer their children from roadway traffic, 2) makes people bicycling more visible, and 3) discourages unsafe motorist overtaking. Nearly half of all states allow two-abreast bicycling with NO restrictions, including Delaware, where State Police testified during consideration of the 2017 Bike Friendly Delaware Act that “In speaking with a vast number of motorists over the years, a common phrase heard by investigators in traffic crashes (involving bicyclists) is: ‘I just didn’t see them.’ By allowing cyclists to ride two-by-two, the motoring public is provided with a different and frankly larger visual. We felt that when motorists are visually drawn to the larger image of subjects cycling sooner, they can react sooner too; in turn, they take appropriate action, such as change lanes…”</p> <p>These are proven measures that will meaningfully improve safety for ALL road users, especially for the millions of Virginians like me who bicycle, and make bicycling a more appealing transportation option for millions more. Please support these bills when they reach the Senate floor. Thank you for your consideration and support.</p>