BikeTexas eyes Idaho stop, e-bikes in state parks this Legislature

BikeTexas, the statewide foyer for cyclists, has a couple of priorities to enhance security and additional legitimize e-bikes as legislators meet in Austin this 12 months.

Why it issues: In 2022, Texas drivers killed 92 cyclists — one each 4 days.

Pedaling the information: Atop the checklist is passing the so-called Idaho cease (or Delaware yield), which might enable cyclists to deal with cease indicators as yield indicators.

• It is the legislation in a number of pink states, together with Idaho, Oklahoma and Arkansas, giving cyclists extra flexibility when navigating intersections.

What they’re saying: “Momentum is so essential on bicycles,” mentioned Robin Stallings, government director of BikeTexas. “Beginning and stopping can be a lot tougher, particularly going up hills.”

State of play: Stallings is hoping to discover a group of bipartisan legislators to champion the laws, however no invoice has been filed but.

Sure, however: A invoice permitting e-bikes in state parks has been filed.

• It is a small however last battleground for BikeTexas to legitimize e-bikes, following the passage of laws to permit e-bikes anyplace bicycles are allowed, like sidewalks, off-street paths and streets.

The intrigue: BikeTexas didn’t embrace protected passing laws on its agenda this 12 months after years of useless ends.

• Rep. Ray Lopez, a Democrat from San Antonio, filed laws that might require drivers to offer cyclists and pedestrians 3 toes of house when passing — rising to six toes for drivers of business autos.
• “There is no telling in various years the variety of lives that shall be saved,” Lopez advised Axios. “The numbers are there. Clearly, we now have a excessive fatality charge on this setting. That influence is instantly measured by lives being saved.”

Flashback: In 2009, an identical invoice handed the Republican-controlled Home and Senate however was vetoed by then-Gov. Rick Perry.

• Each session since, legislators have filed iterations of the invoice which have didn’t make their option to the governor’s desk.

The underside line: “​​I do not see it passing,” Stallings mentioned of Lopez’ invoice. “It would get out of committee. We’ve not had the governor’s help for that, ever.”

• The governor’s workplace didn’t reply to Axios’ request for remark.