spandexwarrior
Here is some impressive legislation waiting to be voted on in the Maryland General Assembly. I will summarize some of it, but you will have to read the article to read all of it:
House Bill 173/Senate Bill 218 – Homicide by Aggressive Driving
This bill would make killing somebody (a cyclist, pedestrian, or motorist) while driving aggressively (breaking three specific motor vehicle laws) a criminal offense and subject to jail time.
House Bill 1319/Senate Bill 758 – Accommodation of Bicyclists and Pedestrians
This legislation would require the state to construct all state roads with bicycling and pedestrian accommodations, allowing for three specific exemptions. The wording of this bill is very close to existing USDOT guidance. If this bill gets passed an exemption would have to be granted for each project that does not provide for bike/ped access, making the provision of such access the rule rather than the exception. The bicycle facilities need not be bike lanes (although that's certainly encouraged) but could also be paved shoulders or wide curb lanes. Whichever facility SHA chooses to build, motorists will gain as much as bicyclists will. It is a very good bill that will help the state to build "complete streets" the first time they're built, saving money in the long run and even more importantly providing safer facilities for all road users.
Full article:
http://onelesscar.org/TopLevel/legislation2004.php
House Bill 173/Senate Bill 218 – Homicide by Aggressive Driving
This bill would make killing somebody (a cyclist, pedestrian, or motorist) while driving aggressively (breaking three specific motor vehicle laws) a criminal offense and subject to jail time.
House Bill 1319/Senate Bill 758 – Accommodation of Bicyclists and Pedestrians
This legislation would require the state to construct all state roads with bicycling and pedestrian accommodations, allowing for three specific exemptions. The wording of this bill is very close to existing USDOT guidance. If this bill gets passed an exemption would have to be granted for each project that does not provide for bike/ped access, making the provision of such access the rule rather than the exception. The bicycle facilities need not be bike lanes (although that's certainly encouraged) but could also be paved shoulders or wide curb lanes. Whichever facility SHA chooses to build, motorists will gain as much as bicyclists will. It is a very good bill that will help the state to build "complete streets" the first time they're built, saving money in the long run and even more importantly providing safer facilities for all road users.
Full article:
http://onelesscar.org/TopLevel/legislation2004.php