Safe passing image courtesy Texas Bicycle Coalition
In the wake of Governor Rick Perry’s veto of the Safe Passing Bill in June, Bicycle Sport Shop’s community relations person, Leslie Luciano, worked with Bike Texas to promote a petition to collect the names of people who were upset by the blocking of this safety bill which had overwhelming bi-partisan support.
Luciano made some Freedom of Information requests of the Governor’s office and found the public was in support of the bill as well. From the BSS Blog:
Texas lawmakers recently voted overwhelming for our “safe passing” bill – 142-0 in the House and 26-5 in the Senate.
And then it went to Gov. Rick Perry, whose office was flooded in recent months with a whopping show of support for SB 488. More than 2,300 Texans (perhaps some of you) made phone calls or sent emails and letters to the governor’s office. Of those, 2,244 expressed support for our “vulnerable road users” bill. Only 87 raised objections – and many of those were based on ignorance of the bill. Folks, that’s 96 percent in favor!
Luciano also found that the handful of opponents to the bill spewed anti-cyclists rants. Here are some of the gems she found:
From Robert Ellis -Plano: “I love passing close to cyclists who shouldn’t be on roads….With your veto I can continue to pass them in the same lane……Fortunately, I can continue to squeak by such fitness fanatics”.
From Michael Mushegan-Austin: “The roadways are for motorists to travel….the bicyclist already seem to feel that they have the right of motor vehicles….”.
Hmm, as we are reminded everyday, Mr. Mushegan, we are vehicles and expected to follow the same traffic laws. And I for one am tired of being passed by foreign oil consuming, sit on ‘ur butt fanatics driving a hunk of steel that could kill me as if it were a golf cart, Mr. Ellis.
The Austin American Statesman is reporting that over 3000 people have signed the petition so far. You can sign the petition online at Bike Texas.
on Jul 14th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
PETITIONS DON’T WORK
WHAT WILL WORK?
EVERY SUPPORTER WHO IS A BICYCLE ENTHUSIAST AND EVERY PARENT WHO HAS A CHILD WITH A BIKE SHOULD SHOW UP AT THE CAPITAL (WITH A BIKE).
Rick Perry could care less about child safety. Remember, he doesn’t even obey traffic laws because he is the Governor.
on Jul 14th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Actually, Audie, votes work. The petition is a way to identify and mobilize cyclists to vote this bum out of office come election time.
Your idea is not a bad one, but I’d wait until the next legislative session to do that because nothing will happen on this until then (2011.) Meanwhile, it’s time to organize, organize, organize.
on Jul 14th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I´m agree with elliott. I think that it is a suggestion as a way to mobilize cyclists to vote. We`d wait until the next legislative session will go on. We have to organize all the time until it`s arrive.