Ken McLeod

I don't have an answer for California, but Florida has a surprisingly good statewide citation report: services.flhsmv.gov/SpecialtyPla...

For 2024, they ticketed 130 drivers for improperly passing a bicyclist - 32 of those tickets were dismissed

For 2019-2023, Florida averaged 197 bicyclist deaths

Gives RAGBRAI provides lasting economic impact to Iowa towns and communities that host the ride through the RAGBRAI Gives program and individual fundraising.

An estimated $25 million annual economic impact threatened

With $3 million to each community that hosts the ride each year ragbrai.com/gives/

That'd be nice. Iowa is one of only four states to provide for a statutory speed limit of 20 mph for a business district

Residential and school districts are 25 mph by statute www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/IACODE/...

But, in practice, it's rare to have data on the prevalence of actual speed limits

In 1979, the requirement to use bicycles lanes was removed from the Uniform Vehicle Code and most states repealed that type of law bikeleague.org/sites/defaul...

This law would go beyond mandatory use, and ban use of all roads with a speed limit over 25 mph unless a bicycle lane exists and is used

This would be the biggest restriction on mobility of any state that I am aware of

Many Amish or similar religious groups use bicycles and other devices that could be impacted by this law

For all the internet joking about #BanCars or @thewaroncars.bsky.social this bill actually does ban bikes

In the context of wildly overbroad restrictive bills that regulate bikes, I often hear anecdotes of packs of teens on e-bikes behaving recklessly

Every state has laws that already apply to people on bikes, including teens, and new laws are not required to enforce those existing laws

Is there some grave public danger that justifies these restrictions?

Doesn't seem like it, Iowa has seen bicyclist fatalities decline in recent years www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa....

As BikeIowa.com explains, this bill would essentially outlaw gravel riding in the state of Iowa because:
1) Absent other speed restrictions, the default speed limit in Iowa is 55 mph
2) Gravel roads likely are not signed with a different speed limit or it is above 25 mph
3) No bike lanes on gravel

Iowa DOT Coordinator Explains Pedestrian Conveyance Law - Ottumwa Radio An Iowa DOT coordinator explains the Pedestrian Conveyance Law. Milly Ortiz, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Iowa DOT, talks about the updated traffic law. The Pedestrian Conveyance Law, House Fil...

Other devices includes "pedestrian conveyance[s] when used to move the person who is using the pedestrian conveyance"

New term to me, and new to Iowa as of 2024: ottumwaradio.com/2024/07/iowa...

Oof, bill in Iowa would ban bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, wheelchairs, strollers, skateboards, and other devices from roads with speed limits above 25 mph

www.bikeiowa.com/Feature/2118...

If you live in Iowa, or visit for RAGBRAI or other reasons, look to the Iowa Bicycle Coalition for next steps

Cyclist-Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) is a low-cost technology that builds on voluntary agreements by automakers to make AEB standard, and more recent federal pedestrian-AEB requirements

If implemented, research suggests that 30%+ of bicyclist deaths could be prevented

Now is a great time to write your Congressional representative to let them know that you support the Magnus White Cyclist Safety Act

@thewhiteline.bsky.social has a great tool to help you write a letter here: twl-letter-writer.web.app

I strongly support safe passing laws, but don't find this surprising

Disappointing to see no effect on higher speed roads. When I think of a place where a protected bike lane is unlikely and a safe passing distance is needed, I think of 45-55 mph country roads where I ride recreationally

One of the biggest drivers of increased costs is the marketing of larger and larger vehicles as the safer choice in an arm's race among consumers to have the largest vehicle involved in a crash and 'win'

$3,998.54, or 17.1%, of price increases since 2002 is due to people choosing larger trucks

"Federal safety standards from 1968 to 2019 have generated an estimated $12.8 trillion in benefits, including $5,164.51 per household in 2025 alone"

"for every $1.00 spent on FMVSS-mandated safety technology and associated weight increases, more than $24.00 in societal benefits are generated"

“Federal safety and fuel economy standards save households thousands of dollars over the life of their vehicle while having a marginal effect on vehicle prices"

Improvements in fuel efficiency since 2002, will save "owners of 2024 vehicles roughly $9,000–$10,000 in fuel costs over their lifetimes"

Hopefully, unlike the city's new transit station, there will actually be bike parking at any new train station

It still boggles my mind that the 3rd Street transit station has no bike parking and was built just a few years ago

Every bus has bike racks, why not the station?

