Safety and Education Committee Report
It’s the law
Governor Lynch signed HB-1203 and it will take effect 01/01/09. We should express our gratitude to the many people who worked hard to get this passed. This has been called the “Bicycle Bill” and the BWANH’s website www.bwanh.org has the complete version posted. I urge you to read it. This bill includes the following (paraphrased) provisions:
RSA 265:143-a: The driver of a vehicle traveling at 30 miles per hour or less, shall leave at least 3 feet when overtaking a bicyclist; one additional foot of clearance is required for every 10 miles per hour above that.
RSA 265:144- XI A,B,C, & D : Use of the correct lane.
RSA 265:144-XII: A bicyclist shall wear at least one item of reflective outerwear apparel when riding in the dark.
RSA 265:153-III: The fine for a violation of RSA 265:143-a, is $100.
Many of us have had cars pass much too close and are eager to see the offending drivers prosecuted. Personally, I’d love to see a few drivers pay for knocking off my mirrors. Before one goes to the police seeking redress I urge them to research for city ordinances relevant to bicycles. Fortunately, the police rarely enforce these ordinances.
Nashua has provisions to impound any unlocked bicycle (§ 98-8-C), requires that you always ride to the far right (§ 98-2-B), and you must use an adjacent bike path instead of the road (§ 98-2-D).
Dover fines adults $50-100 dollars for failing to register their bicycle (66-5-A) and impounds the bicycles of children under 16 for 30 days (66-5-B). It also has a long list of roads where bicycle use is prohibited.
I’m sure there are many other towns with unenforced ordinances. If you demand that a law be enforced; they may decide to enforce all of them and you could be in for an expensive surprise.
It usually takes a concerned resident to get bad laws rescinded. If your town’s laws need correcting please do whatever you can to help.
Bill Fisk - Safety and Education
Safety and Education Coordinator
Archive Safety Articles
Which Foot Down?
Preparing For Rain
Stopping in the Roadway
Encountering Animals
Why I Commute by Bike
Save Time Commuting by Bike
Your Bike and Knee
You Can be Too Far Right
Wrong Way Cyclists
Choosing the Right Tire
Don't Scare the Slow Guy
Using Your Front Brake
How Safe is Bicycling?
How Safe is Your Helmet?
Making Left Turns
Where on the Road Do You Belong?
Rumble strips on the Shoulder
Safer Without Helmet?
Impaired Drivers
Take Your Body to its Limits