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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Cyclist Protection Law Resurrected

Politics, This Washington   March 4, 2010 at 1:41 pm Erica C. Barnett

The vulnerable roadway users bill, which would have imposed extra penalties on drivers who kill or seriously injure vulnerable roadway users, such as cyclists, pedestrians, and wheelchair users, with a car, has been resurrected as an amendment to an unrelated bill that would require traffic safety schools to teach drivers how to interact safely with cyclists and pedestrians.

David Hiller, advocacy director for the Cascade Bicycle Club, says the amendment keeps the vulnerable users bill “largely intact.” However, he notes that the cutoff for getting the bill out of the Senate is 5:00 tomorrow evening. “It’s still alive, but time tends to run out fast this late in the session,” says Hiller, who gives the bill 60-40 odds of making it through the senate.




  • Joe

    Who teaches cyclists how to interact safely w/motorists?

  • Cascadian

    Joe, most cyclists are drivers and would be covered in the future by the new traffic safety school requirement. A few aren't drivers, but they're far fewer than the number of drivers who never take traffic safety.

    And to be realistic, cyclists aren't a mortal danger to cars so there's not much to be gained on that side of the equation anyway. It's also worth pointing out that cyclist safety courses strongly emphasize interactions with cars because cars are still the dominant vehicle on the roads. So passing a law to mandate what's already being taught in those classes won't help. The problem with traffic safety courses is that they often skip over issues that don't involve other cars. Thus, the need for legislation.

  • morning fizzy

    I many young riders have never driven a car. To some extent it is a badge of pride.

    Much like snowboarders, unlike skiers, they have never been taught the rules of the road and don't understand that their erratic driving can lead to more than just damage to them.

    It is perplexing that bikers resist such legitimizing things as licensed bikes and riders.

  • Ballardwatch

    Would a 12-year-old need to be licensed to be a “legitimate” bicyclist?