Motor vehicles; passing of bicycles, etc. (SB928)

Introduced By

Sen. Ryan McDougle (R-Mechanicsville)

Progress

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

Description

Following too closely; passing other vehicles.  Adds bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds to the list of vehicles that the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow more closely than is reasonable. In addition, the bill increases passing distance for passing bicycles from two to three feet. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/10/2011Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11100456D
01/10/2011Referred to Committee on Transportation
02/03/2011Reported from Transportation (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/07/2011Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/08/2011Read second time and engrossed
02/08/2011Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/08/2011Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/09/2011Placed on Calendar
02/09/2011Read first time
02/09/2011Referred to Committee on Transportation
02/10/2011Assigned Transportation sub: #2
02/16/2011Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (3-Y 3-N)
02/17/2011Tabled in Transportation (11-Y 10-N) (see vote tally)

Comments

Rod I., tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

VB Legislative Agenda item

Shannon Barras writes:

This bill is very important to the safety of cyclist.

Scott Paisley writes:

As a cyclist who has been hit by three sideview mirrors in the last ten years, I think that this is a critical issue to pass. Drivers and our police officers as well as cyclists need to be aware of the safety issues at stake. Passage of this bill would improve the safety of all road users and help spread the word. It is also a no cost boost to Virginia's state economic prospects as companies like IBM, Texas Instruments, PayPal and others have linked their corporate planning criteria to "bike friendly" designations and this 3 foot passing law is one of the League of American Bicyclists criteria for this bike friendly designation.

Kacy Burnsed writes:

PASS THIS BILL! It won't change things overnight, but it's a step toward my daughters biking safely to the neighborhood pool, soccer practice and friends' houses to play. And I can stay fit without fearing for my life.