Advocacy

The latest on Bicycle Safety Bill S354/H3006 - this bill was presented at the SC Senate Transportation Committee at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 23, 2008. The committee unanamously approved the bill as amended by the subcommittee, leaving the bill essentially intact  for voting soon before the SC Senate. Senator, Larry Grooms, Chairman of the Transportation gathered the consent of all committee members reserving the right of each to introduce amendments on the Senate floor. Several senators expressed their interest in strengthening the rights bicyclists beyond the current bill, including provisions to make it a misdemeanor to harass bicyclists. At the request of the Transportation Committee, The PCC's Executive Director Natalie Cappuccio-Britt helped to clarify definitions of bike lanes, shoulders, and side paths, as well as bicycling interests in allowing bicycle riders the option to choose which of these they want for their safety and expediency. Here is the journal of the bill the web site of the General Assembly. John Monk wrote a very favorable report on the Bicycle Bill and the work of the PCC in The State.

Senator Verdin (upper left) addressed the Committee on the merits of the Bicycle Safety Bill.

Senator Hawkins (left, center) advocates making the harassment of cyclists a crime. Senator Malloy (center) asks of the other senators to include provisions for specific wide passing distances for cyclists' safety. Director Natalie Cappuccio-Britt (right) answers questions about the interests of cyclists with regard to federal guidelines and definitions for bike lanes, shoulders, and side paths.

The Bicycle Safety Bill will next be presented the the Senate for a vote.

Here are the earlier updates on the bill:
Senate Subcommittee on Transportation held  a hearing on Thursday, April 17th at 11am, room 407, Gressette Building  and forwarded the bill to the Senate Transportation Committee.

The one amendment opposed by the PCC - the single file amendment - was stricken from the bill and replaced by the current statute of permitting cyclists to ride two abreast. Subcommittee Chairman Senator Danny Verdin spoke positively about the legislation and noted that the number of individuals using bicycles in South Carolina is likely to grow significantly in the future and that the legislature must take this into consideration in planning for the future. Representatives from SCDOT and SC law enforcement were also present and voiced no objections to the legislation.

The PCC's Executive Director Natalie Cappuccio-Britt and Becky Giblin, the mother of Rachel Giblin who was killed in an automobile/bicycle crash during the 2006 MS ride, provided excellent testimony on behalf of the legislation. It felt very good to be part of the cycling community as one listened to both Natalie and Becky speak so eloquently in support of making our roads a little bit safer and reducing the likelihood of future tragedies.

There is still a ways to go. The bill should move forward to the full Senate Transportation Committee in the next 1-2 weeks. From there it will need to go to the full Senate and then to a conference committee made up of Senate and House members. No guarantee of success, but we're a little bit closer.

Above: Becky Giblin, Natalie Cappuccio-Britt, and Paul LeFrancois prepare to address the committee.

Above: Natalie Cappuccio-Britt hands material to Senator Danny Verdin.

Above: Reid Swearingen, Will Haltiwanger, Becky Giblin, Rebecca Ramos (our lobbyist), and others listen to Natalie's presentation.

Above: The owner/manager of Outspokin' bicycle shop, Brian Curan (foreground) was also there supporting the bill.

Above: Becky Gilbin makes her presentation to the sub-committee.

Here is the subcommittee member list:
Chair - Danny Verdin - represents Greenville and Laurens Cos.
Members:
Short - lives in Chester , represents Fairfield , Union and York Cos.
Ryberg - lives in Aiken, represents Aiken Co.
Scott - Lives in Summerville, represents Charleston and Dorchester Cos.

BICYCLE SAFETY BILL PASSES SC HOUSE.
 COLUMBIA, SC. THE Palmetto Cycling Coalition (PCC) announces the passage of The South Carolina Bicycle Safety Bill, H. 3006 the first legislation ever submitted by cycling advocates in the state of South Carolina.
 The bill, introduced by Rep. J.E. Smith with 23 official co-sponsors, passed by a unanimous vote of 105-0 on Wednesday, Jan. 9. The bill now goes to the SC Senate for consideration. The bill will be known as S. 0354 in the Senate version.
Here is the full text of the 01/11/2008 PCC Press Release.

March 25, 2008 Legislative Training Day

Several members of the PCC Board and others met with Palmetto Public Affairs, Rebecca Ramos and Matthew Van Patten to discuss S354 and effective long term strategy. The PCC has contracted with Palmetto Public Affairs to assist us with our lobbing efforts and our long term legislative strategy. The participants included Natalie Britt, Paul Le Francois, David Kimball, Jim Cox, Lauren Sutton, Sarah Nicholson, Will Haltiwanger, Anna Haltiwanger, Curt Sexton, and Paul Palmer. Part of the training was information and discussion of the practical details of the legislative process. The other part was very practical meeting with some important players in the next steps toward passing the Bicycle Reform Bill. We met with Senator Catherine Ceips and later with Lieutenant Governor Andre Bower to discuss getting S354 assigned to a Transportation subcommittee for action very soon this year. The training was a very positive experience for all the participants to learn an interact with some of the key players in moving S354. Below is a photograph of Lieutenant Governor Andre Bower to discussing S354 with Paul Palmer, Curt Sexton, and Natalie Cappuccio Britt.

Be ready to contact your Senators requesting support for this bill very soon.  We once again must have your vocal support.  We are confident that we can get this bill passed this year!

Our goal is to get this legislation passed in 2008. We will need your help by contacting your representative. These legislative initiatives of the Palmetto Cycling Coalition remain alive. We will continue to be advocating for the bicycling law changes that we started in the 2007  Legislative session.

Rachel Gilbin

In 2007 Rachel Giblin (15) was killed while riding her bicycle during the MS150in SC.  No charges were ever brought against the motorist.  Her brother and mother were also injured in the crash.  This was a 15 year old girl that rode to raise money for those less fortunate and was killed in doing so, and to add insult to injury, no charges were ever filed.   Please visit Rachel’s website at http://www.sharetheroadforrachel.com/.

Why advocate for more bicycle lanes and other resources?

We are planning more certified bike training opportunities for 2008!

Palmetto Cycling Coalition  will partner with other organizations around the state to host more the League of American Bicyclists' "Road I" courses and League Cycling Instructor  Certification Seminars.

The League Cycling Instructor (or LCI) certification seminar is rarely offered in the Carolinas. Cyclists who successfully complete the  course are nationally certified to teach on-bike safety skills to  both children and adults. Having LCI certified members can be  an enormous asset for health, safety, and recreation organizations and agencies!

The Road I course is a pre-requisite to the LCI course and gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student manual. This is a fast-paced, 9-hour course. LCI Certification is a two-day, comprehensive course with a $200 registration fee and League of American Bicyclists membership.

We expect to have scholarships to assist in covering registration fees for SC cyclists.

You can find the LCI criteria and study guide at  http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/seminars.php.

If you are interested in participating in these courses please contact Vonie Gilreath at vonieg@bcdcog.com .

March 28, 2007
Legislative Breakfast
PCC Board Members and others met with state representatives and senators
to promote the pending bicycle law changes.
Here are the pictures.