South Dakota Bicycle Coalition

Take a look …

You’ll find the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition representing South Dakota bicyclists in a note to US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood for his bicycling and walking policy.

The letter including representation from all 50 states and was delivered, by bicycle, on May 28 to Secretary LaHood.

For more on this effort, view fastlane.dot.gov and  the League of American Bicyclists blog http://www.bikeleague.org/blog.

On May 13 the Brookings middle school hosted a bicycle education event using a portion of their Safe Routes to School funding. Steve Clark from Transit for Livable Communities in St Paul, MN led the training for a group of educators.

The League of American Bicyclist’s Smart Cycling curriculum was a large portion of the content. Our own League Cycling Instructor Jim Books assisted Steve throughout the day. The instruction included classroom time as well as parking lot drills and road cycling skills.

There was also emphasis on creating a sustainable school education program as the Brookings School Districts’ plans include Physical Education classes containing a bicycle education component.

U.S. Bicycle Route System: Build it. Bike it. Be a part of it!

Support the USBRS

The South Dakota Bicycle Coalition supports the creation of a national network of bicycle routes – the U.S. Bicycle Route Systems. We also support Adventure Cycling Association’s fundraising efforts to connect cyclists across the U.S. through the USBRS.

During May – which is also National Bike Month – a campaign is underway to raise funds to support the project.

Donate $10 today to support the creation of a national network of bicycle routes: the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS), a visionary project that will be similar to the national and international systems blossoming across the globe, such as Euro Vélo.

The routes will connect cyclists across the U.S. with cities, transportation hubs, scenic and historic destinations through existing (and new) infrastructure; routes will be numbered and officially recognized by state and federal government agencies. Your donation is tax deductible.

Learn more about the U.S. Bicycle Route System and donate $10 today on its Change.org page (no login required): http://www.adventurecycling.org/usbrsdonate

You can also donate to the campaign through Facebook’s Causes application: http://www.causes.com/causes/419721

Want to help spread the word about this campaign? Learn how http://www.adventurecycling.org/beapartofit

League of American Bicyclists Traffic Skills 101
Friday May 14 5:30 to 9pm
Saturday May 15 9am to 4pm
The Outdoor Campus, 49th & Oxbow, Sioux Falls, SD

Facilitators:
Special guest Steve Clark – program manager Bike Walk Twin Cities.
Jim Books & Michael Christensen SDBC Board & League Certified Instructors

Register via e-mail at sdbicyclecoalition@gmail.com

State Bike Coalition Offers On-the-Bike Skills Training

The South Dakota Bicycle Coalition is pleased to be invited by the Spearfish Bicycle Cooperative to lead a group of cycling enthusiasts through the League of American Bicyclists Traffic Skills 101 Smart Cycling curriculum.

Statement from the SDBC President:

Although SB 70 is apparently dead for this session, I want to thank everyone who contacted legislators, went to cracker barrels, talked to the media, commented on blogs, or did anything else to educate cyclists and motorists about the proposed 3 foot safe passage law.

Thank you also to Sen. Sandy Jerstad for bringing this bill to the legislature and for her determined advocacy for the bill. And, thanks to all the sponsors on the bill and to those who voted ‘yes.’

Very few bills get through the legislative process on the first attempt. Be assured the SD Bicycle Coalition will be back next year with a similar bill. We all learned from the concerns raised during the Senate debate. Now, we have a year to consider those concerns and prepare for the 2011 legislative session.

We also learned the importance and need for a Share the Road educational campaign for all who use South Dakota’s roads. This is in the future for our organization.

I sincerely encourage you to join SDBC to further support improving the attitudes and atmosphere for bicycling in this state.

If you ride a road bike or a mountain bike or anything in between; ride on the highways, around town or to get to work; if you have children who bicycle to school or just for fun; if you are young, old or somewhere in the middle; if you are the picture of fitness or are working on it … if you ride a bicycle for whichever reason you do, YOU are a bicyclist and your voice is needed.

We – the SDBC and South Dakota’s bicycle community – need all our voices to collectively promote and educate on bicycling in our state; to speak for this sport, hobby, lifestyle, maybe even love affair, we enjoy with our bicycles.

Thank you for your hard work to better bicycling in South Dakota.

