law

Last week, we posted a quick listing of the primary bike-related bills in the Virginia and Maryland legislatures this session.  Since then, a few procedural steps have been scheduled and we’ve identified a couple more bills of note to the bicycling community.  We will post more on that shortly. But, as promised, things move quickly […]

On Oct. 17, the D.C. Council passed the Bicycle Safety Amendment Act of 2013. It was then signed into law by Mayor Vince Gray and will be submitted to Congress for a 30-day legislative review. This is a great victory for bicyclists in D.C. Among the many new provisions in the law, its signature component […]

Yesterday, I wrote about some of the changes coming to the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes.  Unfortunately, nothing I wrote about there is likely to fix the issue of illegal U-turns by motorists through the bike lanes. But I also spent much of the day yesterday trying to get to the bottom of the enforcement issues and why […]

Today, I testified along with a number of bicyclists in the third in a series of hearings before the DC Council’s Committee on the Judiciary focused on bicyclist and pedestrian enforcement issues. The focus of that testimony is on the need for better training of MPD officers who are trusted with enforcing the laws that […]

It should surprise no one that WABA has been working to improve traffic enforcement and the protection of bicyclists on the District’s roadways. We have worked countless hours on this issue and testified at two hearings held by the DC Council’s Committee on the Judiciary on this matter. Those hearings led to a finding by […]

Prince George’s County Council voted unanimously to support becoming a more walkable and bikeable county this past week. Voting 9-0, Councilmembers passed the “Adequate Public Pedestrian and Bikeway Facilities in Centers and Corridors” Act (CB-2-2012) which requires developers to build bicycle and pedestrian connections from their new developments to nearby destinations. This bill seeks to […]

An Opportunity to Help Motorists and Cyclists: A “Change-Lanes-and-Pass” Rule My neighborhood has many polite drivers who wait behind me as I ride on two-lane MD-953, which has double yellow (no passing) lines the whole way. I am usually in the center of the 10-ft lane, pulling a trailer with my daughter.  Even when I […]

Yesterday, DC’s Committee on Environment, Public Works, and Transportation held a hearing on a number of pedestrian safety bills.  WABA provided testimony in support of: Allowing bicyclists to proceed during the Lead Pedestrian Interval, and Addressing roadway design speeds by adding appropriate traffic calming measures, rather than relying solely on speed limit enforcement to lower […]

For decades, cyclists have cherished their beautiful morning commutes and family bike rides through Rock Creek Park. Both the road and trail through the park provide two options for different types of cyclists.  Children and adults, less experienced riders, and those looking for a gentle and slow ride, all enjoy the multi-use path (which is […]

Last week, WABA and a number of local cyclists testified in support of improved enforcement of laws to protect bicyclists, better training of police officers, communication between law enforcement officials and the cycling community, and the passage of the Assault of Bicyclists Prevention Act of 2011. Thanks to Councilmember Mendelson, Chair of the Committee, for […]

To all who want better protection of bicyclists’ safety in the District, please join us next Wednesday as we–and your fellow cyclists–testify in support of both better enforcement to protect bicyclists and better laws to allow cyclists access to justice when they have been assaulted on the District’s streets. The hearing will begin at 11am […]

In preparation for the November 2nd hearing before the DC Council’s Committee on the Judiciary on Bicycle Enforcement and the Assault of Bicyclists Prevention Act of 2011, WABA is hosting two open-house sessions in which those planning to testify can get assistance in drafting their testimony.  We will discuss the topics and answer questions, and […]

WABA needs your help to make a compelling case to the DC Council that more effort is needed to improve bicyclist safety. In February, WABA–along with many of you–testified before the DC Council’s Committee on the Judiciary regarding the need for better enforcement of traffic laws to protect bicyclists.  The stories told that day were […]

The Assault of Bicyclists Prevention Act, recently introduced in the DC Council and set for hearing on November 2, is meant to be a very specific response to the specific, but not uncommon, situation in which a bicyclist is assaulted or otherwise intentionally harassed on the roadway and is unable to seek redress through existing […]

Official notice from Councilmember Phil Mendelson (At-Large) announcing a public hearing on Enforcement of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Bill 19-475, Assault of Bicyclists Prevention Act of 2011 on Wednesday, November 2, 2011. COUNCILMEMBER PHIL MENDELSON, CHAIRPERSON COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC OVERSIGHT HEARING on Enforcement of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Bill […]

