7/30/2019 ABAC Letter to Barbara Favola
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January 11, 2013
Via Email
Sen. Barbara FavolaSenate of VirginiaP.O. Box 396Richmond, VA
23218
Re: Senate Bill 959
Dear Senator Favola:
The Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) is writing
toexpress its concerns with your proposed Senate Bill 959. The bill
appears to be aimed atproviding a new enforcement mechanism aimed
at trail users crossing high speedroadways. While we share your
interest in improving safety and reducing user conflictsat the
intersection of roads and trails, we do not believe that the
proposed language would
achieve that purpose. As a result, we request that you withdraw
your support for this bill.If you must support it, we request that
you amend it to address the issues we explainbelow.
At present, the Code of Virginia already provides that no
pedestrian shall enteror cross an intersection disregard of
approaching traffic. VA Code Section 46.2.-924.Further, Section
46.2-904 of the Codeprovides that a person riding a bicycle,
electricpersonal assistive mobility device, motorized skateboard or
scooter, motor-driven cycle,or an electric power-assisted bicycle
on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadwayon a crosswalk,
shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the
samecircumstances. As a result, the Code of Virginia already
requires that cyclists and other
trail users not enter roadways in disregard of approaching
traffic. Tacking on a redundantenforcement clause does not improve
the situation for anyone.
Further, the proposed language envisions the possibility of
ordinances requiringthat pedestrians come to a complete stop before
entering a crosswalk. This would be,we believe, a novel event in
the Virginia Code. We also note that the language may allowany
locality to place an enforceable stop sign at any crosswalk it
chooses, without regardto the traffic engineering standards that
are imposed on roadway-facing stop signs. Aproliferation of signs
at trail intersections has the unintended consequence of
preventingtrail users and motorists from readily seeing each
other.
Finally, we note that the proposed maximum fine is several times
the regularmaximum fine of other bicycle-related offenses in the
Virginia Code (normally capped at$50). We suggest that, if this
bill must go forward, that the fine be set at the same level.
The BAC appreciates that you recognize that cycling plays an
important part ofthe transportation and livability equation for
Virginias residents and visitors, and havehistorically been a
friend of better cycling in the Commonwealth. Unfortunately,
wecannot support Senate Bill 959 in its present form, as we do not
believe it will contributeto safer intersections. We would,
however, welcome the opportunity to work with you tocraft a clearer
standard for right-of-way at crosswalks and trail intersections,
with such a
