Last February, the Washington State House of Representatives unanimously voted 92-0 in favor of the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill (SHB 1217). This bill, drafted by the Bicycle Alliance and championed by Representative Cindy Ryu (D-Shoreline), gives cities and towns the ability to create safer neighborhood streets by lowering speed limits on non-arterial streets to 20 miles per hour, while at the same time reducing government red tape and cutting study costs currently required by the state.
The Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill didn’t make it through the Senate last year, but now we have a chance to give this important safety legislation a jump start in the State House of Representatives.
Because time is critical in this year’s short 60-day session, we need to remind our House Representatives of their essential and unanimous support for this legislation in 2011 and that the time is now to support it again. In the coming weeks, the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill is ready for another vote in the House of Representatives so that it can move quickly over to the Senate.
Your reminder to your elected officials is critical in making this happen. And it only requires two simple steps: UPDATE: Scroll down for one-step action!
#1 – Follow the accompanying link to contact both of your State Representatives (no need to contact your State Senators right now) by entering your mailing address here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
#2 – Email each Representative a note expressing your support of this important public safety legislation. Below we’ve included some model text for you to use:
Thank you for your support last year of SHB 1217 – the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill. SHB 1217 is now in House Rules Committee for third reading and is ready for a vote in the first two weeks of session.
I urge you to vote again for this important safety legislation. The Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill provides more local control, offers an additional safety tool for local governments, removes additional study costs and red tape currently required by the state, and it encourages active living by offering cities and towns the chance to create safer streets. Most importantly, when used in conjunction with engineering and enforcement, lower speeds on non-arterial streets can save lives.
Please repeat the vote of the 2011 House of Representatives. Vote yes on the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill (SHB 1217).
Sincerely,
[Your Name here]
For more information about the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill, please visit www.wabikes.org/programs/legislation.htmlor read yesterday’s blog post.
Thank you for your work in creating safer streets!
