2005 VBF Legislative Agenda

[Allen J. Muchnick]

Below is my recent statement to the Arlington County delegation to the
Virginia General Assembly. Many state legislators will hold similar local
public hearings for constituent input shortly before the January 12th
start of the 45-day legislative session, and statements supporting
bicycling issues are helpful and encouraged.

We will need the strong support of bicyclists from throughout Virginia to
pass the four bills mentioned in my statement, particularly the one
calling for regional VDOT bicycle advisory committees.  None of these
bills have actually been filed to date, so there are no bill numbers yet,
but you can refer to them by their likely patron: Delegates Ebbin,
Hargrove, and Suit.

Stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks. 

Allen Muchnick, President
Virginia Bicycling Federation
PO Box 5621, Arlington VA 22205
muchnick at capaccess.org
703-271-0895
http://vabike.org
 
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PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE ARLINGTON COUNTY DELEGATION
FOR THE 2005 SESSION OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ARLINGTON COUNTY BOARD ROOM
JANUARY 4, 2005
REMARKS OF ALLEN J. MUCHNICK, PRESIDENT
VIRGINIA BICYCLING FEDERATION

Good evening and happy new year.  I'm Allen Muchnick, president of the
Virginia Bicycling Federation (VBF), and a Legislative Contact Team
volunteer with the Virginia Conservation Network and the Virginia League
of Conservation Voters.

VBF deeply appreciates the strong and long-term support of Arlington's
legislators for better bicycling and walking conditions, including the
effective work of former Delegates Almand, Darner, and Connally.  Even
when not passed, several bicycle-related bills that Senator Whipple
patroned in 2002 and 2003 soon produced the reforms intended, including
recent VDOT policies that allow standalone pedestrian and bicycling
improvements with highway construction funds and that dedicate 10% of
Virginia's Hazard Elimination Safety funds to a new pedestrian and bicycle
safety program.  Also, nearly all of the bicycling law reforms that
Senator Whipple patroned for us in 2003 were successfully enacted in 2003
or 2004.

Last March, the Commonwealth Transportation Board adopted a far-ranging
_Policy for Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations_.  While
this new policy is significant as a statement of explicit intent, VDOT
still lacks the robust bicycle and pedestrian program needed to create a
state highway system that adequately supports bicycling and walking.

A month ago, the Virginia Bicycling Federation wrote to Transportation
Secretary Clement to ask that VDOT establish both statewide and regional
bicycle advisory committees that a) meet regularly, b) are comprised
mostly of representatives selected by bicycling organizations, and c) have
strong citizen leadership. Bills to require bicycle and pedestrian
advisory committees for each VDOT districts were introduced in 1997 (SJR
311, Norment) and 2002 (HB 806, Almand), but only the Hampton Roads
District has voluntarily established such a citizen advisory committee. 
Meanwhile, the statewide bicycle advisory committee that VDOT established
voluntarily in 1989 has met very infrequently over the past decade and has
held only two regular meetings since October 2000.

I am happy to report that Delegate Ebbin has prefiled a bill to require
VDOT bicycle and pedestrian advisory committees and that Secretary Clement
has replied to our letter by writing "we would be favorably disposed to
consider such legislation".  We consider such legislation our top bicycle
and pedestrian priority for the 2005 session.

I'm presently aware of three other bicycle-related bills that may be filed
for the 2005 session.  Delegate Ebbin has prefiled a bill to prohibit
opening a motor vehicle door in a manner that endangers or impedes
oncoming traffic.  This provision from the national Uniform Vehicle Code
would help protect bicyclists, especially as Arlington and other
localities create bike lanes within the door zone of parked motor
vehicles. 

Delegate Hargrove was prefiled a bill to require tail lights on bicycles
operated after dark on highways posted for more than 30 MPH.  This measure
should reduce the incidence of nighttime rear-end cycling crashes, a crash
type with about a 25% fatality rate.

Delegate Suit will reportedly file a bill to provide a Virginia income tax
credit for bicycle commuters.  Under federal law, bicycle commuters do not
receive any tax-exempt subsidy for employer-paid commuting expenses such
as for parking fees or for transit or vanpool fares.
  
We ask that you support these bills and consider becoming a co-patron.  

Thank you for this opportunity to speak, and best wishes for the
legislative session.