Contact your state rep TODAY for safer streets

Great news!  The Senate passed the SB 191, the Vulnerable User bill at 10:19 pm on May 30 by a unanimous vote.  Now we need the House to bring the bill up for a vote too, and pass it.

Please contact House Leadership and your State Representative to get the bill passed this year.  There are just 5 days left to get the Vulnerable User Bill, SB 191, passed in the 2013 legislative session, which ends June 5.

• Find Your State Legislator, then call or email them.  

• Contact HOUSE LEADERSHIP:  If any of the state legislative leaders below are your elected state representatives, it's especially important that they hear from you.   These are the legislators who will decide if SB 191 is brought up for a vote. You can send one message to your own state rep and the House leadership.
• Rep. Brendan Sharkey, Speaker of the House:  J.Brendan.Sharkey@cga.ct.gov; 860-240-8500
• Rep. Joe Aresimowicz, House Majority Leader:
  Joe.Aresimowicz@cga.ct.gov; 860-240-8489
• Rep. Larry Cafero, House Minority Leader: 
  Lawrence.Cafero@housegop.ct.gov; 800-842-1423
• Rep. Tony Guerrera, Transportation Co-Chair: 
  Tony.Guerrera@cga.ct.gov; 860-240-8585    
• Do these bill co-sponsors represent you?  Be sure to thank them when you write!
  
  • Sen. Beth Bye:  bye@senatedems.ct.gov
  • Sen. Steve Cassano:  cassano@senatedems.ct.gov
  • Rep. Roland Lemar:  Roland.Lemar@cga.ct.gov
  • Rep. Al Adinolfi:  Al.Adinolfi@housegop.ct.gov
  • Rep. David Scribner:  David.Scribner@housegop.ct.gov
  • Rep. Greg Haddad:  Gregory.Haddad@cga.ct.gov
  • Rep. Rick Lopes:  Rick.Lopes@cga.ct.gov
  • Rep.  Brian Sear:  Brian.Sear@cga.ct.gov
• Learn more about the bill - read SB 191; see what we sent to legislative leaders on May 30; read our April action alert.     

This is the fourth year the Vulnerable User bill has come before the legislature.  Every year the bill has enjoyed broad bipartisan, bicameral support, but we haven't had enough oomph to get the bill raised and passed in both houses.   

So is the fourth time the charm?  It could be, if all of you on our distribution list take just a few minutes to let your legislators know you want this bill passed, finally, this year.  
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SB 191 Encourages Safety.  Safer Conditions Encourage More Cycling and Walking.  By raising awareness of the rights of cyclists and pedestrians to share the road and creating penalties for reckless driving that kills or injures vulnerable users, SB 191 will create safer conditions for everyone.  Safer conditions encourage more people to get around by bike or on foot-and that's good public policy. 

Adopting SB 191 will make Connecticut a more Bike-Friendly State, and that's good for the economy, the environment, and our health.  

Getting a Vulnerable User bill passed is Bike Walk Connecticut's top legislative priority. It's also the first order of business on Connecticut's Bicycle Friendly Report Card, issued by the League of American Bicyclists.  Connecticut is becoming more bike friendly, moving up in rank from 20th place in 2012 to 18th place in 2013.  We can do better though, and we should.   

The Vulnerable User bill is good public policy.  Let's make this the year we pass it.   


Thank you for speaking up for a bikeable, walkable Connecticut!  Together, we can make good things happen.

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