State legislators hold hearing on bike safety bill

5/16/07The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a hearing Wednesday on a new bicycle safety bill which is framed by the argument that bicycles should be treated as other vehicles. The bill aims to reshape the current laws in the areas of safety, enforcement and education.

The first part attempts to regulate maneuvering and signaling, both by bicyclist and drivers. The main concern is bicyclists being overtaking by cars on roadways. Included in this is driver's awareness of bikers on the streets.

"The major difference between a bike and other vehicles on the road is 2500 pounds of steel," said Dave Watson, executive director of MassBike, a bicycle advocacy group.

According Watson the three major causes of bicycle accidents are unsafe passing, improper turning and motorist opening car doors into the path of cyclists.

The opening of car doors into bicyclists, or "dooring," is addressed specifically in the new bill. It would make it a $100 fine.

The second concern is the ticketing of both bicyclists and motor vehicles. Currently, there are separate procedures in ticketing for the two different classes. The new bill aims to allow police departments to use the same tickets for bikes as they do for cars. The bill also aims to make these procedures consistent throughout the state.

The final portion of the bill looks to spread education of bike laws and safety, to both the police and the general public.

"The greatest threat to bikers is lack of knowledge by drivers and police," said Mike Gibbs, a Somerville native and bike commuter.

The bill hopes to implement bike laws into the police academy curriculum for highway safety. It is also hoped that similar training can be implemented into teenage driving courses.

"The RMV has been receptive to adding bike safety info into driver's education and other reading material that they put together," Watson said.

A similar bill to this one was passed by the Massachusetts House and Senate last year. It was vetoed by then Lt. Gov. Healy. She said that the bill was "an unwarranted governmental intrusion into the recreational affairs of citizens.