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Bicycling advocates are poised to testify before legislators today who will hold a hearing on a “vulnerable road users” bill.
The bill, one of about 50 to be heard today during a joint transportation committee hearing at the State House, would increase the penalties for drivers who injure or kill a “vulnerable” person. A vulnerable person is defined in the bill as a pedestrian or someone on a “bicycle, handcycle, tricycle, skateboard, roller/in-line skates or a non-motorized scooter.”
The penalty would increase from up to $5,000 to up to $10,000 and would require drivers to attend traffic safety courses and perform community service.
Advocates said the bill is needed as biking and riding is becoming more and more encouraged in cities like Boston, which is working to install more bike lanes and make other cycling improvements.
“The idea here is basically to raise the awareness that the consequences of a crash between a car and a bicyclist and a pedestrian can be far more severe than a typical crash between motorists,” said David Watson, the executive director of the group MassBike.
Other states have passed laws after advocates said drivers are cited or receive minor monetary fines for crashes in which a bicyclist is severely injured or killed.
The bill, one of about 50 to be heard today during a joint transportation committee hearing at the State House, would increase the penalties for drivers who injure or kill a “vulnerable” person. A vulnerable person is defined in the bill as a pedestrian or someone on a “bicycle, handcycle, tricycle, skateboard, roller/in-line skates or a non-motorized scooter.”
The penalty would increase from up to $5,000 to up to $10,000 and would require drivers to attend traffic safety courses and perform community service.
Advocates said the bill is needed as biking and riding is becoming more and more encouraged in cities like Boston, which is working to install more bike lanes and make other cycling improvements.
“The idea here is basically to raise the awareness that the consequences of a crash between a car and a bicyclist and a pedestrian can be far more severe than a typical crash between motorists,” said David Watson, the executive director of the group MassBike.
Other states have passed laws after advocates said drivers are cited or receive minor monetary fines for crashes in which a bicyclist is severely injured or killed.
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