Isn't this great! We all have a chance to exercise our rights in a representative democracy!
Unfortunately, for most Americans the processes that guide our Legislative Branch of government are esoteric...I mean, who really understands what they are doing in the House and Senate. All that we know is that our elected representatives enact laws that can have a profound effect on us. How many of us have played a role in this process? In a federal republic of representative democracy we all have the right to be involved in everything that is going on in the House and Senate, whether on the state level, or nationally. It takes someone to initiate a reaction (Mary), and, then we see the wheels of our system begin to roll. But, after perusing the many emails that we have exchanged it becomes clear that we are all a bit unsure how to proceed. I am in the same boat, but, I do know one thing: elected officials react quickly whenever a large number of their constituents are moved to act on a piece of legislation! Why? Because, most of the people in their districts do not pay much attention! Well, we are paying attention, and, if we take the time to inform ourselves on the proper procedures that need to be followed in making a bill into law, we can show our representatives that this is something that we are going to watch very closely. And, it just might effect our future votes. My understanding of this particular legislation is that it has been in committee of the General Assembly. The committee is the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, and it was Representative Nelson Cole who introduced it, or, who is authoring it. (I know that this is not entirely accurate, but, it is an overview that we can revise and correct until we get it right...) As has been pointed out already it is the Bicycle Safety Change, 2009-RWz-27, whatever that means, and, I think that it is still in draft form. But, it does look as though they have amended parts of a bigger law to state that cyclists can only ride 2 abreast under very specific conditions; none of which would help us any. This act goes into effect on 12/01/10, but, I still think that this committee is going to amend it much further before it goes before the General Assembly for a full vote (again...this would need to be revised for 100% accuracy...). I think that this is where we can have a positive effect on getting them to draft a bill that is more favorable to us as responsible cyclists. I have a link here that should provide the information that we need (others have already submitted this link). If we use our resources we can get this done. I would be glad to take all of our research and draft a letter to Representative Cole, and, all of the members of that Transportation committee, since I believe that how this bill is worded is in their hands. We should enjoy this because it would show us that our system does work, and, that it is apathy that makes most Americans cynical about our political system and our elected officials, not the system itself. It is great to be an American, and, a cyclist. http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=House&nUserID=89 ---- mary dorsey <[email protected]> wrote: > Have any of you all heard of this piece of legislation? > > I haven't but wanted to forward it on. Perhaps someone knows more than I. > > > > mary > > > > _____ > > > > > > Subject: Proposed NC law to restrict/kill group rides > > Matt's mention of the Tuesday ride prompts me to note that fans of > that ride, as well as the P ride or just about any group ride should > have their eye on a piece of legislation that just got proposed in the > NC house. You can read the text of the proposed amendment here: > > http://blogs. > <http://blogs.newsobserver.com/crosstown/legislation-would-boost-motorists-l > everage-with-tow-truckers-and-with-bicyclists?storylink=misearch#ixzz0naAfLM > gg> > newsobserver.com/crosstown/legislation-would-boost-motorists-leverage-with-t > ow-truckers-and-with-bicyclists?storylink=misearch#ixzz0naAfLMgg > > This law would kill most group rides. It makes it illegal for cyclists to: > > - ride more than two abreast, even temporarily (like dropping off the > front) and even if the road is totally empty > > - ride more than one abreast when there is faster car traffic on the > road. If you're on the front, you're there for good, and if fast > cyclists encounter slow cyclists, they *can't* pass, so that cars > *can* > > - "impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic," thereby > letting us know what the bill's authors think of bike traffic -- we're > unnormal and unreasonable > > For the first time *ever* in NC vehicle law, the amendment would: > > - create a special sub-class of vehicle users, namely cyclists, with > more limited rights than other classes. The rest of the vehicle code > treats all road users the same, with the same rights and > responsibilities. > > - revoke cyclists' rights to the full lane when needed, with no > qualifications mentioned for safety, lane conditions, whether we're > about to take a left turn, or any of the other nuances in similar > parts of the vehicle code. > > - place the responsibility to ensure that a pass is safe on the > overtaken vehicle (the cyclist) rather than the overtaking one > > - penalize vehicle operators (cyclists) for their behavior as a group > rather than individuals: cars aren't required to make sure that other > cars follow the speed limits, but cyclists would be required to make > sure that other riders move over, or the entire group is punished > > Some of the things the amendment outlines are, indeed, examples of > good road courtesy on the part of cyclists, but there's a reason we > don't usually try to legislate courtesy -- legislation is too > heavy-handed a tool for this application. What we're really seeing, > it seems to me, is an ignorance on behalf of the bill's author (a > retired auto dealer) to acknowledge that two- or even three-abreast > often *is* the safest and easiest way -- for cars as well as cyclists > -- to co-exist on the road. Instead of trying to understand that by > entering into the cyclists' position on the road, they're trying to > legislate us off the road. > > Fuming > -- Adam > > > > > > > > > > > Reply > <mailto:[email protected]?subject=fwd:%20Proposed%20NC%20law%20to%20restr > ict/kill%20group%20rides> to sender | Reply > <mailto:[email protected]?subject=fwd:%20Proposed%20NC%20law%20to%20rest > rict/kill%20group%20rides> to group | Reply > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jlows/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwN24xdWllBF9TAzk3MzU5N > zE0BGdycElkAzE4NjY1MzA5BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDk1MARtc2dJZAM3OTEEc2VjA2Z0cgRzb > GsDcnBseQRzdGltZQMxMjczNjI0ODU3?act=reply&messageNum=791> via web post | > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jlows/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJmbnJla2Y4BF9TAzk3MzU5N > zE0BGdycElkAzE4NjY1MzA5BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDk1MARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0a > W1lAzEyNzM2MjQ4NTc-> Start a New Topic > > Messages > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jlows/message/791;_ylc=X3oDMTMzaHZzcWoyBF9TAz > k3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE4NjY1MzA5BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDk1MARtc2dJZAM3OTEEc2VjA2 > Z0cgRzbGsDdnRwYwRzdGltZQMxMjczNjI0ODU3BHRwY0lkAzc5MQ--> in this topic (1) > > Recent Activity: > > * > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jlows/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJnZmdnaXJqBF9TAzk3Mz > U5NzE0BGdycElkAzE4NjY1MzA5BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDk1MARzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2bWJycw > RzdGltZQMxMjczNjI0ODU3?o=6> New Members 6 > > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jlows;_ylc=X3oDMTJma2ppam0wBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BG > dycElkAzE4NjY1MzA5BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDk1MARzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAz > EyNzM2MjQ4NTc-> Visit Your Group > > Safety Notice: No lifeguard on duty! 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