Action Alert: Help Get Bicyclist Safety Bill Out of Committee!

We need your help to get the Bicyclist Safety Bill out of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security! We've heard from our legislative contacts that there hasn't been very much public feedback, and the bill is in danger of not making it out of Committee!

This is essentially the same bill that was passed by both houses of the Legislature last December, and then vetoed by the outgoing administration, forcing us to start over. The bill, Senate 1414, called “An Act Relative to Bicyclist Safety”, can be viewed in its entirety here.

The key provisions of the bill are: police training on bicycle law; clarification of how to safely pass a bicycle; clarification of how to safely make turns in front of bicycles; “dooring” subject to ticket and fine; riding two abreast permitted when it does not impede cars from passing; improved enforcement of bicycle law for both motorists and bicyclists; and additional legal protections for bicyclists who choose to ride to the right of other traffic. The bill's specific changes to the MA General Laws (MGL) may be viewed at the bottom of this page.

The Public Safety Committee held a hearing on this bill in June, and MassBike and others testified in support of it. Now we need the Committee to report favorably on the bill, so that it can move to the next step in the legislative process. We are still a few steps away from getting the bill passed again.

Here is what we need you to do:

1. Email the co-chairs of the Public Safety Committee, Senator James Timilty (James.Timilty@state.ma.us) and Representative Michael Costello (Rep.MichaelCostello@hou.state.ma.us) to ask that S1414, An Act Relative to Bicyclist Safety, be reported favorably.

2. Call or email your state representative and your state senator and ask each of them to contact the co-chairs of the Public Safety Committee to say they want S1414, An Act Relative to Bicyclist Safety, reported favorably.

Your participation counts – don’t assume that everyone else will do it! 

Click here to find contact information for your State Representative (called “Rep in General Court”) and State Senator (called “Senate in General Court”).

Specific changes to the MGL introduced by Senate 1414, “An Act Relative to Bicyclist Safety”:

• Creates Chapter 6, Section 116D, requiring police training on bicycle law.
• Repeals Chapter 85, Section 11A, regarding bicycle registration.
• Amends Chapter 85, Section 11B, regarding hand signaling and riding two abreast.
• Replaces Chapter 85, Section 11C, enabling enforcement of bicycle law.
• Amends Chapter 85, Section 11D, requiring bicycle renters to provide helmets.
• Amends Chapter 89, Section 2, regarding safe passing.
• Amends Chapter 90, Section 14, regarding turning in front of bicycles and dooring.