Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-148

Date: 02/10/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-148

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved a prepared amendment to Senate Bill 09-148 ( Moved that Senate Bill 09-148 be referred to the C	Pass Without Objection PASS

03:21 PM -- Senate Bill 09-148

Senator Brophy, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-148, concerning revisions to the rules governing the safe interaction of bicycles with other vehicles on roadways. He described the procedure by which motor vehicles may safely pass bicycles on a roadway. He commented on portions of a roadway on which bicycles may be safely operated.

The following persons testified in regard to Senate Bill 09-148:

03:29 PM -- R.I. McCleery, representing the Larimer County Sheriff, said that he supervises traffic safety in Fort Collins and that the Larimer County Sheriff has concerns regarding the three-foot separation provision in Senate Bill 09-148. He said that there are portions of Senate Bill 09-148 that will be difficult for law enforcement officers to enforce.

03:38 PM -- Greg Fulton, representing the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, opposed Senate Bill 09-148. He commented on the width of trucks and the limited shoulders on many Colorado roadways. He expressed concern with the potential of Senate Bill 09-148 to cause traffic congestion.

03:46 PM -- Craig Sugarman, Loveland, representing himself, said that bicycle riders "are blatant law abusers." He indicated that bicycle riders are an inconvenience to him as he travels mountain roads. He noted that bicycle riders often ride two abreast, and stated that laws addressing bicycle safety are currently in place.

03:49 PM -- Dan Grunig, representing Bicycle Colorado, supported Senate Bill 09-048. He said that the state should encourage the use of bicycles. He commented on safe passing of a bicycle rider by a motor vehicle, and said that current law does not provide any guidance to motorists. He noted that on mountain roads motor vehicles must currently move into the adjoining lane to pass safely. He added that Colorado has more fatal bicycle accidents than the national average.

03:54 PM -- Robert Clark, representing the League of American Bicyclists, supported Senate Bill 09-148 and noted that Colorado is "far behind many other states in bicycle safety."

03:56 PM -- Piep Van Heuven, representing Bike Denver, supported Senate Bill 09-148.


BILL:	SB09-148
TIME:	04:02:19 PM
MOVED:	Williams
MOTION:	Moved a prepared amendment to Senate Bill 09-148 (Attachment E), L.002. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp
	Renfroe
	Romer
	Spence
	Veiga
	Williams
	Gibbs


Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-148
TIME:	04:05:52 PM
MOVED:	Williams
MOTION:	Moved that Senate Bill 09-148 be referred to the Committee of the Whole, as amended. The motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	Renfroe	Yes
	Romer	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Veiga	Excused
	Williams	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:06 PM

The committee meeting adjourned.