SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1576 FILED ON: 1/18/2019
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2097
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Adam G. Hinds
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act promoting bicycle safety.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
Adam G. Hinds | Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden |
Smitty Pignatelli | 4th Berkshire |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1576 FILED ON: 1/18/2019
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2097
By Mr. Hinds, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2097) of Adam G. Hinds and Smitty Pignatelli for legislation to promote bicycle safety. Transportation. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act promoting bicycle safety.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Transporter” the following definition:-
“Vulnerable user”, (i) a pedestrian, including a person actually engaged in work upon a way or upon utility facilities along a way or engaged in the provision of emergency services within the way; or (ii) a person operating a bicycle, handcycle, tricycle, skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, non-motorized scooter, wheelchair, electric personal assistive mobility device, horse, horse-drawn carriage, motorized bicycle, motorized scooter or farm tractor or similar vehicle designed primarily for farm use.
SECTION 2. Section 14 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:-
In passing a vulnerable user the operator of a motor vehicle shall pass at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet when the motor vehicle is traveling at 30 miles per hour or less, with 1 additional foot of clearance for every 10 miles per hour that the vehicle is traveling above 30 miles per hour.
SECTION 3. The department of transportation shall erect and maintain proper signage along public ways as it considers necessary to notify operators of motor vehicles to share the road with vulnerable users from a safe distance, as required by section 2.