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Meeting Tonight in San Antonio for Cyclists to Voice Their Concerns

By Beth Janicek

After three people were struck and killed within a week of each other while cycling legally, cyclists and pedestrians are asking what can be done to improve safety. Tonight, a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting will be held so people can come and voice their concerns. The MPO has a Bicycle Mobility Advisory Committee that is charged with conducting a continuous planning process to improve transportation systems.

Currently, Texas does not have any safe passing laws or any set penalties in the case of an accident. Recently, the Safe Passing Bill was surprisingly vetoed by Governor Rick Perry. He said,

'While I am in favor of measures that make our roads safer for everyone, this bill contradicts much of the current statute and places the liability and responsibility on the operator of a motor vehicle when encountering one of these vulnerable road users. In addition, an operator of a motor vehicle is already subject to penalties when he or she is at fault for causing a collision or operating recklessly, whether it is against a ‘vulnerable user' or not.'

The veto outraged the bill's supporters, who argued that the point was to make drivers aware that they have to share the road.

Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, who sponsored the legislation said,

'We know that cyclists and motorcyclists and tow truck drivers are more vulnerable and by passing this law you are acknowledging that…I think people forget cyclists have a right to our roadway.'

She went on to say that victims and their families again feel victimized when they learn that the legal system doesn't automatically consider what happened to them a crime.

Since I am an avid cyclist and jogger, this is an issue that I have blogged on frequently. I am always surprised by the amount of responses received from people on both sides of the argument. Safe Passing Laws are usually controversial and many people are very passionate about them. For more information on the meeting go to the Bicycle Mobility Advisory Committee link on the Metropolitan Planning Organization website.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Full post as published by San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer on October 14, 2009 (boomark / email).