Testimony: HB 344 – Vision Zero Advisory Commission – Establishment

WABA supports the establishment of a Maryland Vision Zero Advisory Commission, via HB 344, as well as the bill’s advisory and reporting provisions.

You can view this document in PDF form here.

HB 344: Transportation - Vision Zero Advisory Commission - Establishment

House Environment and Transportation Committee
Washington Area Bicyclist Association – FAVORABLE

February 8, 2024

Chair Korman and Committee Members,

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) supports the establishment of a Maryland Vision Zero Advisory Commission, via HB 344, as well as the bill’s advisory and reporting provisions, as an important step toward the state’s Vision Zero goal of roadway fatalities and serious injuries by 2030.

The General Assembly passed Maryland’s Vision Zero law in 2019, and then Governor Larry Hogan signed it into law. The next year, in 2020, Maryland experienced 574 road deaths including 129 pedestrians and 15 bicyclists. We experienced 563 fatalities in 2021, 566 in 2022, and 601 in 2023, including 155 pedestrians and, again, 15 bicyclists.

Maryland is not meeting our state’s Vision Zero commitment. We have made no progress.

The commission would include a wide range of officials, experts, and advocates from around the state, to advise the governor and state agencies on Vision Zero implementation and on policies, programs, services, and priorities. It would identify state and local laws, policies, and regulations that hinder progress. These and other provisions are appropriate, and we particularly appreciate HB 344’s inclusion of representatives of bicycling and pedestrian advocacy organizations and an organization that advocates for people with disabilities.

WABA urges a Favorable HB 344 committee report and General Assembly enactment.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this legislation.

Serth Grimes, WABA Maryland Organizer

seth.grimes@waba.org

More about Maryland Legislation

WABA develops and advocates for state legislation to make bicycling in Maryland safer and more accessible and for state funding to expand Maryland’s bicycle network, working directly with legislators and Maryland Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) leadership and as part of the Bike Maryland coalition. We also work on broader road-safety, transit, and environmental legislation and funding, typically as part of larger statewide coalitions. The annual Maryland legislative session runs from January to April, but our work developing legislation starts the preceding summer.

We’re thrilled that several bills we worked on or supported were enacted in 2024, directing an MDOT Vision Zero Coordinator and public review process; the Better Bus Service Act, allowing bus-lane enforcement cameras (with bikes allowed); authorizing stop-sign cameras near schools in Prince George's County; and the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Memorial Act, addressing penalties for hitting a cyclist in a bike lane.

Our 2024 advocacy included unsuccessful efforts that we will likely pursue in future years. (It often takes years to pass a bill. ) These include a Great Maryland Trails Act, an E-bike Rebate and Voucher Program bill, and a bill addressing maintenance responsibility for sidewalks and bike paths along state roads. Another topic on our list for 2025 is contributory negligence, a prejudicial statute that says that if a crash victim is even only 1% at fault, then they are liable and may not recover (full) costs and damages from the party largely at fault.

More about Laws & Policy

WABA works with grassroots advocates at the local, county and state level to support laws and policies that make it easier and safer to walk, bike, and take transit. And we work to changes ones that make biking less safe, make it harder to build bike infrastructure, or that deprioritize the safety and convenience of people walking, biking, or taking transit.

In practice that means advocating for robust and transformative Vision Zero programs, enforceable Complete Streets policies, and funding for new infrastructure that supports biking, walking and transit.

Other regional legislative priorities include:

Reforming Contributory Negligence (passed in DC, in the works in Maryland and Virginia).
Getting rid of the Level of Service engineering standards in transportation decision-making.
Funding E-bike purchase rebates.

More about Advocacy

WABA fights for a region where biking, walking and transit are the best ways to get around.

We educate policymakers and organize grassroots advocates for to speak up for safer places to bike and walk; and for laws and policies that protect people who are walking and biking, reduce dangerous driving, and facilitate changes to the built environment.