Texas - Texas Safe Passing Bill Update - time to email again

This from Texas Bicycle Coalition:

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SB 248: Safe Passing Goes to Senate Floor

Now is the time for you to get involved if you haven't already. SB 248, the Safe Passing Bill, is going to the Senate floor at the first of next week for the final vote.

It is very important that you contact your Texas State Senator and voice your support of SB 248 if you are in any of the following districts:

Senate District 1: Senator Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler)
Senate District 3: Senator Robert Nichols (R- Jacksonville)
Senate District 5: Senator Steve Ogden (R-Bryan)
Senate District 6: Senator Mario Gallegos (D-Galena Park)
Senate District 7: Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston)
Senate District 8: Senator Florence Shapiro (R-Plano)
Senate District 9: Senator Chris Harris (R-Arlington)
Senate District 10: Senator Kim Brimer (R-Fort Worth)
Senate District 11: Senator Mike Jackson (R- Pasadena)
Senate District 12: Senator Jane Nelson (R-Grapevine)
Senate District 17: Senator Kyle Janek (R-Houston)
Senate District 18: Senator Glenn Hegar (R-Katy)
Senate District 19: Senator Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio)
Senate District 22: Senator Kip Averitt (R-Waco)
Senate District 24: Senator Troy Fraser (R-Abilene)
Senate District 30: Senator Craig Estes (D-Wichita Falls)
Senate District 31: Senator Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo)

If you are in any of the districts below, you can send a "Thank you" to your Senator for supporting SB 248.

Senate District 2: Senator Bob Deuell (R-Mesquite)
Senate District 4: Senator Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands)
Senate District 13: Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston)
Senate District 14: Senator Kirk Watson (D-Austin)
Senate District 15: Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston)
Senate District 16: Senator John Carona (R-Dallas)
Senate District 20: Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D- McAllen)
Senate District 21: Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo)
Senate District 23: Senator Royce West (D-Dallas)
Senate District 25: Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio)
Senate District 26: Senator Leticia Van De Putte (R- San Antonio)
Senate District 27: Senator Eddie Lucio (D- Brownsville)
Senate District 28: Senator Robert Duncan (R- Lubbock)
Senate District 29: Senator Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso)

If you are not sure who your state Senator is, follow this link: http://www.fyi.legi s.state.tx.us/ and enter your address to find out who represents you.

You can write your Senator via e-mail using the simple formula: firstname.lastname@senate.state.tx.us Please copy Texas Bicycle Coalition on any written correspondence you send to your Senator.

SB 248: The Safe Passing Bill
The Safe Passing Bill would require a motorist to give at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist and would require a commercial vehicle to give at least six feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.

Approximately 50 cyclists per year are killed in bicycle-automobile crashes in Texas. About 40% of those are killed by motorists traveling in the same direction. Most of those 20 deaths per year could be prevented if this law were enacted and obeyed by motorists.

The Safe Passing Law, modeled on the Move Over Act (for emergency vehicles) which passed in the 2003 Texas legislative session, simplifies the punishment issues and provides a clear framework for identifying the obligations of a passing motorist to either move over or slow down when passing a cyclist. With this law, the vision of "Share the Road" can be fully realized.
Thanks to everyone who helped to get the Safe Passing Bill successfully passed through the Senate Transportation Committee. The companion bill to SB 248, HB 1790, is being endorsed by Representative Linda Harper-Brown in the House. HB 1790 will be going to the House Transportation Committee in the next few weeks. Check your email or the website for the announcement.

It is expensive to pass this vital legislation. Your membership and donations are important to us and help keep cyclists on the roads and safe in Texas. Consider joining or donating now!

Learn more...

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Texas Bicycle Coalition

The Texas Bicycle Coalition is continually working to advance bicycle access, safety, and education for the state of Texas.

Website: http://www.BikeTexas.org/

Texas Bicycle Coalition
Robin Stallings
Executive Director
email: advocacy@biketexas.org
phone: 512-476-7433 Texas Bicycle Coalition
Kristina Gaboury
Membership Director
email: membership@biketexas.org
phone: 512-476-7433

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Everyone, please get on the phone with your senitors and find out how they plan to vote on this. Let them know your opinion!

I was just in Austin and while speaking with Senator Carona he informed me that the Safe Passing Bill has just been voted out of committee and should appear on the senate calendar shortly. Steve Polunsky, a staffer for the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, indicated that it has a good chance of passing in both houses.

That's great news. I hope it doesn't have a bad turn of fate anywhere along the line. It's sad that we actually have to push to get laws passed for things that should be common sense - like giving individuals on bicycles more than a hair's distance when passing.

Excellent! Thanks for the scoop! :)