The Bike Fed hopes to pursue a similar law in Wisconsin during the upcoming legislative session. It's been on our "bike rack" of issues for about 1 1/2 years.
It is a positive law that does not mandate, but instead provides a larger set of possible and positive tools for prosecutors and judges. It even includes farmers driving tractors as vulnerable users. Mike Rewey ********************************* On 23 Dec 2008 at 8:21, Dar Ward wrote: > > Interesting new law in Oregon. In the past BFW expressed interest in pursuing > such legislation in > Wisconsin and I had a state representative tell me there was no way in hell > it would ever pass. > Now that there is precedent...maybe it is time to revisit. > -Dar > > OREGON'S NEW "VULNERABLE ROADWAY USERS" LAW > -> According to an article in the October edition of Oregon Cycling, "The > 2007 Oregon Legislature > passed HB 3314, creating an enhanced penalty for careless driving if it > contributes to serious > physical injury or death to a 'vulnerable user of a public way,' and will go > into effect January 1, > 2008. The purpose of this article is to discuss the Vulnerable User legal > concept and its potential > for improvement in safety for non-motorized roadway users such as bicyclists > and pedestrians. > Earlier this year, I wrote about the need for enhanced protection for > vulnerable roadway users. > The concept of "vulnerable roadway user" has been used by planners and safety > organizations in > Europe to categorize and describe non-motorized roadway users. > "The label is a nice one because it incorporates the inherent vulnerability > of humans who use the > roads without being encased in a protective steel shell. Inclusion of the > concept of vulnerability > evokes a more sympathetic image and focuses on the shared vulnerability of > these different user > groups. By including vulnerable users within a single term, the requirement > for protection is > brought to mind to counterbalance the somewhat natural reaction some people > have to improving > safety by restricting access, such as by restricting bicycle access to > freeways or pedestrian > crossings or road access..." > Source: http://tinyurl.com/967sjr > Archive search: use "Search" window > Archive cost: No > Title: "Vulnerable Roadway Users" > Author: Ray Thomas > >
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