SpiderMike

I just got the following email, thought I would help spread the word.

Dear fellow Texas Cyclist,

Call Senator Todd Staples, R-Palestine, and urge him to vote for SB 859.

Not since the threat to ban cyclists from all FM roads has there been a
greater need for action.

Senator Todd Staples, R-Palestine, has repeatedly delayed and obstructed SB
859. Despite the leadership of Senator Ellis, D-Houston, and Senator Deuell,
R-Rockwall, Senator Staples, is making it very difficult to get past the
Senate floor.

The Safe Passing Bill will save lives. It would require motorists to pass
cyclists at a minimum of three feet. 20 Texan cyclists a year who are
obeying all laws are hit from behind by negligent and reckless drivers. To
read more about the bill go to the BikeTexas Legislative page:
https://biketexas.org/lege/lege_home.html

Email or call Sen. Staples' office and express the importance of his support
for SB 859. (512) 463-0103
https://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/se...dist3.htm#form

Email or call your Senator. If you don't know who your Senator is, you can
find out at https://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm.

Thank you,
Robin Stallings

Executive Director
Texas Bicycle Coalition



And does anyone remember if Sen. Staples was the same guy that tried passing the Farm Road ban?

Helmet Head

I would like to know why he opposes the bill.

alanbikehouston

You are kidding, right? Bubba is driving down FM 1960 in his pickup truck. He has a can of "Bubba Beer" in his paw. He is fixing to slap some cyclist in the head with the mirror on his passenger door. Then, he remembers: "Dang...I'm not allowed to kill cyclists anymore...that gol darned Senate Bill 859...I gotta give this bike three feet of clearance..."

When I am riding on appropriate roads (and roads where you get passed 100 times per minute by vehicles traveling 50 mph or 60 mph are NOT appropriate roads) the majority of vehicles give me far more than three feet of clearance. And, once or twice a week, some Bubba will deliberately aim his truck at me and try to push me off the road. Ain't no law gonna cure Bubba. Maybe a shotgun will cure Bubba...but not a law.

SpiderMike

I agree its not going to stop the bubba's. But from what I understand of it, this will give clear guidance on what is passing and what is deliberate. Which would mean that Bubba would get a ticket. Here is the link for biketexas' info on the bill. You can even veiw the bill itself. https://biketexas.org/lege/lege_home.html

Riding appropriate roads is the big part I agree. Not going to catch me on a highway or busy road, unless its an organized ride. But there needs to be something done to help penalize the cagers that think we are bowling pins.

scarry

Senator Todd Staples, R-Palestine, has repeatedly delayed and obstructed SB
859.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>......................

Maybe he thinks it promotes the gay agenda. You know, those cyclists wearing their ***** outfits and all. First you give the cyclists some rights, and then next thing you know gays will think they can marry.

chemcycle

High comedy.....

samundsen

1. Not every FM road is as bad as FM1960.

2. Parts of FM1960 actually has bike lanes (east of I-45).....

SpiderMike

I've been trying to draft something up. Part of me wants to use Torrin's story ( https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-safety/105818-update-lucklust.html ) as an example of why this needs to get passed.

noisebeam

This is key if anyone want to write a compelling letter to support it.
Al

supcom

Although I don't think these type of laws make us any safer unless the state will also invest in a lot of signage and enforcement, here's a sample letter:

Dear Sen. Staples,

Although I am an adult, my mom still thinks of me as her child. Maybe it's because I still ride bicycles, but everytime my mom reads about another Texas cyclist getting killed by a driver that thought he had enough room to 'squeeze' by, she worries that I might be the next unlucky one.

Moms are like that. I'll bet you worry about your kids too. Whether they walk, ride bikes, or drive big wide SUVs, you probably are concerned that something out of their control will cause them harm. After all, parents know that even when everyone tries to obey the rules, kids sometimes get hurt - even big ones.

I write to urge your support of Texas SB859. This bill would require motorists to keep at least three feet separation when they overtake cyclists along the road. while this bill is no cure-all, it goes a long way toward reinforcing the 'Drive Friendly' slogan in our state. Every cyclist can relate how commonplace it is to be passed within inches by motorists, even when there is plenty of room to move left. This is an extremely dangerous situation where a slight misjudgement will cause a lifetime of suffering - or worse. A simple requirement to maintain a safe passing distance will prevent many of these tragic accidents.

With ever higher gasoline prices and the growing concern over obesity, more and more Texans are turning to cycling as an effective and enjoyable way to get fit and save money. We need to make our roads as safe as possible for cyclists to encourage Texans to get moving. As I'm sure you know, even our president has become an enthusiastic cyclist.

Let's make Texas highways safer for everyone's kids. Please support SB859. I thank you. My mom thanks you.

SpiderMike

Nice touch.

JBar

Supcom, great letter. Makes the point in a very humanizing and personal way and calls on the goodwill of those members of the baffling cult-of-personality associated with our elected (second time is the charm) leader. It also sounds like good law that no reasonable person should object to, especially knowing that it would seldom if ever be enforced except in the most grievous cases. It gives the police a tool to cite somebody for an aggressive or careless act that othrwise might be hard to define as illegal.

Lonestar1

Spidermike, if memory serves me right, I believe that was Sen. Jeff Wentworth of San
Antonio who was behind the proposed bike ban of FM roads a few years back. Ironically, he was a stauch supporter of the SHARE THE ROAD custom license plates.