From the Texas Bicycle Coalition:

The 2009 Safe Passing Bill will have a Texas House hearing by the Transportation Committee next Tuesday, March 24 at 8:00am. The room at the capitol is E2.014.

The bill includes the “3-feet clearance” provision for cars passing cyclists. It has also been expanded to address right and left hooks and harassment for a range of “vulnerable road users” including pedestrians, persons in wheelchairs, utility workers, motorcyclists and others on the road or roadside not in a protective steel vehicle shell. Click here for the current text of the bill.

What you can do to help:

Below are the Representatives on the Transportation Committee, with their party affiliation and general district areas.

Supporting HB 827
Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, (Primary Author) R- Irving, Dist. 105
Rep. Ryan Guillen,  D- Rio Grande City, Dist. 31
Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D- San Antonio, Dist. 120

Uncertain on support for HB 827
Rep. Joseph Pickett, (Chair) D- El Paso, Dist. 79
Rep. Larry Phillips, (Vice-Chair) R- Fannin, Grayson, Dist. 62
Rep. Bill Callegari, R- Harris, Dist. 132
Rep. Yvonne Davis, D- Dallas, Dist. 111
Rep. Jim Dunnam, D- Waco, Dist. 57
Rep. Tommy Merritt, R- Longview, Dist. 7
Rep. Todd Smith, R- Euless, Dist. 92
Rep. Wayne Smith, R- Baytown, Dist. 128

If you are represented by a State Representative who serves on the Transportation Committee, please call or email your Representative to ask for their “Yes” vote. If they already support HB 827, thank them. If they are uncertain on HB 827, urge them to vote “Yes”.  Communication should be direct and frank but should always be respectful. If you are not a constituent of any of these Representatives, please do not contact their offices because it creates additional unnecessary staff work. They naturally place much higher value on contact from constituents.

If you aren’t currently a member of the Texas Bicycle Coalition, support their efforts by joining right now at Bicycle Sport Shop for half price.

Related posts:

1. Testify in support of the Safe Passing Bill this Wednesday ...
2. Safe Passing Bill Passes in Texas Senate ...
3. Safe Passing bill delayed but making progress ...
4. ALERT: Senate Transportation Committee on Safe Passing Bill Postponed ...
5. Safe Passing Bill Clears Legislature, Heads to Governor for signature ...