 "Photo: Ariel Min/The Daily Texan")
The Austin cycling community questioned Gov. Rick Perry’s veto of a “safe passing” bill that would have added restrictions for motorists and cyclists sharing the roads.
Perry rejected the bill last Friday along with 34 other bills. This bill, designed to identify and protect vulnerable road users, would have required a 3-foot clearance zone when passing certain vehicles on Texas roads.
Christopher Collins, former president of the UT Cycling club, said Perry, a fellow cyclist, confused supporters of the bill with his veto. He said the bill could have improved the safety of cyclists statewide.
“It seemed strange that he wouldn’t want to pass this bill,” Collins said. “After recently breaking his collarbone while cycling, we figured he would feel our pain.”
In addition to cyclists, the bill defined vulnerable road users to include pedestrians, tow truck operators, stranded motorists, highway construction workers, motorcyclists, people on horseback and mo-ped riders.
“An operator of a motor vehicle is already subject to penalties when he or she is at fault for causing a collision or operating recklessly, whether it is against a ‘vulnerable user’ or not,” Perry said.
Fred Meredith, editor of Southwest Cycling News and league cycling instructor, said that the governor’s veto is a setback for cyclist safety.
“There is a need for more specific classifications and restrictions on this topic,” Meredith said. “Some of the groups included in the bill already have protective measures in place, so more could be done to specifically protect cyclists in Texas.”
Meredith said he carefully chooses a riding location because he considers many roads in the area dangerous.
He said cyclists are not disrupting traffic if they only occupy a single lane and use proper safety gear. But he said that in a campus environment, these rules are often broken.
“Because the campus area is so congested with all types of travelers, inexperienced bikers increase the chance of injuries,” Meredith said. “We become a hazard to ourselves if we don’t follow the general guidelines such as staying away from sidewalks and not running stop signs.”
Collins agreed further legislation is needed to solve this problem, but remains optimistic that the campus area is one of the safer routes for cyclists.
“The UT campus is designed with special speed limits and designated bike lanes to reduce the likelihood of accidents,” Collins said. “But cycling to explore other parts of Texas can be more dangerous because these precautions are limited in many areas.”
State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, author of the bill, emphasized the need to provide increased safety for vulnerable road users.
“More than 1,000 vulnerable road users in Texas die every year,” Ellis said. “The bill would have saved lives by making motorists more aware of others that share the roadways, and it would not have cost a dime.”
Ellis said he has plans to reintroduce the bill in the next session.
“We came very close to passing the bill this time around,” Ellis said. “I would be remiss if I did not try again.”
I want to know where these "designated bike lanes" are on campus that Collins speaks of. I've yet to see one. Every day on my way into work my "bike lane" is full of cars, construction vehicles blocking the road, and pedestrians. Also, the sidewalks on this campus are constantly used at roads for university vehicles. I suppose all of the above doesn't really constitute a problem, so let's get back to those pesky cyclists running stop signs that we all saw "that one time". Because, as we all know, every driver of a car in Austin is a thoroughly trained driving expert that follows all traffic laws at all times.