Bicycles; permits operators to treat a stop sign as a yield sign in certain situations. (SB1263)

Introduced By

Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) with support from co-patrons Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), Del. Shelly Simonds (D-Newport News), and Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Herndon)

Progress

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

Description

Traffic regulations; bicycles. Permits operators of bicycles to treat a stop sign as a yield sign in certain situations. The bill requires the driver of a motor vehicle to change lanes when overtaking a bicycle or certain other vehicles when the lane of travel is not wide enough for the overtaking motor vehicle to pass at least three feet to the left of the overtaken vehicle. The bill also removes the limitations on riding bicycles and certain other vehicles two abreast. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/11/2021Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/21 21101348D
01/11/2021Referred to Committee on Transportation
01/21/2021Reported from Transportation (11-Y 4-N) (see vote tally)
01/25/2021Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/26/2021Read second time and engrossed
01/27/2021Read third time and defeated by Senate (16-Y 22-N) (see vote tally)

Comments

William E Perkinson writes:

in Support SB 1263 as amended to strike allowing cyclists to ride abreast.
I'm a cyclist and motor vehicle driver for decades. A cyclist
coming to a complete stop for a sign impedes traffic: cyclists take awhile
to get moving again. The fact that it takes a cyclist awhile to get rolling
from a stop can subject him to unique blind spot hazards.

I'm thinking police and physicians who ride agree, because all I know
do slow-roll stops. If visibility is limited, I touch a foot to the ground
without stopping, prepared to stop and yield.

Strike the part allowing bicycles riding abreast