The Blog Page

News, commentary and humor about bicycling and other topics of the day

 

Small victory for Illinois cyclists!

House Bill 2390, the bill that's intended to fix the problems for Illinois bicyclists caused by the Illinois Supreme Court's ruling in Boub v. Wayne, passed the Illinois House today -- just barely, by a 60-55 vote. The bill now goes to the Illinois Senate, where another tough battle is expected.

What I found distressing about the vote is that only two metro-east legislators, Reps. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville, and Wyvetter Younge, D-East St. Louis, voted for the bill. The others -- Reps. Tom Holbrook, D-Belleville; Ron Stephens, R-Mulberry Grove; Dan Beiser, D-Alton; Dan Reitz, D-Steeleville; Kurt Granberg, D-Carlyle -- opposed it. Here's a link to the full roll-call vote: House roll call vote PDF file

I realize there are some very serious issues about liability and lawsuits in the metro-east, but this bill simply gives bicyclists the rights they have in all the other states. Taken as a whole, local government groups have accepted HB2390 language much more than any previous version.

According to the Leauge of Illinois Bicyclists and the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the language very specifically addresses the main wishes that the local governments have raised:

• No obligation to maintain roads to a higher standard for bicyclists.
• No obligation to upgrade existing roads for bicyclists.
• No liability for minor road conditions that would not be hazardous to a passenger car.

Bicycle groups throughout Illinois hope the Senate will pass the bill and that Gov. Rod Blagojevich will sign it to make Illinois a more bicycle-friendly state.

Roger 0 comments 7:24 PM