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Old July 1st 03, 04:11 AM
bikerider7
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Default Bicyclists: Help Pass AB1408

Subject: Bicyclists: Statewide Call to Action on AB1408!

It is NOW or NEVER for AB1408, and if the California Highway Patrol has
their way this bill will be defeated and cyclists' right to the roadway
will remain unclear. Please help us contact key Senators in support of
AB1408 before July 8th hearing!

Assembly Bill 1408 (Wolk), sponsored by the California Bicycle Coalition,
would clarify bicyclists' rights and responsibilities and, in the future,
serve as a solid foundation for educational campaigns aimed at both
motorists and bicyclists.

We need your help TODAY to ensure the Senate Transportation Committee
hears from hundreds of cyclists statewide before the hearing on AB1408
onTuesday July 8th.

*Letters to Transportation Committee members are the most important way
you can help our effort. If your Senator is not a committee member (see
list below), please send a letter to the Senate Transportation Committee
Chair as well as to your Senator.

*Statewide Call-In Day for AB1408: Monday July 7th

*Attend the July 8th hearing in Sacramento; to participate contact Sarah
Syed at:

Sample letters, contact info for Senators, FAQ on AB1408, and more is
available at:
http://www.calbike.org/bikebill.htm and is also included
below.

A huge THANK YOU to those who have already helped!

Senate Transportation Committee Members:
Senator Kevin Murray (Chair)
Senator Tom McClintock (Vice-Chair)
Senator Roy Ashburn
Senator James Brulte
Senator Liz Figueroa
Senator Dean Florez
Senator Betty Karnette
Senator Bill Morrow
Senator Don Perata
Senator Jack Scott
Senator Jack Scott
Senator Nell Soto
Senator Jackie Speier
Senator Tom Torlakson

Senator contact info is available online at (need Senator name for
look-up): http://www.sen.ca.gov/~newsen/senators/senators.htp

If you don't know the name of your Senator, don't feel bad- most people
don't, you can find that out at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

Here's a sample letter (also available on our website at:
http://www.calbike.org/bikebill.htm) for you to cut and paste and send
ASAP. Letters sent via snail mail and fax are much more effective than
emails. Please insert personal details to make your letter more
convincing.

DATE

The Honorable FIRST NAME LAST NAME
California State Senate
California State Senate
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

AB1408(Wolk) SUPPORT

Dear Senator LAST NAME:

Please vote yes when AB1408 is heard by the Senate Transportation
Committee on July 8. As noted by the Legislative Counsel, the bill makes
"technical, nonsubstantive changes in existing law."

This bill updates technologically obsolete provisions of the vehicle code
pertaining to brakes, reflectors and lights that bicyclists are required
to use and clarifies language pertaining to where bicyclists should ride
on the roadway that has confused bicyclists and motorists since it was
enacted several decades ago. AB1408 would make clear that people riding
bikes may ride outside of the deadly door zone adjacent to parked cars,
where doors opened carelessly by people in cars injure and kill many
bicyclists each year. AB1408 will also add a definition of the term "door
zone" to the vehicle code to reduce misinterpretation.

AB1408 will help motorists, bicyclists and law enforcement personnel
better understand and apply state law, thus improving roadway safety for
all users.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS

**You can see the current version of AB1408 he
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/a...0030624_amende
d_sen.html

Once again, the CHP is hostile to the interests of cyclists.
The CHP has refused to even acknowledge that the current
vehicle code language needs any refinement and is so far staunchly
opposing the bill. The CHP's written and verbal comments on the
legislation are quite alarming. For example, the CHP has recommended that
bicyclists ride in the dangerous door zone adjacent to parked cars;
bicyclists know they need to leave some space in between themselves and
parked cars in order to avoid collisions caused when people inside cars
open doors without looking.

Read the CHP's analysis of the June 4th version of the bill on our
website at: http://www.calbike.org/cpoa.doc.
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