Roanoke looking to build train station at Amtrak platform It hopes to build a station where passengers can wait inside, out of the elements, that would have bathrooms, seating, and an information kiosk.

"Roanoke’s Amtrak platform has been used by over 105,000 people to travel to or from the city in each of the last two years."

A train station with an indoor area would be really nice, especially when early morning trains resume after the Long Bridge project is done www.wdbj7.com/2026/02/02/r...

"Copenhagen’s success has everything to do with safe, simple, and connected infrastructure rather than eco-consciousness, fitness concerns, or some inherent love of cycling"

'It's the infrastructure stupid' - James Carville, probably

www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

I think a lot of people would be interested in seeing something like this specifically around headlights, or somehow promoting better adjusted headlights so that they're less blinding for vehicles in front of them (particularly lights from lifted vehicles)

This is an interesting bill

It'd created guidelines for "Allowable modification ranges and tolerances, including physical parameters impacting ADAS and vehicle dynamic systems functionality, including ride height..."

So, your Automatic Emergency Braking still works when you get a lift kit

Nice to see @rideillinois.bsky.social as a partner in this work by the Illinois Secretary of State

Focus on education across K-12 grades, community-based enforcement guidelines to establish credibility and trust in enforcement, and collaborating with community groups, like Ride Illinois

Illinois Official Wants to Regulate E-Bikes and Scooters The Illinois secretary of state is seeking to address a lack of clarity around rules for those transportation methods through a new educational campaign called “Ride Safe, Ride Smart, Ride Ready.”

"some micromobility devices now can travel 50 mph or more — but are not regulated by laws"

"There's no regulations at all for electric unicycles or skateboards"

"Technology is changing how people move, but our laws haven't kept pace" www.govtech.com/transportati...

Great to see so many organizations joining together to say that walking and biking infrastructure are essential! www.keepamericaactive.org.

"There are two problems people talk about: e-bikes are dangerous because people ride like maniacs, and e-bikes explode and cause fires.

... For both problems, the solutions start with the federal government dealing with what comes through our borders and what gets manufactured here."

The Crisis in the Bike Industry Kevin McLaughlin on why e-bikes are great but the sector isn’t

"E-bikes represent one of the most promising tools for urban mobility... But the industry that sells and services these machines is struggling to survive, and the policy environment that could support their adoption barely exists" www.changinglanesnewsletter.com/p/the-crisis...

Interesting to see data on the percentage of vehicle with automatic emergency braking (AEB)

NHTSA had a voluntary agreement from 20 automakers to equip virtually all new passenger vehicles with low-speed AEB by September 1, 2022 www.nhtsa.gov/press-releas...

Data shows <50% of MY21/22 with AEB

When looking at NHTSA fatality data, the big increases are for "Light Truck - Utility" meaning SUVs

From 2009 to 2023, fatal crashes involving the "Light Truck - Utility" body type increase ~100% from 6,943 to 13,996

Large trucks and motorcycles also saw significant increases cdan.dot.gov/query

"In 2021, the total number of trucks operated on U.S. roadways was 169.8 million, versus 85.1 million in 2002 [almost a 100% increase]."

"The annual number of miles driven by these trucks was 1.9 trillion miles, a 70 percent increase from 1.1 trillion miles in 2002."

www.bts.gov/newsroom/viu...

"Waymo, Zoox, and other AV operators provide full narrative descriptions of every incident"

I've been fortunate enough to work with several AV companies on issues related to cyclist safety

But, for all their good faith efforts, one bad actor or incident can undermine public confidence in AVs