ACTION ALERT: HOUSE BILL 145 | Ohio Bicycle Federation

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Please contact your Representative and ask them to support HOUSE BILL 145.
Ohio House Bill 145 will help Ohio cyclists with two very simple changes in the Ohio Revised Code:
1.  The Ohio Revised Code in Section 4511.27 already requires that motorists pass bicyclists leaving a safe passing distance.  House Bill 145 sets the safe passing distance as "not less than three feet."  21 states already have the "at least three feet" passing requirement.  During the last four years, six states have adopted the 3-foot rule.   The 3-foot rule is endorsed by the American Automobile Association and the League of American Bicyclists, the largest national organizations representing these two transportation modes.  We now have over 1,400 electronic signatures of Ohio bicyclists supporting this concept.   Please go to www.ohiobike.org to add your signature.
2.  The Ohio Revised Code in Section 4511.132, already lists situations in which vehicles may proceed through an intersection controlled by a non-functioning traffic signal after stopping and yielding right-of-way.  HB 145 adds another situation where "Failure of a vehicle detector to detect the vehicle" results in the light remaining red.   This is a situation commonly faced by cyclists, as the bicycle is typically not detected by metal detectors buried in pavement, and the traffic light is not "tripped."
HB 145 is now before the Ohio House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.  This committee must approve HB 145 by a majority vote before it proceeds to the full House.
The Ohio House is now in recess until September.   This provides a great opportunity to visit your House member at home!    Please take advantage of this opportunity to meet with your state representative to support our House Bill 145.
Please contact your state representative to support House Bill, then let me know their response.     (Find your state representative by searching at http://www.ohiohouse.gov/index.)
This is especially important for those of you who live in the districts of the members of the Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee:
Chair:   Rep. Mark Damschroder of Fremont (Republican, District 88 - Sandusky and Seneca Counties)
Vice Chair:  Rep. Margaret Ann Ruhl (Republican, District 68 - Knox and Eastern Delaware Counties)
Ranking Minority Member:  Rep. Dale Mallory of Cincinnati (Democrat, District 32 - Hamilton County)
Rep. John Becker of the Greater Cincinnati Area (Republican, District 65 - Clermont County)
Rep. Doug Green (Republican, District 66 - Brown and Clermont Counties)
Rep. Ross McGregor of Springfield Area (Republican, District 79 - Clark County)
Rep. Anthony DeVitis (Republican, District 36 - Summit County)
Rep. Terry Johnson (Republican, District 90 -  Scioto and Adams Counties, including Portsmouth, TOSRV destination)
Rep.  Bill Patmon of Cleveland Area (Democrat, District 10 - Cuyahoga County)
Rep. Nicholas Celebrezze of Cleveland Area (Democrat, District 15 - Cuyahoga County)
Rep. Robert Hagan of Youngstown Area (Democrat, District 58 - Mahoning County)
Rep. Zack Milkovich (Democrat, District 35 - Summit County)
Rep. Rick Pernales (Republican, District 73 - Greene County)

Website of Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

House Transportation Committee - Contact Info:
Chair Rex Damschroder (R-Fremont) (614) 466-1374   rex.damschroder@ohiohouse.gov
Vice Chair Margaret Ruhl (R) (614) 466-1431  margaret.ruhl@ohiohouse.gov
Ranking Minority Member Dale Mallory (D-Cincinnati) (614) 466-1645   dale.mallory@ohiohouse.gov
Robert Hagan (D-Youngstown) (614) 466-9435   robert.hagan@ohiohouse.gov
While the House members are now home, staff members are answering the above Columbus office phones during regular business hours.   They can provide numbers where the Representatives can be reached in their districts during the current summer recess.

Please contact your state representatives, and call on them personally if possible.
Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!
Chuck Smith
Chair, Ohio Bicycle Federation
(937) 890-6689

Comments

  1. BTSF:July 26, 2013 at 2:40 PM

    FWIW, I called Rep Stinziano. No answer,, so I left a message. Will try again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. BTSF:August 7, 2013 at 5:08 PM

    Called Rep Stinziano again today and had a great conversation with his aid. Rep Stinziano is a sponsor very much supportive and on board and is optimistic of it's chance of passing in the fall. They suggest as many of us as possible call other representatives to bring them on board as well.

    ReplyDelete

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