Pedestrian Safety
| Bills | Committee | Last action | Date |
| HB 1589 - Sullivan - Pedestrian control signals; applicability to persons riding bicycles and other devices. | (H) Committee on Transportation | (H) Left in Transportation | 02/07/23 |
| notes: Allows persons riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, mopeds, or motorized skateboards or scooters to follow the pedestrian Walk signal at an intersection when traveling in the direction of the signal, provided they yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk traveling in the same direction. The bill provides that a person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, or motorized skateboard or scooter may not start to cross a highway in the direction of a Don't Walk signal, but such person who has partially completed his crossing on the Walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island and remain there while the Don't Walk signal is showing. | |||
| HB 1723 - Simonds - Passing stopped school buses; purpose of stop, prima facie evidence. | (H) Committee on Transportation (S) Committee on Transportation | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0382) | 03/23/23 |
| notes: Makes evidence that a bus was stopped with at least one warning device activated prima facie evidence that the bus was stopped for the purpose of taking on or discharging children, the elderly, or mentally or physically handicapped persons. | |||
| HB 1773 - Carr - Bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, etc.; exception to stopping requirement. | (H) Committee on Transportation | (H) Left in Transportation | 02/07/23 |
| notes:
Authorizes the operator of a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or motorized skateboard or scooter to yield instead of stop at an intersection of two highways controlled by a stop sign if (i) each intersecting highway has no more than three motor vehicle travel lanes; (ii) the operator is at least 15 years old or accompanied by an adult; (iii) the operator slows to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions; (iv) before proceeding into the intersection, the person yields the right-of-way to any pedestrian lawfully within the crosswalk and to the driver of another vehicle approaching or entering such intersection from another direction; and (v) the stop sign is not marked as a full-stop stop sign. The bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to designate any stop sign as a full-stop stop sign if site-specific conditions, including limited sight distances and hidden entrances, make it unsafe for a person to yield instead of stop at such stop sign and requires a clearly marked sign at such stop signs. |
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| SB 847 - Favola - Pedestrian control signals; applicability to persons riding bicycles and other devices. | (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (S) Failed to pass in Senate | 02/07/23 |
| notes: Allows persons riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, or motorized skateboard or scooter to follow the pedestrian control signal at an intersection when traveling in the direction of the signal, provided they yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk traveling in the same direction. The bill specifies that such persons shall not start to cross the highway in the direction of such signal while the signal is solid, that pedestrians shall not start to cross the highway when such signal is solid or flashing, and that any person who has partially crossed the highway shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island when the solid Don't Walk signal begins. | |||
| SB 1009 - DeSteph - Pedestrian control signals; applicability to persons riding bicycles and other devices. | (S) Committee on Transportation | (S) Incorporated by Transportation (SB847-Favola) (15-Y 0-N) | 01/12/23 |
| notes: Allows persons riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, mopeds, or motorized skateboards or scooters to follow the pedestrian Walk signal at an intersection when traveling in the direction of the signal, provided they yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk traveling in the same direction. The bill provides that a person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, or motorized skateboard or scooter may not start to cross a highway in the direction of a Don't Walk signal, but such person who has partially completed his crossing on the Walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island and remain there while the Don't Walk signal is showing. | |||
| SB 1069 - Saslaw - Pedestrians; drivers stopping at certain signs. | (H) Committee on Transportation (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0117) | 03/21/23 |
| notes: Requires the driver of a vehicle on a highway approaching a pedestrian who is crossing such highway to stop for such pedestrian. Currently, a driver is required to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian by stopping and remaining stopped. The bill also provides that localities that are already authorized to install signs directing motor vehicles to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing or attempting to cross a highway may also install signs directing motor vehicles to stop for such pedestrians. | |||
| SB 1293 - Deeds - Bicycles; exemptions to certain traffic control devices, local ordinances. | (H) Committee on Transportation (S) Committee on Transportation | (H) Left in Transportation | 02/22/23 |
| notes: Authorizes the local governing body of any county, city, or town to by ordinance authorize a bicyclist to treat a stop light as a stop sign and a stop sign as a yield right-of-way sign, provided that certain safety measures are observed. | |||