BICYCLIST REGULATIONS S.B. 1224 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 1224 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Michelle A. McManus
Committee: Transportation
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:
-- Require vehicle operators to yield the right-of-way to bicyclists under certain circumstances.
-- Delete references to bicycles from provisions that apply to the operation of an electric personal assistive mobility device, low-speed vehicle, motorcycle, moped, or bicycle, and establish provisions that would apply to bicyclists specifically.
-- Allow an individual to park a bicycle on a sidewalk or highway or street, subject to certain conditions.
Currently, a person operating a bicycle must ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. Under the bill, instead, a person operating a bicycle upon a highway or street at less than the existing speed of traffic would have to ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except as follows:
-- When overtaking and passing another bicycle or any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
-- When preparing to turn left.
-- When operating a bicycle in a lane in which the traffic was turning right but the individual intended to go straight through the intersection.
-- When operating a bicycle upon a one-way highway or street having two or more marked traffic lanes, in which case the individual could ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.
-- When conditions made the right-hand edge unsafe or reasonably unusable by bicycles, or if the lane were too narrow to permit a vehicle to overtake and pass a bicycle safely.
Under the Code, where a usable and designated bicycle path is provided adjacent to a roadway, a bicyclist or an electric personal assistive mobility device operator may, by local ordinance, be required to use that path. The bill would delete the reference to a bicyclist.
MCL 257.612 et al. Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 5-10-06 Fiscal Analyst: Stephanie Yu
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb1224/0506