QOL_VulnerableRoadUsers_102212
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Transcript of QOL_VulnerableRoadUsers_102212
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VulnerableRoadUsers
PublicSafetyCommittee
October
22,
2012
www.dallaspolice.net
DavidO.Brown
ChiefOfPolice1
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Purpose
Thepurposeofthisbriefing
Review
proposed
City
Ordinance
regarding
humanpoweredwheeledvehicles
Provideanoverviewofcurrentlaws
Discussthe
differences
between
the
proposed
ordinanceandexistingstatelaw
Brieflyaddressbicyclelanemarkings(fullbriefing
scheduled
in
January
2013)
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Goals
Protectthesafetyofbicyclistsandmotorists
by
Strengtheningappropriateordinancesregulating
behaviorsinthisarea
Improvingpublic
awareness
of
bicyclists
and
motoriststobemoreawareofbike
lanes/markings
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Bicycle/VehicleCrashReview
Lessthan1%oftrafficaccidentsinthecity
involvebicyclists
Causationfactorsvaryconsiderably
Mostcommon
factor
(27%)
involves
bicyclist
enteringtheroadwayfromasidewalk
Approximately58%ofvehicle/bicycle
accidentsfind
the
vehicle
at
fault
(52
of
89
accidents)
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VulnerableRoadUserLaw
Highlightsofordinance
Limited
tohuman
powered
wheeled
vehicles
Definesclearlywhatisa"safepass
Addresses
safe
right
turns
in
front
of
bicyclistsProvisiontopreventvehiclesfromthrowingor
projectingitemsatbicyclists
Providesadefense
to
drivers,
if
bicyclist
is
operatinginviolationofexistinglaws
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RecentStateLawActivity
AStatewideVulnerableRoadUserlawwas
passedby
both
houses
in
2009
VetoedbytheGovernor reasonscited
Createsnew
class
of
road
user
Placesresponsibilityonmotorist
Redundancywithexistinglaw
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OtherCities/States
Asimilarlywordedordinancehasbeenpassed
inseveral
cities
in
Texas
NewBraunfels,Beaumont,Helotes,ElPaso,
Austin,SanAntonio,Edinburg,Denton,Plano
20stateshavestatutesaddressingpassing
bicyclesataspecifieddistance
Anadditional
19
states
have
similar
statutes
for
safepassingwithnospecificdistancerequirement
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Enforcement
Officerswillmonitorareasofheavybicycle
traffic Policewillrespondtocomplaintsof
bicycle/vehicle
encounters Citizensretaintherighttofilecomplaints
(mirrorsotherCityOrdinances)
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CurrentStateLaw
Generallyplacesequalresponsibilityonthe
motoristand
bicyclist
Protectsbicyclistsby
definingwhere
in
the
roadway
they
may
ride
light/reflectorrequirements
Requiresvehiclesto
passsafelytotheleft
yieldrightofwaywhenmakingarighthandturn
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Comparison
ProposedOrdinancevs.ExistingStateLawProposedOrdinance ExistingLaw
DefinitionofVulnerableRoadUser
defines
specifically
to
include
only
human
powered
wheeledvehicles
VariousdefinitionsexistunderTexas
Transportation
Code
PassingaVulnerableRoadUser designates
vacatinglanewhenpossible
Bicyclistsmustrideonrightcurboredge
SafeDistance
placesrequirementondriverto
reenterlaneatasafedistance
Passingtotheleftatasafedistance,maintain
cleardistancebetweenvehicles
Rightturnsinfrontofbicyclists
defineswhat
isasaferightturn
Operatorsshallyieldrightofwaywhenturning
right
Throwingorprojectingitemsatbicyclists
specificallyaddressed
Nospecificdefinitionsinstatelaw
Defensetoprosecutionifbicyclistisoperating
inviolationofcityordinance,stateorfederal
law
Notspecificallyaddressedbutgenerallytreats
bicyclistswiththesamerulesasvehicles
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SafeDistance
Othercitiesandstateshaveadoptedspecific
distancerequirements
(20
states)
Planohas threefootrequirement
19
states
do
not
have
specific
requirementNoreliablemeanstomeasuredistance
Determinationbyofficerofwhatisasafe
distance topass
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ResponsibilityofCyclist
Chapter9oftheDallasCityCodegovernsthe
operations
of
cyclists
on
streets
and
sidewalks
withintheCity
Itstatesthatbicyclistaresubjecttoalllaws
applicableto
any
other
vehicle
Bicyclistridingonpublicsidewalksshallyieldthe
rightofwaytopedestrians
Bicyclistareprohibitedfromusingdefined