Sincerely,

Caitlin F. Collier
SDBC President

SB70 saw its final day as a bill in the South Dakota legislature today, on Thursday, Feb. 18.

Senator Jerstad introduced a new amendment relating to use of reflective clothing and bicycle. The purpose of the new amendment would address a concern with an inappropriate penalty. This move failed by voice vote. The original amendment then failed by voice vote.

Finally, the senate rejected the original bill itself with a 10 to 24 vote.

SDBC remains supportive of the original SB70, requesting a 3ft clearance when passing a cyclists. The amendment – to require reflective material on the person’s bicycle and clothing – only confuses the issue of bicyclists as vehicles and the message to safely share the road.

Please, take this opportunity to cultivate your relationship with your senators and remind them – they can support the original bill yet still be opposed to the amendment.

SB 70 and the amendment will be heard in the Senate tomorrow (Thursday) at 2pm.

Who are my legislators?

A list of all the senators with direct contact information.

Thank you.

SB70 will likely be considered by the senate this week. Please contact your senator and remind them that you’d like to see this bill pass.

RE: SB 70, Three Feet Safe Passing Legislation

Dear Members of the Senate Transportation Committee,

Thank you for considering the proposed legislation that would define the minimum safe distance for a motor vehicle to pass a bicyclist on the left.

It was late in the afternoon on August 21, 2003 and I was biking on hiway 89 between Custer and Sylvan Lake. There were three of us biking and I was bringing up the rear. An RV pulling a trailer with protruding fenders passed me and the fender caught my bike. I do not remember anything about the accident or my three week stay at the hospital in Rapid City. I was taken by ambulance to the Custer Hospital and then air lifted to Rapid City. I had a severe concussion, eight multiple broken ribs, dislocated shoulder, broken scapula, and a punctured lung.

I was on pain medication for over six months and suffered from deep depression. I basically spent two years in hell. But the sun did come up again and I am now 99% cured.

If the driver of the RV had been aware of a minimum standard for safely passing a bicyclist, my accident might have been prevented. However, what I am now really concerned about, is my desire to help prevent unnecessary crashes from happening in the future.

I have worked with young people for over 40 years and have always been concerned about their safety. There are a lot of young bikers and their safety has to be important to all of us. If a simple law like the 3′ rule saves one life it will be well worth it. I certainly hope this law will get your support and pass.

Sincerely,
Larry Luitjens

Last week SB 70 took quite a ride through the Senate Transportation Committee, but has landed on the Senate floor.

After more than and hour of lively discussion Wednesday morning, the committee voted against passing the bill. The audio (.mp3) includes testimony from two SDBC board members and several South Dakota cyclists; plus, the senators’ questions on and feedback against the bill.

Wednesday morning’s 3-4 vote tabled the bill.
Yays: Fryslie, Hanson (Gary), Maher
Nays: Kloucek, Vehle, Schmidt, Howie

By that afternoon Sen. Frank Kloucek apparently changed his mind, opening the door for Sen. Sandy Jerstad, bill sponsor, to move, from the Senate floor, that the bill be delivered for discussion. The Transportation Committee reconvened and ultimately voted 4-3 to deliver the bill “without recommendation.”

Yays: Fryslie, Hanson (Gary), Maher, Kloucek
Nays: Howie, Schmidt, Vehle

Thursday, SB70 was delivered to the Senate floor. On Friday, Sen. Jerstad tried to push the bill along on the floor, asking to change the committee’s “without recommendation” to a “do pass” and that the bill be considered immediately. However, the motion was deferred and will now be considered by the Senate on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 16.

Here is the important bottom line: If Sen. Jerstad’s motion prevails, it’s likely the bill could come up for Senate vote shortly after.

Now is the time to contact all the senators and let them know that as South Dakota cyclists we’d really like to see this bill pass the Senate. If you have already done this consider a shorter note indicating, even after the week’s events, you still support them in supporting SB 70.

Monday is a the Presidents’ Day holiday, a day off for legislators. Tuesday’s Senate session begins at 2pm. Phone calls can go to the Capitol Building and messages will be delivered to the Senators.

Please help in the effort to pass the 3 Feet Please bill.

Who are my legislators?

A list of all the senators with direct contact information.