WEEKEND AND BEYOND. COMING UP. THANK YOU. ZANE. WELL, STATE LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS BICYCLE SAFETY THIS YEAR. A PREVIOUS PROPOSAL WAS PULLED FROM CONSIDERATION TODAY. AND IOWA CYCLISTS SAY THIS BILL WAS TOO RESTRICTIVE. KCCI SENIOR REPORTER TODD MAGEL JOINS US LIVE FROM THE STATEHOUSE TO EXPLAIN. JODI AND LAURA. INITIALLY, THIS LEGISLATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE BIKE SAFETY RELATED, BUT CRITICS SAY IT’S FAR MORE DRASTIC THAN THEY COULD EVER IMAGINE. IN OUR VERY HUMBLE OPINION, THIS IS THE MOST ANTI BIKING BILL IN THE HISTORY OF THE IOWA LEGISLATURE. UNFORTUNATELY, LUKE HOFFMAN IS WORRIED. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA BIKE COALITION SAYS A NEW BIKE SAFETY BILL COULD DESTROY RECREATIONAL BIKING IN IOWA. 1 IN 3 IOWANS 900,000 RESIDENTS OWN A BIKE HOUSE STUDY BILL. 637 CALLS FOR A NUMBER OF MAJOR CHANGES TO IOWA BIKING LAWS. FOR EXAMPLE, IT WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO RIDE BIKES, EBIKES, SCOOTERS, WHEELCHAIRS, STROLLERS, OR ANY KIND OF PERSONAL CONVEYANCE ON ROADS THAT EXCEED 25MPH. IT WOULD BAN E-BIKES FROM SIDEWALKS AND MULTI-USE TRAILS, AND WOULD EFFECTIVELY BAN BIKE COURIERS AND PACKAGE DELIVERIES BY BIKE. VIOLATORS COULD FACE 30 DAYS IN JAIL AND FINES OF $855. IT’S DISGUISED AS A BIKE SAFETY BILL, BUT WHAT IT REALLY DOES IS FUNCTIONALLY AND EXPLICITLY BANS BIKING ON MOST OF IOWA’S ROADWAYS, IF NOT ALL, HOFFMAN SAYS. THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO EFFECTIVELY BAN RAGBRAI AND DESTROY THE BOOMING BIKING ECONOMY IN IOWA. THE IMPACT OF JUST RECREATIONAL BICYCLING IN IOWA EVERY YEAR, YEAR OVER YEAR THIS PAST JANUARY IS 1.4 BILLION. I THINK YOU’D SEE THAT GO WELL BELOW 10 MILLION. I THINK YOU WOULD BE KNEECAPPING ONE OF THE TOP 50 INDUSTRIES IN IOWA. AND WE DID REACH OUT TO LAWMAKERS CONNECTED TO THIS BILL TODAY. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MIKE VONDRAN SAYS THAT THEY ACTUALLY DECIDED TO PULL THE BILL EARLIER TODAY FROM CONSIDERATION. HE SAID IT NEEDS MORE WORK. SO HE WAS NOT ABLE YET TO COMMENT ON WHAT IS IN THIS BILL. THE BIKE COALITION IS URGING BIKE RIDERS TO CONTACT THEIR LEGISLATORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT GET PASSED. WE’RE LIVE AT THE STATE HOUSE. TODD MAGEL,
Iowa cyclists are raising concerns over a new bill in the state Legislature that they believe could drastically limit biking activities across the state. The bill, described as bike safety legislation, has been met with criticism from cycling advocates who argue it is far more restrictive than anticipated.”In our very humble opinion, this is the most anti-biking bill in the history of the Iowa Legislature, unfortunately,” said Luke Hoffman, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition.Hoffman expressed worry that the proposed bike safety bill could significantly impact recreational biking in Iowa, where 1 in 3 residents, totaling 900,000 people, owns a bike. House Study Bill 637 proposes several major changes to Iowa biking laws, including making it illegal to ride bikes, e-bikes, scooters, wheelchairs, strollers, or any kind of personal conveyance on roads with speed limits exceeding 25 miles per hour. The bill would also ban e-bikes from sidewalks and multi-use trails and effectively prohibit bike couriers and package delivery by bikes. Violators could face 30 days in jail and fines of $855.”It’s disguised as a bike safety bill. But what it really does is, functionally and explicitly, bans biking on most of Iowa’s roadways, if not all,” Hoffman said.Hoffman also noted that the legislation would effectively ban RAGBRAI, a popular annual bike ride across Iowa, and could severely damage the state’s thriving biking economy.”The impact of just recreational bicycling in Iowa every year, year over year, this came out past January, is 1.4 billion. I think you’d see that go well below 10 million. I think you would be kneecapping one of the top 50 industries in Iowa,” Hoffman said.Lawmakers were contacted for comment, and Public Safety Committee Chair Mike Vondran stated that the bill was pulled from consideration on Tuesday, indicating it needs more work. He declined to comment further. Meanwhile, the Iowa Bike Coalition is urging bike riders to contact the Legislature.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa cyclists are raising concerns over a new bill in the state Legislature that they believe could drastically limit biking activities across the state. The bill, described as bike safety legislation, has been met with criticism from cycling advocates who argue it is far more restrictive than anticipated.
“In our very humble opinion, this is the most anti-biking bill in the history of the Iowa Legislature, unfortunately,” said Luke Hoffman, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition.
Hoffman expressed worry that the proposed bike safety bill could significantly impact recreational biking in Iowa, where 1 in 3 residents, totaling 900,000 people, owns a bike.
House Study Bill 637 proposes several major changes to Iowa biking laws, including making it illegal to ride bikes, e-bikes, scooters, wheelchairs, strollers, or any kind of personal conveyance on roads with speed limits exceeding 25 miles per hour. The bill would also ban e-bikes from sidewalks and multi-use trails and effectively prohibit bike couriers and package delivery by bikes. Violators could face 30 days in jail and fines of $855.
“It’s disguised as a bike safety bill. But what it really does is, functionally and explicitly, bans biking on most of Iowa’s roadways, if not all,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman also noted that the legislation would effectively ban RAGBRAI, a popular annual bike ride across Iowa, and could severely damage the state’s thriving biking economy.
“The impact of just recreational bicycling in Iowa every year, year over year, this came out past January, is 1.4 billion. I think you’d see that go well below 10 million. I think you would be kneecapping one of the top 50 industries in Iowa,” Hoffman said.
Lawmakers were contacted for comment, and Public Safety Committee Chair Mike Vondran stated that the bill was pulled from consideration on Tuesday, indicating it needs more work. He declined to comment further. Meanwhile, the Iowa Bike Coalition is urging bike riders to contact the Legislature.
