Carol Spackman: A Politician Concerned for Public Safety

[XLFD]

Great news for all who bicycle.  Utah may soon join Idaho in the states that have decided to use logic in creating traffic laws for all users of the road.  Carol Spackman, Democrat, like other courageous politicians in California, Oregon, Wyoming and soon to be other states, introduced a bill that would effectively allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs.  It will actually get discussion and perhaps, a floor vote.  It has already passed one chamber.  I could go on and on about why this is safer and better for traffic flow (the two things we try to maximize through traffic law), but I will let her and the article speak for themselves, and offer my points for any critiques of such a law in the discussion afterwards. 

 

[XLFD]

Here's an excellent video made in Oregon that describes this in good detail:
YouTube - Idaho 'Rolling' Stops for Bicycles in Oregon.mht

[Dave]

I guess Come N go has Came n gone.. at least for the time being.. checked his profile page and it says that the person is no longer a member.

[Edie Lindsey]

More appropriately, this person can no longer see his "member", if you know what I mean, LOL.

[XLFD]

ROFL, but let's get this thread back on topic.

[XLFD]

I am saddened by the news that this bill lost by just one vote. The lawmakers including the stop light addition onto the bill probably doomed it to failure, as that is less a safety issue, and more what some people thought of as a special right for bicyclist. I would think so too, except there has been several times I've had to wait in Ludington for a vehicle "sponsor" to make the magnetic sensors turn the stoplights green for me on my bicycle.

Of course, a bicyclist can veer to their right at a stop sign or stop light (thereby making a right turn, which is legal for vehicles unless prohibited by sign), make a quick "U-turn" winding up on the other side of the street (also legal for vehicles unless prohibited, if done "in safety"), and then turning right, making it across the street without stopping.

"Utah bicyclists won't be allowed to run red lights
March 12th, 2010 @ 1:17pm
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah lawmakers put the brakes on a bill that would have let bicyclists in some cases run red lights and stop signs.

The Senate came up one vote short of sending House Bill 91 to Gov. Gary Herbert.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, would have let bicyclists roll through a stop sign after yielding to any traffic.

It would also allow have let bicyclists glide through certain red lights after coming to a complete stop to make sure no cars are coming.

Those who voted against the bill said it created unnecessary and complicated rules that would lead to accidents."