January 11, 2013 Via Email Sen. Barbara Favola Senate of Virginia P.O.

Box 396 Richmond, VA 23218 Re: Senate Bill 959

Dear Senator Favola: The Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) is writing to express its concerns with your proposed Senate Bill 959. The bill appears to be aimed at providing a new enforcement mechanism aimed at trail users crossing high speed roadways. While we share your interest in improving safety and reducing user conflicts at the intersection of roads and trails, we do not believe that the proposed language would achieve that purpose. As a result, we request that you withdraw your support for this bill. If you must support it, we request that you amend it to address the issues we explain below. At present, the Code of Virginia already provides that no pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection disregard of approaching traffic. VA Code Section 46.2.-924. Further, Section 46.2-904 of the Code provides that a person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorized skateboard or scooter, motor-driven cycle, or an electric power-assisted bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances. As a result, the Code of Virginia already requires that cyclists and other trail users not enter roadways in disregard of approaching traffic. Tacking on a redundant enforcement clause does not improve the situation for anyone. Further, the proposed language envisions the possibility of ordinances requiring that pedestrians come to a complete stop before entering a crosswalk. This would be, we believe, a novel event in the Virginia Code. We also note that the language may allow any locality to place an enforceable stop sign at any crosswalk it chooses, without regard to the traffic engineering standards that are imposed on roadway-facing stop signs. A proliferation of signs at trail intersections has the unintended consequence of preventing trail users and motorists from readily seeing each other. Finally, we note that the proposed maximum fine is several times the regular maximum fine of other bicycle-related offenses in the Virginia Code (normally capped at $50). We suggest that, if this bill must go forward, that the fine be set at the same level. The BAC appreciates that you recognize that cycling plays an important part of the transportation and livability equation for Virginias residents and visitors, and have historically been a friend of better cycling in the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, we cannot support Senate Bill 959 in its present form, as we do not believe it will contribute to safer intersections. We would, however, welcome the opportunity to work with you to craft a clearer standard for right-of-way at crosswalks and trail intersections, with such a

bill clarifying the enforceability of trail-facing stop signs approved and posted in compliance with modern engineering standards. Thank you for soliciting our input in making Virginias roads and trails a safer and more welcoming environment for all users. Sincerely,

Jakob Wolf-Barnett Chair Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee