legislation

Take action support bringing the Bicycle Safety Stop to DC and prohibiting right turns on red by default.

This Spring, the DC Council is considering six bills to further push DC, its agencies, and priorities to proactively make streets safe and reorient priorities.

In a flurry of activity this spring, the DC Council announced four different bills (details below) to promote safer streets and a better bike network. We need your help to make sure these bills turn into laws.

Action Alert: The Maryland General Assembly is considering a bill that would authorize HAWK signals on Maryland roads to make far safer road crossings for people who walk and bike. If you live in Maryland, please urge your representatives to pass it.

Here are the five bills we’re supporting.

Great news!! After nearly three years of persistent organizing and advocacy by the WABA community, the DC Council just voted unanimously for the second time to pass the Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act to fix contributory negligence!

  Low-Stress Bike Network Prince George’s County Trails Master Plan Brief Explanation: The county’s Trails Master Plan (still in draft form), identifies how Prince George’s County intends to build and manage nearly 400 miles of new trails. The plan takes the mileage of primary trails (trails that are mostly paved, with high-quality design features, a park-like experience, and […]

On June 28, the DC Council voted unanimously for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Amendment Act of 2016 (B21-335). Mayor Bowser signed the bill in late July. It will become DC law at the end of August after a 30 day period of Congressional review.

Today the DC Council voted unanimously to approve the Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act of 2015.

There are real world daily consequences that come with deferring action on this issue.

A bill to fix a glaring injustice in our legal system goes before the DC council on Tuesday. Here are the facts.

Yesterday, the Judiciary Committee voted 3-0 to move the Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act out of committee and recommended it for consideration by the full D.C. Council.

We just got back from the Wilson Building and we’ll have a more thorough update soon, but I wanted to make sure you knew that the Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act to address contributory negligence passed a markup hearing in the Judiciary Committee just a few hours ago.

Virginia’s dooring bill was signed into law earlier this month. Virginia joins the District of Columbia, Maryland, and a tal of 40 states that hold drivers responsible for dooring a bicyclist.

The bill that would make it easier for victims of a bicycle crash to recover damages from a more negligent driver is moving this week.

Last Tuesday, the DC Council’s Transportation Committee held a hearing on a number of proposed bills to make DC’s streets safer and more bikeable. Local advocates demonstrated widespread support for the numerous changes.

Next week, the DC Council will hold a hearing considering three essential bills. Together, they will make great strides towards eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by the year 2024. Will you help us support these bills?

The DC legislative session is in full swing with four bills relevant to bicycling. Here are our quick summaries:

Despite recent forward progress on the “Motor Vehicle Recovery Act of 2015,” the D.C. Council Committee on the Judiciary is delaying work on the bill until the fall.

The Judiciary Committee will hold a mark up hearing in July on the bill to fix the contributory negligence standard.

The D.C. Council wants to know what you think will making walking and biking safer in the District,

Councilmember Mary Cheh (Ward 3) introduced a bill in the D.C. Council to improve access to compensation for crash victims. Under current D.C. law, injured bicyclists and pedestrians can be completely denied compensation after a crash with a motor vehicle even if they were minimally negligent. In 2014,  Councilmember David Grosso (At-Large) introduced a similar bill, but it was […]

Today, D.C. Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety tabled a proposed bill to improve access to compensation for crash victim–effectively killing it for this legislative session. Mary Cheh (Ward 3) introduced the motion to table. Councilmember Evans (Ward 2) and Chairman Mendelson voted to table the bill. Councilmember Wells (Ward 6) voted against the motion. […]

Today, the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety held a legislative mark-up session on a number of bills, including the Bill 20-884 “Vulnerable User Recovery Act of 2014”. The Committee voted to postpone mark-up until next Wednesday, November 12th to allow all involved parties one last opportunity to craft a bill that meets the needs of […]

November 5th Update: Due to weather concerns, the location has change to Room 123 inside the Wilson Building. The press conference will still be held at 10 am. Join DC Councilmember Tommy Wells, DC Councilmember David Grosso, WABA and All Walks DC on the front steps of the John A. Wilson Building for a press conference […]

As many of you know, WABA is working hard to change the contributory negligence doctrine in DC. We have been publicly pushing for this change for years because of the negative effects the doctrine has on the District’s cyclists. Hundreds of you emailed your Councilmembers to show support for a bill that would change the doctrine to […]

As we speak, the insurance industry is lobbying hard to kill proposed legislation aimed at helping injured bicyclists. They like the status quo, which allows them to easily deny claims by bicyclists who have been hit by drivers. But the present system leaves too many injured people without recourse after they’re hit—and it especially affects […]

A more in depth explanation of the problems contributory negligence poses for bicyclists.

Our testimony in support of the Bicycle and Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Amendment Act of 2014 is here. For more information on WABA’s efforts to address this issue, and to get involved in the push for a solution visit our Campaign Page.

We’ve received a number of questions about what the proposed law would do. We have compiled a list of common ones and answered them for you.