Month: April 2012

[B’ Spokes: I will also note my ongoing efforts to correct the State’s summaries of this law, some have been successful and some have not, such as this is still a good link: https://www.marylandroads.com/MHSO/BikeSafety_LawCard.pdf

To highlight bits of Jim’s article for emphases:]

By Jim Titus, Washcycle

…

• If the highway is too narrow for the driver to legally pass with the required clearance. This probably only applies to narrow highways, such as one-lane bridges and narrow roads where cars must slow and pull partly off the road to pass in opposite directions. But Bike Maryland believes that it also applies to no-passing zones (double yellow lines) on standard 2-lane roadways , because it thinks that the legislature inserted the word “highway” when it meant “lane”.  This assumption prompted Bike Maryland to sponsor HB 1397 which would have allowed cars to cross the double yellow line to pass bikes.  That way, our Baltimore allies reasoned, the exception to the 3-foot rule will no longer apply because it will be legal to pass with the required clearance.  Previous posts on this blog have discussed why many cyclists did not support that bill. MDOT also opposed the bill, albeit for different reasons. After the session, some of the advocates had an email colloquy with MDOT on whether the three-foot bill does or does not apply to the typical 2-lane road.    I asked MDOT for its position on that question, but so far, MDOT has not responded,

These four exceptions have been widely publicized, though few drivers probably undestand what they mean and no one knows what the final one means.

…

Between the ambiguous exceptions, and the exceptions to(the (bike lane and keep right) exceptions, Maryland has a law that is too confusing to explain to student drivers.  Fortunately, the Motor Vehicle Administration appears to be sticking to the simplest approach:  Drivers should pass cyclists with at least three feet.  This was always MVA’s recommended best practice, and the fact that a court can not convict a driver for passing with less clearance in some situations does not change the clearance with which a reasonable driver will pass.

(Jim Titus is on the board of directors of WABA from Prince Georges County, The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of WABA.)

https://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/04/in-maryland-3-foot-law-still-requires-cyclists-to-be-vigilant.html

HOUSE BILL 1278
Synopsis:
Requiring each public institution of higher education, when it revises its facility master plan, to address bicycle and pedestrian circulation on and around the institution’s campus; and requiring the institution to include in the facility master plan measures to incorporate bikeways and pedestrian facilities and to promote biking and walking on the campus.
https://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/HB1278.htm

House Action Returned Passed (95-28)
Senate Action Passed (47-0)
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HOUSE BILL 213
Synopsis:
Establishing the Baltimore City Community Enhancement Transit-Oriented Development Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund for specified purposes; providing for the contents and uses of the fund; providing that a portion of revenues from projects and other money shall be paid into the Fund under specified circumstances; requiring the Comptroller to pay specified money from the Fund to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City in a specified manner; adding the Fund to a specified list of exceptions; etc.
https://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/HB0213.htm

House Action Passed (83-34)
Senate Action Passed with Amendments (40-6)
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HOUSE BILL 67
Synopsis:
Altering a provision of law requiring vehicular traffic to stop and take specified actions when approaching a nonfunctioning traffic control signal at specified intersections to apply the requirement to all intersections; and requiring vehicular traffic approaching a nonfunctioning traffic control signal at an intersection to stop in a specified manner, yield to other vehicles or pedestrians in the intersection, and remain stopped until it is safe to enter and continue through the intersection.
https://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/HB0067.htm

House Action Passed (133-0)
Senate Action Passed Passed (44-2)
4/10 Approved by the Governor
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HOUSE BILL 457
Synopsis:
Requiring the Maryland Department of Transportation to use the maximum amount of specified federal funds available for highway or capital transit construction training program and supportive services, including skill improvement programs; requiring the Department to administer specified highway construction and supportive services programs in collaboration with the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board for a specified purpose; etc.
* [B’ Spokes: To bad we can’t get something like this for bikeway funding (ya we still have a lot sitting there unused.) ]
https://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/HB0457.htm

House Action Passed (125-10)
Senate Action Passed Passed (46-0)
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HOUSE BILL 149
Synopsis:
Authorizing an insurer to exclude a moped and motor scooter from insurance benefits; requiring a moped or motor scooter in the State to be titled by the Motor Vehicle Administration; requiring an owner or prospective owner of a moped or motor scooter to obtain or maintain security; requiring an excise tax for a certificate of title for a specified moped or motor scooter; prohibiting an individual from operating or riding on a moped or motor scooter unless the individual is wearing specified headgear and eye protection; etc.
https://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/HB0149.htm

House Action Passed (97-33)
Senate Action Passed Passed (33-13)