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
