Electric personal assistive mobility devices; operation of bicycles on Interstate Highway System. (HB2008)

Introduced By

Del. Bob Brink (D-Arlington)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Electric personal assistive mobility devices, electrically powered toy vehicles, bicycles, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds. Prohibits operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices, electrically powered toy vehicles, bicycles, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds on any (i) Interstate Highway System component, (ii) other limited access highway, or (iii) highway where the Commonwealth Transportation Board has prohibited their operation in the interest of safety and such prohibition is indicated by conspicuous signs posted by the Department of Transportation. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/13/2009Committee
01/13/2009Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/09 093553824
01/13/2009Referred to Committee on Transportation
01/23/2009Assigned Transportation sub: 2
01/30/2009Impact statement from DPB (HB2008)
02/02/2009Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
02/03/2009Reported from Transportation with amendments (16-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/05/2009Read first time
02/06/2009Read second time
02/06/2009Committee amendments agreed to
02/06/2009Engrossed by House as amended HB2008E
02/06/2009Printed as engrossed 093553824-E
02/08/2009Passed by for the day
02/09/2009Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
02/09/2009VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (98-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/10/2009Constitutional reading dispensed
02/10/2009Referred to Committee on Transportation
02/11/2009Constitutional reading dispensed
02/11/2009Referred to Committee on Transportation
02/17/2009Impact statement from DPB (HB2008E)
02/19/2009Reported from Transportation (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/23/2009Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/24/2009Read third time
02/24/2009Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/28/2009Enrolled
02/28/2009Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2008ER)
02/28/2009Signed by Speaker
02/28/2009Signed by President
03/12/2009Impact statement from DPB (HB2008ER)
03/30/2009Governor's recommendation received by House
04/07/2009Placed on Calendar
04/08/2009Enacted, Chapter 794 (effective 7/1/09)
04/08/2009House concurred in Governor's recommendation (71-Y 27-N)
04/08/2009VOTE: --- ADOPTION (71-Y 27-N) (see vote tally)
04/08/2009Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
04/08/2009G Governor's recommendation adopted
04/08/2009Reenrolled
04/08/2009Reenrolled bill text (HB2008ER2)
04/08/2009Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
04/08/2009Signed by President as reenrolled
04/08/2009Enacted, Chapter 795 (effective 7/1/09)
04/08/2009G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0795)
04/14/2009Reenrolled
04/14/2009Reenrolled bill text (HB2008ER2)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 1 minute.

Comments

Allen Muchnick writes:

This bill unnecessarily expands the number of highways where bicycles, mopeds, electrically-assisted bicycles, and Segways are banned for no valid reason, while failing to establish a fair and open process for evaluating future and existing bans. The Code of Virginia already bans these devices on all controlled-access highways "where the Commonwealth Transportation Board has prohibited their operation in the interest of safety". I will meet with Del. Brink on January 19 to ask that he withdraw this legislation.

Alan Marsilio writes:

This is a step backwards for public health, the environment, and energy independence in favor of further promoting the car culture of the last century. Delegate Brink needs to pay attention to reality.

Sheryl Finucane writes:

Concerns for the obesity epidemic, global warming, and dependency on foreign oil all beg for this bill to be withdrawn. There is no evidence that there is a safety issue with bicycles, mopeds, segways or electrically-assisted bicycles using controlled access highways. All of these vehicles are legitimate modes of transportation and are better for health and the environment than cars and trucks. Steps should be taken to encourage their use not block their use.

Allen Muchnick writes:

The Virginia State Police, which instigated this bill, is planning to amend the language to only state a prohibition on any "Interstate Highway Sytem Component". The latter term is not defined in the Code of Virginia but is reportedly defined under federal law. I am still seeking the federal definition to ensure that bicycling on physically separated shared-use paths within VDOT's right-of-way along Interstate highways would not be prohibited.

Janice Kupiec writes:

Thank you Mr. Muchnick. I hope the definition is clarified. While riding along 395/95 is clearly unsafe, the broad language is disconcerting for a number of other roads in Virginia that are used by many cyclists. Clarification would be appreciated.

Tamara McFarren writes:

Banning bicycles and other non car/motorcycle/truck vehicles on major interstates such as I-81, I-95, etc... is not an issue. But blocking access to the secondary highways -- the Rte 50s and 17s and 522s and so forth only takes us a huge step back in encouraging environmentally responsible transport options. The problem is not bicyclists on the road...it's arrogant and irresponsible drivers. Let's work to change the culture of the Commonwealth, not trap us into a bygone era of gas-guzzling, McDonalds-swilling travel.

Steve Naismith writes:

"The problem is not bicyclists on the road...it's arrogant and irresponsible drivers"

NO. The problem is in fact the arrogant bicyclists on the road who interfere with motor vehicular traffic.

Waldo Jaquith writes:

But blocking access to the secondary highways -- the Rte 50s and 17s and 522s and so forth only takes us a huge step back in encouraging environmentally responsible transport options.

Thankfully, this bill doesn't do that. It prohibits bicycles on "limited access highways," which are interstates and bypasses—roads that don't have intersections or driveways, and only a minimum of on- and off-ramps, designed to move hulking chunks of steel from Point A to Point B at 55 MPH. Not good places for bicycles.

I'd like to see our development model change so that there's neither the need nor the demand to construct these sorts of things, but they do exist and, as such, I suspect we can all agree that it's not safe to bicycle on them.