Vulnerable User Bill

RantWoman's email inbox is overflowing with opportunities to wear ruts in I-5 on lobbying expeditions to Olympia for this year's ugly-looking legislative session.

RantWoman supposes she should actually go read more about the issue AND that she should meditate about how the proposed legislation would interact with RantMom's encounter with the pickup last fall.

Nevertheless, sight unseen, RantWoman recommends serious consideration of the following item:

Subject: Vulnerable User Bill Protects Pedestrians

Dear Friend of Feet First:

Happy New Year!

One of the pieces of our work at Feet First is advocating for better walking conditions, which make going by foot the safe, easy and healthy choice. In order to move successfully into 2011, it's important we reflect on our work in 2010.

Last year Feet First arranged a visit by crosswalk accident victim andFeet First supporter, Alice Hilbert, so she could share the story of how she was struck in a Rainier Avenue crosswalk in Seattle andsubsequently discharged from the military due to her injuries.Legislators who heard her testimony were at the time considering the‘Vulnerable User’ bill, which would have allowed for stricter penalties when a driver seriously injured a pedestrian or cyclist on the roadway. Unfortunately, the bill did not pass, however, we continue to move the conversation forward and are working with Cascade Bicycle Club to make sure this year state legislators make the Vulnerable User Bill state law.

See http://blog.cascade.org/category/advocacy/vulnerable-user-bill/

We need your help! Please make sure legislators understand the importance of this bill by attending a hearing of the Vulnerable User Bill on Friday, January 21 at 1:30pm in the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

We are meeting at the Chelberg Senate Building, conference room 236, at 1pm on Friday the 21st for a briefing before the hearing. The hearing starts at 1:30pm and should last about 30-45 minutes. There will also be opportunity for you to set up a brief visit (5 minutes or so) with your representative after the hearing to check in, say hello, and ask them to support the Vulnerable User Bill (no bill number yet). Find out who your state representative here

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

Follow the directions – contact information is available).

RSVP by emailing organizer@cascadebicycleclub.org if you plan on attending the hearing on Friday. Let them know if you would like to join a carpool and they will make arrangements.

Many of the hearing attendees will be family members or victims of tragic crashes, and they will need our support on the 21st. Cascade Bicycle Club is looking for more pedestrians and cyclists who have been involved in a collision with a vehicle to provide public testimony. If you are interested in sharing your story, please contact Max Hepp-Buchanan If you are an able to attend, but would like to be kept informed and submit written testimony, please contact us by calling 206-652-2310 or emailing info@feefirst.info

Feet First is getting ready for Transportation Advocacy Day on Thursday, February 10. This is the best opportunity to meet your legislators and advocate for more legislation to support walkable communities. Please join Feet First, Cascade Bicycle Club, Transportation Choices Coalition, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and many other organizations at United Churches (110 11th Ave SE, Olympia) at 9:00am. Carpools are available.

Thank you in advance for your ongoing support to Feet First. There are lots of ways to contribute to Feet First. Consider sharing your talents and interest in walkable communities by attending an upcoming volunteer orientation.


Sincerely yours,


Lisa Quinn
Executive Director
lisa@feetfirst.info