freewaysandexpressways
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BicycleLaneMarkings
SharedLaneAtravellanethatisopenforallvehicularusewithmarkingsindicatingthe
appropriate
positioning
for
the
cyclist
BikeLanesAbikelaneisaportionoftheroadwaydesignatedbystriping,signing,andpavementmarkingsfortheexclusiveandpreferentialuseofbicyclists
BufferedBikeLanesBufferedbikelanesoperateinthesamemanner asanormalbikelane,butfeatureadditionalspacebetweenthebikelaneandtheadjacenttravellane
CycleTracksAcycletrackisaonewayortwowayfacilityfortheexclusiveuseofbicyclists,physicallyseparatedfrommotorvehicletraffic,andyetdistinctfromthesidewalk
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SharedLaneMarkingsSharedLaneMarkings
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BikeLanesBikeLanes
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BufferedBikeLane/CycleTracksBufferedBikeLane/CycleTracks
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FutureSteps
CouncilBriefingofBikeandTrailPlan
ImplementationStatusupdateonBikePlanearlyimplementation
projects
OutlineofTrail/BikePlanintegration
FutureProjectPrioritization
BicycleEducation
Program
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Summary
Theproposedordinancewillacttoaddressgapsin
state
law Givesofficersadditionalenforcementtoolsclearly
definessafepassing
Greaterawareness
and
education
for
the
public
Possiblecourtissueswithdefiningsafedistance
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ProposedOrdinance
AnordinanceaddingDivision5toArticleVIofCHAPTER28,MOTORVEHICLESANDTRAFFIC,
ofthe
DallasCityCode;definingterms;providingrequirementsforthe
safetyofvulnerableroadusers;providing
apenaltynottoexceed$500;providingasavingclause;providingaseverabilityclause;andprovidingan
effectivedate.
BEITORDAINEDBYTHECITYCOUNCILOFTHECITYOFDALLAS:
SECTION1.ThatArticleVI,OperationofVehicles,
ofCHAPTER28,MOTORVEHICLESANDTRAFFIC,
of
theDallasCityCodeisamendedbyaddinganewDivision5,OperationofVehiclesnearVulnerableRoadUsers,
toreadasfollows:
Division5.OperationofVehiclesnearVulnerableRoadUsers.
SEC.28
58.1.
DEFINITION.
Inthisdivision,VULNERABLEROADUSERmeansapersonoperatingabicycle,handcycle,unicycle,orotherhumanpoweredwheeledvehicleonastreetorhighway.
SEC.2858.2.PROTECTIONOFVULNERABLEROADUSERS.
(a)Theoperatorofamotorvehiclecommitsanoffenseif,while
passingavulnerableroaduseronastreet
orhighway,he:
(1)
fails
to
entirely
vacate
the
lane
occupied
by
the
vulnerable
road
user;
or
(2)reentersthelaneoccupiedbythevulnerableroaduserbeforehavingpassedthevulnerableroaduseratasafedistance.
(b)Theoperatororpassengerofamotorvehiclecommitsanoffenseifheknowinglythrowsorprojectsanyobjectorsubstanceatoragainstavulnerableroaduser.
(c)Theoperatorofamotorvehiclecommitsanoffenseifheovertakesavulnerableroadusertravelinginthesamedirectionandsubsequentlymakesarighthandturninfrontofthevulnerableroaduserunlessthe
operator
is
safely
clear
of
the
vulnerable
road
user,
taking
into
account
the
speed
at
which
the
vulnerableroaduseristravelingandthebrakingrequirementsofthevehiclemakingtherighthandturn.
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ProposedOrdinance(cont.)
(d)ItisadefensetoprosecutionunderSubsections(a)and(c)
that,atthetimeoftheoffense,the
vulnerableroaduserwasactinginviolationofacityordinance
orstateorfederallawregulatingthe
operationofbicycles.
(e)ItisadefensetoprosecutionunderSubsection(a)(1)iftheoperatorofthemotorvehicle:
(1)was
unable
to
move
into
an
adjacent
lane
of
the
street
or
highway
due
to
aphysical
barrier
or
obstructionorbecausethechangeoflaneswouldhaveviolateda cityordinanceorstateorfederallaw;and
(2)passedthevulnerableroaduseratasafespeedanddistance.
SECTION2.Thatapersonviolatingaprovisionofthisordinance,uponconviction,ispunishablebyafinenottoexceed$500.
SECTION3.
That
Chapter
28
of
the
Dallas
City
Code,
as
amended,
will
remain
in
full
force
and
effect,
save
andexceptasamendedbythisordinance.
SECTION4.ThatthetermsandprovisionsofthisordinanceareseverableandaregovernedbySection14ofChapter1oftheDallasCityCode,asamended.
SECTION5.Thatthisordinancewilltakeeffectimmediatelyfrom
andafteritspassageandpublicationin
accordancewiththeprovisionsoftheCharteroftheCityofDallas,anditisaccordinglysoordained.
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