A new bicycling/pedestrian (and other vulnerable users) enhanced safety bill

was introduced in January, 2012.

The bill may be viewed by clicking on the following link:

H.548 as introduced

Note that this bill has 49 sponsors.

Kudos to Representative Jim McCullough of Williston as the primary sponsor.

This bill is currently endorsed by the Green Mountain Bicycle Club (the largest and oldest bicycle club in Vermont) and The League of American Bicyclists, a national bicycling advocacy organization with offices in Washington, D.C. The LAB endorsement can be viewed by clicking on this link: LAB endorsement

The bill is also gaining strong support from bicycle clubs, bicycle shops, bicycle touring companies, individual bicyclists and runners, and cross country running and skiing (training on roller skis) coaches in high schools and colleges throughout Vermont.

The “enforceability” concern of the Department of Public Safety regarding the 3-foot minimum has been addressed with information from New Hampshire regarding their experience with their law, which is the model for the minimum clearance provision in this proposal. Lt. John Flanagan, commander of the traffic safety unit for the Vermont State Police, said they will not oppose this proposal.

The following is the position statement from the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition (VBPC) issued on 11/13/11:

“The Coalition supports all efforts to improve the safety and acceptance of all roadway users; cyclists, pedestrians and others using our public roadways for active transportation.

The board has reviewed [the proposed bill]. As you know, we were recently advocates at the statehouse for H540, the "safe passing" bill. We support the main features of [the proposed] legislation, and see it as contributing to the safety of all roadway users. There are some specifics of the legislation we have questions about, but at this stage we certainly do not oppose the proposal.

Our second concern in our board discussion had to do with the timing of the proposal. As I said, we were active and instrumental in successfully promoting the most recent active transportation legislation. That was a three-year process, and we greatly appreciate the time and effort of the many legislators who supported the bill. We are reluctant to ask them to consider similar legislation so soon after the effort they invested in the previous initiative.

However, we hope that does not diminish your efforts on behalf of active transportation roadway users. Our legislative priorities have shifted to other concerns but we hope you are successful in your efforts to improve conditions for all roadway users.

Judy Bond

VBPC Board President”