South Dakota Bicycle Coalition

Meet your legislators. Find a legislative crackerbarrel near you and introduce them to SB70, the 3 foot bill.

The South Dakota Bicycle Coalition encourages you to attend a crackerbarrel in your community. Then, find out if your legislators support this bill, which could make cycling safer on South Dakota roadways. Offer them encouragement and thank them for their help in passing this valuable legislation.

The next crackerbarrel events are Saturday, Jan. 30 in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Murdo and Yankton. Watch your local media for additional opportunities to meet your legislators.

Supporters of SB70 should take note. The bill will first be heard in the Senate Transportation committee. If it passes committee, the bill continues its journey. Two Rapid City legislators sit on this committee: Dennis Schmidt and Gordon Howie. Consider attending a Rapid City crackerbarrel to shake hands with these gentlemen and give them a personal side to think about when considering the 3 foot bill.

Committee member, Senator Gary Hanson from Sisseton is a co-sponsor of this bill.

Of course, as this bill progresses ALL senators and representative will be presented chance to consider it. All contacts are valuable.

Times & Locations:

• Rapid City: 9 to 11am – South Dakota School of Mines New Classroom Building
• Sioux Falls: 10am – Holiday Inn City Centre, Starlite Room, 100 W. 8th St.
• Murdo: Turner Community Center
• Yankton: 10am Roncalli Center at Mount Marty College

The complete Senate Transportation Committee members are:

• Senator Mike Vehle, (R) – District 20, Mitchell – 605-224-6877 – sen.vehle@state.sd.us
• Senator Dennis Schmidt, (R) – District 33, Rapid City – 605-773-3821 – sen.schmidt@state.sd.us
• Senator Art Fryslie (R) – District 6, Willow Lake – 605-773-3821 – sen.fryslie@state.sd.us
• Senator Gary Hanson (D) – District 1, Sisseton – 605-224-4200 – sen.ghanson@state.sd.us
• Senator Gordon Howie, (R) – District 30, Rapid City – 605-773-3821 – sen.howie@state.sd.us
• Senator Frank Kloucek, (D) – District 19, Scotland – 605-773-3821 – 605-583-4468 – sen.kloucek@state.sd.us
• Senator Ryan Maher, (D) – District 28, Isabel – 605-850-3598 – sen.maher@state.sd.us

We are pleased fill our open board position with Jeremy Smith from Spearfish. Jeremy is a founder of the Spearfish Bicycle Cooperative which opened its doors last September. The cooperative is a volunteer run organization on a mission “dedicated to the proposition that all bicycles are created equal and all people should have access to a bicycle.”

- require motorists to overtake bicyclists safely, with at least a 3-foot margin. State law already requires vehicles to pass other vehicles safely. A 3-foot law will better communicate a safe passing distance for road sharing motorists and bicyclists.

- support the legal concept of bicycles as vehicles. As vehicles, bicycles belong on the road and are to abide by traffic laws, just as motor vehicles. Thus, bicyclists – as vehicle operators – should also be treated with respect by motorists.

- uphold the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists and motorists by encouraging operator education. In states which have enacted the law, it is used as an educational tool to promote safe practices by motorists.

- move South Dakota higher in national rankings as a bicycle-friendly state. The state’s reputation for scenic bicycle routes is building the bicycle tourism market, now hosting over 1000 cyclists in multi-day tours each year. This number could explode as the state supports a message to safely share the road, as reinforced through a 3-foot law.

A bill to improve the sharing of roads between motorists and bicyclists was introduced in the South Dakota legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

The bill – SB70 – was read in the Senate and now sits on the docket of the Senate Transportation committee. It would “provide certain restrictions regarding the passing of a bicycle.”

By amending the Rules of the Road chapter (SDCL 32-36), the proposal would require a motorists, when passing a bicycle, to pass with a minimum of three feet of clearance.

As introduced, the bill reads reads as follows: “The driver of any motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall pass the bicycle as required by § 32-26-26 and shall leave a safe distance, but in no case less than three feet clearance, when passing the bicycle. The driver of the motor vehicle shall maintain the clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.”

The bill was introduced by Senators:
Sandy Jerstad (D) – Minnehaha, Lincoln
Tom Hansen (R) – Beadle, Hand, Jerauld
Gary Hanson (D) – Day, Marshall, Roberts
Pam Merchant (D) – Brookings
Kathy Miles (D) – Minnehaha
Ben Nesselhuf (D) – Clay, Turner
Jim Peterson (D) – Brookings, Deuel, Grant, Moody
Craig Tieszen (R) – Pennington
Nancy Turbak Berry (D) – Codington

Representatives:
Shantel Krebs (R) – Minnehaha, Lincoln
Elaine Elliott (D) – Brown, Spink
Richard Engels (D) – Minnehaha
Mitch Fargen (D) – Lake, Miner, Moody, Sanborn
Peggy Gibson (D) – Beadle, Hand, Jerauld
Noel Hamiel (R) – Aurora, Davison
Kristi Noem (R) – Beadle, Clark, Codington, Hamlin, Kingsbury
Eldon Nygaard (D) – Clay, Turner
Timothy Rave (R) – Hanson, McCook, Minnehaha
Manny Steele (R) – Lincoln, Minnehaha

Wednesday, Dec. 16, the SDBC Board met via conference call to continue building a vision for the group’s future. As the next few months roll by, a grander vision will become more clear. But, right now, we are crystal clear on one thing – a need for bicycling awareness and safety in South Dakota.

Our first public effort in 2010 for cyclist safety will be to work for passage of anticipated legislation requiring motorists to give cyclists a 3-foot passing berth – better known as the 3-foot law.

South Dakota’s legislative session begins Tuesday, Jan. 12 and runs through March. Our members are now researching information, strategizing to speak with legislators about the potential bill, and planning to be in position when it is discussed in Pierre.

The South Dakota Bicycle Coalition offers you, through your membership, an opportunity to be involved in the effort. For South Dakota bicyclists, we can be the most credible body to speak and the most organized body to act in support of this valuable piece of legislation.

We’d really like for you to come along for the ride.

Please join us. Then, tell your friends.

SDBC Board members include –

• Caitlin Collier, Vermillion – President
• Kevin Brady, Vermillion – Vice President
• Michael Christensen, Sioux Falls – Treasurer
• Jessica Giard, Chamberlain – Secretary
• Robb Rasmussen, Brookings – Member at Large
• Jim Books, Rapid City – Member at Large
• Jeremy Smith, Spearfish – Member at Large

The adopted bylaws have been posted to our website. They can be viewed here in pdf form.

Please review them and consider joining us in our mission.

The membership form can be downloaded here.

Join the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition. The PDF membership form is available here.

The SDBC was created by a bunch of avid cyclists around the state. Each member has a specific function that they excel at. We are dedicated to friendly streets, safe routes, healthy communities and the promotion of utilizing the bicycle for everyday activities. 

We are always looking for members who share the same passion for cycling. Contact us if you would like to be added to our mailing list about upcoming events. You can also check back here for updates.