🚀 go-pugleaf

SB 264 [ http://tinyurl.com/72w4gwv ], which would prohibit motorists
in Virginia from following bicyclists "more closely than is reasonable
and prudent", was passed by the Virginia Senate on January 24, and is
now before the Virginia House of Delegates.

This Wednesday morning (2/22), SB 264 will be heard by the 7-member
House Transportation Subcommittee #2, the same body that killed an
identical House bill (HB 785, Lopez) on February 1 in an unrecorded
and partisan voice vote.

Three of the 7 subcommittee members represent Northern Virginia, and
at least two of them (Comstock and Anderson) voted to kill the
identical house bill.  Their contact information is:

* Delegate Barbara Comstock, R-34, McLean:
<delbcomstock@house.virginia.gov>, 804-698-1034

* Delegate Richard Anderson, R-51, Woodbridge,
<delranderson@house.virginia.gov>, 804-698-1051

* Delegate Randall Minchew, R-10, Leesburg,
<delrminchew@house.virginia.gov>, 804-698-1010

Please email and/or phone their offices TODAY, to ask them to SUPPORT
SB 264, which would afford cyclists, moped riders, and other non-
motorized vehicle users the same legal protection from negligent
following motorists that now applies only to motor vehicle occupants.
If Subcommittee #2 votes to report SB 264, passage by the full House
Transportation Committee and then by the full House of Delegates is
likely.

Detailed talking points on SB 264 are posted at [ http://tinyurl.com/7zcq5l3
] .

Below is a sample letter to delegates Comstock, Anderson, and
Minchew.  Please copy and paste the text into a new email message, and
feel free to personalize your letter.

====

To: <delbcomstock@house.virginia.gov>,
<delranderson@house.virginia.gov>, <delrminchew@house.virginia.gov>
Re: Support SB 264 (Following Bicyclists)

Dear Delegates Comstock, Anderson, and Minchew,

As a Northern Virginian, I ask you to support SB 264 (Ebbin) in House
Transportation Subcommittee #2.

This simple and sensible bill would help protect bicyclists from
negligent following motorists, both by educating motorists and by
facilitating traffic justice after a collision.  It's an outrage that
Virginia is the *only* state that does not prohibit motorists from
following bicyclists "more closely than is reasonable and prudent",
and I ask that you give bicyclists the same legal protection from
negligent motorists that is currently afforded to motor vehicle
drivers and occupants.

I am very disappointed that House Transportation Subcommittee #2
killed the identical bill (HB 785) by voice vote on February 1, and I
urge you to support SB 264 in subcommittee, the full committee, and
the House floor.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Your Street Address
Your City, State, and Zip Code
Your email address
Your phone number

###

====

Allen Muchnick, board member
Virginia Bicycling Federation
allenmuchnick@yahoo.com
703-271-0895 land
703-625-2453 mobile