Thanks to your voices, KanBikeWalk and Kaw Valley Bicycle Club, we’re one step closer to a safer roads for Kansas bicyclists.
HB 2192 passed a KS Conference Committee yesterday. It now heads to the House for concurrence, then to Senate for similar concurrence. It is once again time to take action for this important legislation improving the safety of bicycling in Kansas. Click the following link for a detailed message on Monday’s Conference Committee action from Bill Lucero, KVBC lobbyist:
http://www.kanbikewalk.com/news/hb-2192-conference-bill-advances
Now it’s time to take your next step to making Kansas safer for bicyclists
KanBikeWalk urges you to contact your individual State Representative and Senator NOW asking their support for HB 2192 as amended by Conference Committee to make bicycling safer in Kansas.
Due to the large volume of email and potentially short turn around for a vote on HB 2192, KanBikeWalk suggests you CALL your Representative’s and Senator’s offices AND follow with an EMAIL. If you already have a personal connection with your elected officials, you may want to leave a message for them to return your call, but also tell their staff what you want in the event a vote takes place before you talk directly with them. If you have not established that relationship yet, simply leave a brief message with the staffer answering the phone asking for a yes vote on amended HB 2192. KanBikeWalk also suggests you follow-up with an email so your position is documented with your Representative and Senator. You may use the following sample email, modify it or draft your own personalized message. Which ever you do, please keep calls and emails brief and clearly state what you want them do – Vote YES on Amended HB 2192. Be sure to include a clear subject line on your email such as: Vote Yes on Amended HB 2192.
If you know your Senate district number and/or your State Representative or Senator’s name, you can find their phone number and email address at the link below. Simply highlight either House or Senate, scroll down the menu to Roster and click:
http://kslegislature.org/li/
If you don’t know either of your elected official’s district number or name, you can find who your Representative and/or Senator is, their phone number and their email address here:
http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/vote/
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Sample Email is below to 1.) Copy & paste into your email, 2.) Add your representative or senator’s name, 3.) Insert where you live in the email message, and 4.) Add your personal address to:
Email Subject: Vote Yes on Amended HB 2192
Dear Representative/Senator ____________
The Conference Committee has amended and advanced for a floor vote, Amended HB 2192, which codifies the Driving Manual’s recommendations regarding the minimum passing clearance of bicyclists by motorists, clarifies the procedures for bicyclist’s and motorcyclist’s proper reaction when encountering a non-responsive traffic signal for law enforcement and roadway users alike, and further defines seatbelt regulations,
As your constituent and a Kansas bicyclist, I respectfully ask you to vote YES on Amended HB 2192 as amended in Conference Committee when it comes before you for your vote on the floor. This bill will greatly improve the safety of bicyclists across the entire state, making it safer for my family and I to bicycle to work, around _ _ (insert your city/county name) _________ and around the State of Kansas.
Sincerely,
First & Last Name
Your Address
Your City, Kansas Your Zip Code
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Again, be very clear you want them to vote for Amended HB 2192 and why. The why can be as simple as to make roads safer for bicyclists, motorcyclists and motorists or you can further explain your support for safer roads in Kansas by codifying the recommendations in the Driving Manual’s for motorists to safely pass bicyclists and discouraging dangerous driving practices and to remedy inconsistent enforcement regarding non-responsive traffic signals and clarifying the expected response of bicyclists and motorcyclists.
How you contact your Representative and Senator is not as important as making sure you do. This is your opportunity to make a statement for your safety and the safety of those you bicycle with. This will take you 5-10 minutes, but the effort may make bicycling in Kansas safer for years to come.