In February, WABA and many District cyclists testified before the Committee on the Judiciary regarding concerns about enforcement of roadway laws and the protection of bicyclists on DC’s streets.  Following that hearing, Councilmember Mendelson forwarded those concerns to the Office of Police Complaints (OPC) for review.  Today, OPC released its report on the matter. We […]

By now, many of you have seen the video of a cyclist being intentionally struck by a pickup truck in DC.  WABA shared this video in order to highlight the danger of assault that cyclists face on the District’s roadways and to push for a law creating an improved civil cause of action to allow […]

On Tuesday, Councilmember Wells–along with Councilmembers Cheh, Evans, Alexander, Bowser, Graham, Michael Brown, Barry, & Chairman Kwame Brown–introduced the “Assault of Bicyclists Prevention Act of 2011.” This bill is based on WABA’s proposed anti-assault law, which is in turn based on a Los Angeles ordinance passed earlier this year.  The bill has been referred to […]

Bicycle anti-harassment law would close loophole, give cyclists rights after assault WABA seeks law to protect bicyclists from driver assault and harassment A Los Angeles law could provide a roadmap to justice in DC. In the District of Columbia, exact statistics on this type of anti-cyclist harassment are hard to come by. Most incidents go […]

Thank you to everyone who attended WABA’s “What to do After a Crash” discussion on Tuesday evening, and special thanks to Peter Baskin, Bruce Deming, and Tom Witkop–our trio of bicycle lawyers–for sharing their wisdom with us. Everyone who attended received a copy of the revised “Pocket Guide to Washington, DC Bike Laws” and advice […]

When we first read it, WABA had no intention of responding to Justine Whelan’s anti-cyclist rant, published by the Ballston Patch.  For the most part, the article’s content is so similar to the random blog comments we cyclists see regularly, it hardly seemed worth responding to.  But there was one interesting thing that I’d like […]

On her blog, WTOP’s Kate Ryan has a quick take on the cyclist as crime-fighter, inspired by a story in which the presence of a cyclist scared away a rapist in Montgomery Village.  She also references a case earlier this year in which a cyclist provided critical evidence in a hit-and-run in Dupont Circle. These […]

Our WABA education team spends a lot of time teaching people how not to be involved in a crash.  In fact, they would love to have you join them for a class on Confident (and competent) City Cycling. But sometimes, despite their and your best efforts, crashes do occur.  Frequently, WABA hears from cyclists seeking […]

With the return of warmer weather and increased traffic on the area’s trails, we want to remind cyclists of the importance of riding in a way that protects oneself and considers the rights and enjoyment of others. Last week’s collision on the CCT provides yet another reminder that on multi-use trails that cross roadways (another […]

Yesterday both houses of the Maryland General Assembly approved the amended House Bill 363, which creates a new crime of negligent homicide by vehicle or vessel. Passage of this bill culminates a 7-year effort led by Delegate Luiz Simmons (D-Rockville) and the families of victims killed by negligent drivers. Under the existing law, drivers who […]

Here is an explanation of the Senate Committee’s amendment to House Bill 363. H.B. 363 is based on the Model Penal Code, a suggested criminal code developed by the American Law Institute.  Senator Brian Frosh (D–Montgomery) has consistently maintained that he is concerned that the proposed version of House Bill 363 might unintentionlly subject relatively ordinary […]

Below is an email from Edward Kohls–a lead advocate for the “Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel-Criminal Negligence” bill. Hi.  I’m not sure if you are aware that this bill is one step from becoming law – against huge political odds – and we need your help.  This bill affects the safety of vehicles, vessels, walkers, runners, […]

Lead advocate Adiva Sotzsky was pleased with the hearing on House Bill 363 yesterday in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Committee staff had previously told her that the public could only submit written testimony, and that the only oral presentation would be from Delegate Simmons, who sponsored the bill in the House. But the Chairman […]

WABA’s testimony for today’s hearing in the Senate on House Bill 363 is two paragraphs plus the table of  32 cases I mentioned last Friday: The Chairman of this Committee has raised an important question:  Is the “substantial deviation” standard in House Bill 363 an appropriate standard for criminal liability?  As with all standards of […]

Thanks to the WABA members, WABA staff, Bike Maryland,  AAA, Baltimore Spokes, Adiva, and others for all of your work on HB 363. Our initial elation of finally passing the bill in the House of Delegates quickly gave way to apprehension that getting the bill through the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee this year is an […]