Advocacy

The 2011 Oregon Legislature is in session and many bills are being presented that affect bicyclists and other drivers statewide and locally. Here and on the WashCo BTC Blog Page our own Advocate General Kat Iverson will present periodic postings and updates on issues as they pertain to our mission and vision.

Selected Transportation Bills in the 2011 Session of the Oregon Legislature

(76th Legislative Assembly)

Updated April 24, 2011

For the latest information, click on the links at the bottom of the page

HB 2228–Child Passengers on Bicycles

HB 2232–Child Passengers on Motorcycles

SB 846–Passenger Trailer Standards

HB 2602–Cyclist Earphone Ban

SB 604–Idaho Stop

SB 660–Low Stop Sign Fine for Bicyclists

HB 3072–Daytime Headlights

SB 130–Bicycle Traffic Signals

HB 2331–Bicycle License Feasibility Study

SB 463–Motorcyclist Lane Splitting

HB 2332–~~Moving Violation Fines Based on Vehicle Weight~~ Gut and Stuff procedure changed this to a tow trucks bill

SB 424–Pedestrian Crossing the Roadway

HB 2712–Specific $25 Fine for Cyclists Under 16 Not Wearing Helmets

HB 2824–Altering/Defacing Bicycle Serial Numbers

HJR 5–Fuel and Excise Taxes Useable for Any Transportation Project

HB 2228–Child Passengers on Bicycles

Bans carrying a child under six on a bicycle or in a bicycle trailer.

Might also ban children from riding trailer bikes on the grounds that the attached bike is either:

1), a trailer, or

2), part of a single articulated “bicycle” (with three wheels), and the child is a passenger and banned.

It might even be construed to ban children from being stokers on tandems. It would depend on whether the stoker is considered to be an operator or a passenger.

Compare this bill to HB2232 below, Child Passengers on Motorcycles.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/11	HTML PDF
Referred to Transportation and Economic Development Committee	1/21	`
Public hearing	`	`
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in Senate	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in Senate Committee	`	`
Work session in Senate Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to House for approval of changes	`	`

HB 2232–Child Passengers on Motorcycles

Bans carrying a child under seven on a motorcycle. Does not ban carrying child passengers in a motorcycle trailer. It might ban carrying child passengers in a sidecar. It would depend on whether the sidecar is considered part of the motorcycle.

The ban exempts three-wheeled, electric, enclosed “motorcycles,” which most people think of as cars, but are legally classified as motorcycles.

Compare this bill to HB2228 above, Child Passengers on Bicycles.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/11	HTML PDF
Referred to Transportation and Economic Development Committee	1/21	`
Public hearing	`	`
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in Senate	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in Senate Committee	`	`
Work session in Senate Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to House for approval of changes	`	`

SB 846–Passenger Trailer Standards

Requires ODOT to establish minimum standards for passenger trailers for bicycles.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	2/22	HTML PDF
Referred to Business, Transportation and Economic Development Committee	2/25	`
Public hearing held	3/31	Audio File, 0:00:00 to 0:06:25
Work session held	4/18 4/21	Audio File, 0:07:35 to end with automatic continuation on a second file, where it runs from 0:00 to 0:4:15 for a total of 5 minutes, 45 seconds of hearing. Audio File, 0:07:05 to 0:09:35
Recommendation	`	Passed with an amendment, but it is not online yet.
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in House	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in House Committee	`	`
Work session in House Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to Senate for approval of changes	`	`

HB 2602–Cyclist Earphone Ban

Bans cyclists wearing any listening device for phone, radio, or recordings. There is no such ban on motorists, including motorcyclists.

If this passes, bicyclists will have to hold their phones, radios, and Ipods up to their ears. (In the opinion of Gregg Hastings, State Police Spokesman, the handheld cell phone ban does not apply to bicyclists)

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/11	HTML PDF
Referred to Judiciary Committee	1/21	`
Public hearing	`	`
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in Senate	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in Senate Committee	`	`
Work session in Senate Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to House for approval of changes	`	`

SB 604–Idaho Stop

Allows bicyclists to treat stop signs and flashing red lights as yield signs.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	2/1	HTML PDF
Referred to Business, Transportation and Economic Development Committee	2/4	`
Public hearing in Transportation and Economic Development Committee	`	`
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Public hearing in Ways and Means Committee	`	`
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in House	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in House Committee	`	`
Work session in House Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to Senate for approval of changes	`	`

SB 660–Low Stop Sign Fine for Bicyclists

For purposes of disobeying stop signs, this bill separates bicyclists from other drivers and sets the fine at $40 rather than the standard $360.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/11	HTML PDF
Referred to Judiciary Committee	2/14	`
Public hearing	`	`
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in House	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in House Committee	`	`
Work session in House Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to Senate for approval of changes	`	`

HB 3072–Daytime Headlights

Requires motorists to keep headlights on at all times their vehicles are on the highway. Does not specify “while being operated,” so it applies to parked cars, also. No doubt this will be amended if the bill advances to a committee hearing.

