[BikeLongmont] [Fwd: Enews from Bicycle Colorado- Action Needed]

[Nenad]

Hi,

I urge you to help this bill pass!

Regards, Nenad

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Enews from Bicycle Colorado- Action Needed
Date: 	Thu, 24 Mar 2005 11:53:37 -0700
From: 	Dan Grunig <dan at bicyclecolo.org>
To: 	<info at bicyclecolo.org>



Enews from Bicycle Colorado
March 24, 2005
FINAL ACTION NEEDED: CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR
Folks, we are one step away from passing House Bill 1218 (Brophy-Tupa) 
to protect bicyclists. The bill passed the Senate State Affairs 
Committee yesterday 5 to 0 (see story below) and now moves to the full 
Senate.
Similar safety bills have been killed three times over the past ten 
years. Now we are one step away…please contact your state senator and 
ask for their support of House Bill 1218! The vote may happen early next 
week (March 28 or 29) so please take a moment and call today.
HOW TO CALL or EMAIL (voice mails are fine)-
-Give them your name and address
-Ask them to support House Bill 1218- because you support bicycle safety
-Thank them for their attention to this issue

HOW TO FIND YOUR STATE SENATOR (not federal senator)
Easily find your Colorado State Senate District at
www.vote-smart.org <http://www.vote-smart.org> by entering your zip code 
in the box on the left
TALKING POINTS-House Bill 1218:
1. Makes traffic rules common sense for motorists and bicyclists
2. Protects kids and adults trying to safely cross a street
3. Helps encourage active healthy lifestyles

WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THE BILL?
Under current law there are three times when a bicyclist is 
automatically assigned fault for being hit by a motorist:
-Any time a bicyclist is hit while riding in a safety crosswalk (even if 
the motorist runs a red light)
-Any time a bicyclist is hit while riding side by side (even on a ten 
foot paved shoulder)
-Any time a cyclist is hit after signaling a right turn with their right 
arm
House Bill 1218 removes automatic blame and allows police and the legal 
system to cite unsafe behavior.
Thanks for your time helping make Colorado’s streets safer for kids and 
adults! If you want to learn more about the bill, read recent press 
coverage, or see the vote history visit 
www.BicycleColorado.org/for/BicycleSafety
<http://www.BicycleColorado.org/for/BicycleSafety>.
HOUSE BILL 1218 PASSES SENATE COMMITTEE
The Senate State, Military, and Veteran Affairs Committee passed House 
Bill 1218 on a 5 to 0 (2 excused) vote Wednesday, March 23. Bill Sponsor 
Senator Ron Tupa presented the need for this bill and responded to 
questions from the committee. An unfriendly amendment was introduced to 
remove the language allowing bicyclists the option to signal a 
right-hand turn with their right hand. The amendment failed 3 to 2. The 
committee then united in support of the full bill and passed it 
unanimously!
If you called your senator on this committee, please thank them for 
their support.
YEAS
Ron Tupa (D) Chairman, Thank Ron for being a bill sponsor!
District 18, County: Boulder
Peter Groff (D) Vice-Chairman
District 33, Counties: Adams, Denver
Joan Fitz-Gerald (D)
District 16, Counties: Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, 
Summit
Doug Lamborn (R)
District 9, County: El Paso
Sue Windels (D)
District 19, County: Jefferson

EXCUSED
Ron May (R)
District 10, County: El Paso

Steve Johnson (R)
District 15, County: Larimer

Dan Grunig
Executive Director

Bicycle Colorado
/Better Riding ... Much Better!/

303-417-1544

_www.BicycleColorado.org_ <http://www.bicyclecolorado.org/> 
<http://www.bicyclecolorado.org/>

Help Improve Bicycling in Colorado

Join today! _www.BicycleColorado.org/2/Join_
<http://www.bicyclecolorado.org/2/Join>

Thank you for subscribing to Bicycle Colorado’s free email newsletter. 
Please forward freely, just credit Bicycle Colorado.

If you are receiving duplicate copies, want to unsubscribe, or need to 
change your email address please send changes to 
subscription at bicyclecolo.org <mailto:subscription at bicyclecolo.org>.