Arizona Bikes Safe Yield Act to get a hearing — possibly this Thursday
The so-called “Idaho Stop” statute, as most of my readers know by now, has been introduced again here in Arizona. My representative Daniel Patterson has joined with Matt Heinz, another legislator from Tucson, to sponsor this bill. It was introduced by Rep. Quelland, a long-time bicycle commuter from Phoenix.
The bill is tentatively set for a hearing on Thursday, although my review of the agenda just now (which is here) does not yet reflect that. Patterson said to check back frequently, as the agenda may be updated soon to reflect this hearing.
It is important that we get some attendance at this hearing so we can get this bill out of committee and get some momentum on it. Especially if you live in Phoenix, please consider attending the hearing and speaking in favor of this law that would make cycling, particularly on less-traveled residential streets, a much more viable option.
–Erik Ryberg
February 15th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
[...] million jury award for a 14-year old Arizona cyclist killed by a drunk driver. Arizona reintroduces the Idaho Stop law. A 77-year old veteran bike racer is killed in a Texas SWSS (Single Witness Suicide Swerve), in [...]
February 15th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Hello. I was a long time bicycle commuter and cyclist in Tucson. Riding the side streets, often you have a clear view of all directions when approaching a stop sign. On any bicycle, especially a loaded down one, it is a lot more effort to stop all the way, and get going, and it should be the cyclists call as a bicycle has more stopping power than a car, and in order to make it 10 miles accross the city on side streets, you have to break the code about 40 times and slowly ride through stop signs instead of stopping and PUTTING ONE FOOT DOWN at every single stop as the law requires. It would literally add 30 minutes or more to a person’s ride, and it is already exhausting enough to ride in Tucson’s heat. I was harassed by an officer once for not putting a foot down even though I could prove that I can stop my wheels without putting a foot down. However, I think there should be a common sense approach to this, rather than a blanket ’same laws’ doctrine. Please use my words as you please as a statement in support or testimony on behalf of changing the current codes oppressive to practical cyclists.
Thanks
Sean Donovan
February 17th, 2010 at 12:45 am
The document you linked to on azleg says the hearing is canceled?
February 25th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
I believe that power assistance is as good or better a solution to this problem.
Ideally only speed and perhaps actual acceleration (in ft./sec.) should be regulated, not ‘wattage’, or even any norm not adjusted to grade or total weight.
We don’t limit the strength of brakes after all. There isd no reason to limit how fast, or easally, a ultralight can get up to speed as for some of the same reasons faster breaking, faster starting, is safer.
NOT breaking sufficiently to save time, or not have to carry a battery/hub motor, is not safer. It is fetishistic, fundamentalist, and at best excused by poverty (too poor to spend a few hundred -total- at walmart) if at all.
The environmental impact of batteries and motors of this size, used for this amount of miles, is possibly even slighter then that of the marketing etc. involved in gels and muffins even.
I do however believe that adults should have the right to risk there lives even if rich enough to let a motor assume the burden of restarting. Perhaps a requirement that they have done so knowingly, carried on there person, in case they are injured, to excuse the other bike/driver, who collides with them, should be necessary to avoid being encouraged to stop…
March 11th, 2010 at 9:47 am
What happened to this? I was thinking that I hoped it passed as I ran a stop sign yesterday.