Because of references to statutes which exempt bicycles, this bill does not require bicyclists to use headlights during the day. This bill will make motor vehicles more noticeable, and by comparison, other vehicles, pedestrians, and stationary objects less noticeable.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	2/1	HTML PDF
Referred to Transportation and Economic Development Committee	2/7	`
Public hearing held	4/11	Audio File, 1:17:10 to 1:27:00
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in Senate	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in Senate Committee	`	`
Work session in Senate Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to House for approval of changes	`	`

SB 130–Bicycle Traffic Signals

Requires cyclists to obey bicycle traffic signals. Currently the only legally recognized traffic signals are balls and arrows. Without this law, the bike signals in Portland are merely road decorations.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/10	HTML PDF
Referred to Business, Transportation, and Economic Development Committee	1/12	`
Public Hearing and Work Session Held	2/1	Audio File, 0:57:55 to 1:15:40
Recommendation	2/3	Do pass
Second reading	2/3	`
Third reading	2/8	Ayes, 28; nays, 1 (Kruse); excused, 1 (Starr)
First reading in House	2/9	`
Referred to Transportation and Economic Development Committee	2/16	`
Public hearing in House Committee	`	`
Work session in House Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to Senate for approval of changes	`	`

HB 2331–Bicycle License Feasibility Study

Requires ODOT to conduct a study of the possibility of bicycle licensing being useful for tracing stolen bikes, funding bike infrastructure, and providing cities a bike census for planning purposes.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/11	HTML PDF
Referred to Transportation and Economic Development Committee with subsequent referral to Ways and Means Committee	1/21	`
Public hearing in Transportation and Economic Development Committee scheduled	4/11	Audio File, 0:00:00 to 0:06:25 No testimony was taken. The bill was carried over to an unspecified date.
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Public hearing in Ways and Means Committee	`	`
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in Senate	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in Senate Committee	`	`
Work session in Senate Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to House for approval of changes	`	`

SB 463–Motorcyclist Lane Splitting

Allows motorcycle and moped drivers to make same-lane passes of any other vehicles if the other vehicles are going less than 10mph and the motorcycles or mopeds are going less than 20mph.

There are currently no lane splitting restrictions on any vehicles other than motorcycles and mopeds. Cars are not prohibited from same-lane passing of bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds, or other cars. Motorcycles and mopeds are allowed same-lane passing of other motorcycles and mopeds, but not of cars and bicycles.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/11	HTML PDF
Referred to Business, Transportation, and Economic Development Committee	1/18	`
Public hearing	`	`
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in House	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in House Committee	`	`
Work session in House Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to Senate for approval of changes	`	`

SB 424–Pedestrian Crossing the Roadway

In the yielding to pedestrians crossing roads laws, this specifies that a pedestrian is considered to be crossing the road whenever any part of the person or his attachments such as a cane, leashed dog, or bicycle moves onto the roadway.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/10	HTML PDF
Referred to Judiciary Committee	1/14	`
Public hearing held	3/29	Audio File, 0:48:35 to 1:10:30
Work session scheduled	4/19	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in House	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in House Committee	`	`
Work session in House Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to Senate for approval of changes	`	`

HB 2712–Specific $25 Fine for Cyclists Under 16 Not Wearing Helmets

Major revision of all sorts of fines from traffic to drug to employment. Related to bicyclists, it sets a specific $25 fine rather than a maximum $25 fine for cyclists under 16 not wearing helmets. Also increases Classes A to D traffic violation fines by 40% to 200%.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/10	HTML PDF
Referred to Judiciary Committee	1/21	`
Public hearing held (the helmet fine is only a small part of this bill and no one testifying mentioned it)	2/22	Audio File
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in Senate	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in Senate Committee	`	`
Work session in Senate Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to House for approval of changes	`	`

HB 2824–Altering/Defacing Bicycle Serial Numbers

Separates altering or destroying bicycle serial numbers from the general law against altering vehicle ID numbers.

Motor ID altering would continue to be a Class A misdemeanor, but bicycle ID altering would be the lesser Class C misdemeanor. Actual value of the vehicles would be irrelevant.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/11	HTML PDF
Referred to Judiciary Committee	1/21	`
Public hearing held	2/17	Audio File, 1:12:05 to 1:23:40
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in Senate	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in Senate Committee	`	`
Work session in Senate Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to House for approval of changes	`	`

HJR 5–Fuel and Excise Taxes Useable for Any Transportation Project

Amends constitution to allow motor vehicle fuel and excise taxes to be used on any transportation project from pedestrian to bicycle to rail to aviation.

ACTION	DATE	DETAILS
First Reading	1/10	HTML PDF
Referred to Transportation and Economic Development Committe with subsequent referral to Revenue Committee	1/21	`
Public hearing in Transportation and Economic Development Committe	`	`
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Public hearing in Revenue Committee	`	`
Work session	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
Second reading	`	`
Third reading	`	`
First reading in Senate	`	`
Referred to committee	`	`
Public hearing in Senate Committee	`	`
Work session in Senate Committee	`	`
Recommendation	`	`
To governor if passed with no changes, or back to House for approval of changes	`	`