Senators amended and advanced a bill from general file March 24 concerning the rights of disabled pedestrians.<\/p>\n
Introduced by Bellevue Sen. Tommy Garrett, LB641 would give a person operating a manual or motorized wheelchair on a sidewalk, in a crosswalk or across a roadway the same rights as other pedestrians.<\/p>\n
Garrett said current statute defines pedestrians in a way that excludes persons operating personal mobility devices such as scooters and wheelchairs. The bill would give all pedestrians the same protection regardless of their mobility, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a hole in the law that we need to cover,\u201d Garrett said.<\/p>\n
The bill originally would have extended the same rights to bicyclists. A Transportation and Telecommunications Committee amendment, adopted 37-0, removed this provision.<\/p>\n
Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion said bicyclists were removed from the bill because they travel at a higher rate of speed than pedestrians. Drivers would not have enough time to react to a cyclist suddenly entering a crosswalk, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur primary concern was the safety of the bicyclists,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
Garrett introduced an amendment that would have reinserted a provision for bicycles but would have required cyclists to reduce their speed when entering a crosswalk and audibly warn pedestrians before passing them. It also would have prohibited cyclists from suddenly veering from sidewalks into traffic or operating a bicycle in a manner that would endanger any person or property.<\/p>\n
If operated in a responsible manner, Garrett said, bicycles should be afforded the same protection as pedestrians.<\/p>\n
Omaha Sen. Beau McCoy opposed the amendment, saying it contained a significant change that should be considered as a separate bill in order to receive a public hearing. Additionally, he said, language in the amendment regarding cyclists\u2019 speed in crosswalks is too vague.<\/p>\n
Garrett said the amendment could use more work and he withdrew it from consideration.<\/p>\n
Senators then advanced the bill to select file on a 34-0 vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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