The following is an update from Bill Lucero, KVBC lobbyist, working on the 3’ passing and ‘dead red’ bill, HB 2192, links to your Kansas Representative’s offices and a sample email you may use to contact your individual Representative in support of this important legislation to improve the safety of bicycling throughout Kansas.
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House Bill 2192 as amended by the Senate Transportation Committee was approved in the Senate by the Committee of the Whole (preliminary action) without opposition or amendment Wednesday, 16 March 2011. Thus, the “dead red” and 3 feet portions remain intact with favorable final action expected by the same body, Thursday, March 17, 2011, resulting in the bill being sent back to the House and possibly a Conference Committee between the two chambers.
Of immediate importance is for all cyclists to contact their individual Representative (found at http://kslegislature.org/li/ ) and request that House Bill 2192 as amended by the Senate Transportation Committee be accepted by the House of Representatives. Please recall that our original 3 feet proposal was defeated in the House on a 55-59 procedural vote, despite no hearing being held on the House side.
Therefore, it is imperative that House members hear from Bicyclists around the state in support of this measure. Please distribute this notice to all cyclists in the state urging passage of this bill. Remember, we do this not just for the safety of ourselves, but for that of our children and grandchildren as well.
Bill Lucero
Lobbyist
Kaw Valley Bike Club
lucerolb@cox.net
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You may use the following email to contact your KS Representative, modify it or craft your own. You may prefer to call your Representative as email volume is high and the phone is still an effective means to convey your requested action. If you don’t know who your Representative is, click here:
http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/vote/
If you know who your Representative is, but need their email or phone number, click here:
http://kslegislature.org/li/chamber/house/roster/
Please add the subject in your email’s subject line, your Representative’s name and the name of your home town or county to the sample email for a little personalization of your request. Be sure to include your address on your closing, as many Representatives want to know they are hearing from their constituents.
Sample Email:
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Email Subject: Accept HB 2192 as amended by Senate Transportation Committee
Dear Representative ____________
The Senate has wisely approved HB 2192 as amended by the Senate Transportation Committee, which codifies the Driving Manual’s recommendations regarding the minimum passing clearance of bicyclists by motorists and 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.
As your constituent and a Kansas bicyclist, I respectfully ask you to vote YES to have the House of Representative accept HB 2192 as amended by the Senate Transportation Committee. 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, to school, for shopping, around _ _ (insert your city/county name) _________ and across the whole State of Kansas.
Sincerely,
First & Last Name
Your Address
Your City, Kansas Your Zip Code
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Please, be very clear you want your Representative to accept the amended HB 2192 and why. Your why to accept 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 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 less than 5 minutes, but the effort may make bicycling in Kansas safer for years to come.
