GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

SESSION LAW 2015-45

HOUSE BILL 232

AN ACT to direct the Department of Transportation to study the bicycle safety laws in this state and make recommendations as to how the laws may be revised to better ENSURE the safety of bicyclists and motorists on the roadways.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Study. – The Department of Transportation shall study the bicycle safety laws in this State. The study shall focus on what statutory revisions, if any, are needed to better ensure the safety of bicyclists and motorists. In doing so, the Department shall consider at least all of the following:

(1)        How faster‑moving vehicles may safely overtake bicycles on roadways where sight distance may be inhibited.

(2)        Whether bicyclists on a roadway should be required to ride single file or allowed to ride two or more abreast.

(3)        Whether bicyclists should be required to carry a form of identification.

(4)        Any other issues determined relevant by the Department.

SECTION 2.  Working Group. – In conducting the study required by this act, the Department shall convene a working group of interested parties knowledgeable and interested in the bicycle safety laws of this State. The working group shall include all of the following:

(1)        A law enforcement officer.

(2)        A representative from the bicycling industry.

(3)        A representative from the agricultural industry.

(4)        A representative from the trucking industry.

(5)        A representative from county government, who may be a county law enforcement officer.

(6)        A representative from municipal government, who may be a municipal law enforcement officer.

(7)        A representative from the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center.

(8)        A minimum of two staff representatives from the Department.

(9)        Any other expert or stakeholder the Department or working group determines may assist the Department in completing the study required by this act.

The Department shall designate the members listed in subdivisions (1) through (8) of this section, and the working group shall subsequently select a chair and designate the remaining members of the working group authorized under subdivision (9) of this section. In designating additional members, the working group shall ensure that membership composition includes representation of different operator and geographical perspectives.

SECTION 3.  Maximum Number of Working Group Members. – The total number of members of the working group convened under Section 2 of this act shall not exceed 12 members.

SECTION 4.  Report and Recommendations. – The Department shall report its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee on or before December 31, 2015.

SECTION 5.  Effective Date. – This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 26^th day of May, 2015.

                                                                    s/  Daniel J. Forest

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/  Pat McCrory

                                                                         Governor

Approved 10:30 a.m. this 2^nd day of June, 2015