The 2017 Lucinda Means Bicycle Advocacy Day will be held Wednesday, May 24, at the State Capitol in downtown Lansi
ng.
Bicycle Advocacy Day gives all cyclists, from casual riders to competitors, the opportunity to speak in a unified voice and help educate lawmakers on policy issues that promote a more bicycle-friendly Michigan and a safer riding experience for all cyclists.
The annual event is hosted by the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB), in partnership with the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, Michigan Mountain Biking Association and Programs to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC).
Registration is $15 and includes lunch. The LMB will schedule legislative meetings with state representatives on behalf of all registrants and will help prepare participants with an advocacy primer. After meetings with legislators, participants can enjoy lunch on the Capitol lawn.
This year, the legislative priorities include: *
- Gaining support from lawmakers for Senate Bill 123 and House Bill 4185, which would establish a statewide 5-foot standard for safely passing bicyclists on the roadway.
- Gaining support for Senate Bill 124 and House Bill 4198, which would require a minimum of one hour of instruction about vulnerable roadway users, including bicyclists, in driver’s education courses.
- Calling for updates to the driver’s education curriculum to include more awareness of other roadway users, especially cyclists.
- Setting classifications for electric bicycles, also called “E-bikes,” to clarify the use of trails and roadways.
- Seeking sponsors for reintroducing legislation that would clarify the definition of an obstructed license plate, to ensure that a bike rack or hitch-mounted device is not grounds for a traffic stop.
The tentative schedule for the day is:
- 8 a.m. – Bike rally leaves Municipal Park, at the corner of Kalamazoo and Clippert in Lansing
- 8:20 a.m. – Bike rally arrives at State Capitol (group photo to immediately follow)
- 8:45 a.m. – Check-in, welcome, issue overview and questions
- 10 a.m. – Meetings with state representatives and senators
- 12:30 p.m. – Lunch on Capitol grounds and presentation of May is Bike Month resolution
There will be bike parking at the Capitol on the day of the event, courtesy of the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council (Mid-MEAC). While all bicycles will be watched, participants are encouraged to bring and use a lock.
If you have questions, please email John Lindenmayer.
* subject to change
