House passes bill in Michigan requiring drivers education to include bicycle laws

By Diane Ursu - Michigan Mountain Biking Examiner

Michigan drivers education courses do not currently include instruction on laws regarding bicycles. The League of Michigan Bicyclists is working to change that by promoting a bill that will require classroom instruction of bicycle laws and "awareness of the operation of bicycles on the streets, roads, and highways of this state."

The final reading of House Bill 4960, which was originally introduced in May 2009 to both the House and Senate, was voted on and passed by the Michigan House of Representatives on November 9, 2010. The bill was introduced in the Senate as Senate Bill 0531. The Senate has yet to vote on the bill.

In their article, &quot;Bicycle Safety in Drivers Ed,&quot; the League of Michigan Bicyclists warns of the lack of education. &quot;This leads many motorists to insist incorrectly—and too often violently—that bicyclists belong on sidewalks. Angry motorists regularly threaten cyclists both verbally and physically. Hundreds of Michigan bicyclists are injured or killed each year in automobile/bicycle collisions.&quot; <a href="http://www.examiner.com/michigan-mountain-biking-in-detroit/house-passes-bill-requiring-drivers-education-to-include-bicycle-laws">http://www.examiner.com/michigan-mountain-biking-in-detroit/house-passes-bill-requiring-drivers-education-to-include-bicycle-laws</a>;

by B' Spokes

Like most people I live a hectic life and who has the time for much exercise? Thanks to xtracycle now I do. By using my bike for daily activities I can get things done and get an hour plus work out in 15 minutes extra of my time, not a bad deal and beats taking the extra time going to the gym. In case you are still having trouble being motivated; the National Center of Disease Control says that inactivity is the #2 killer in the United States just behind smoking. ( http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/bb_nutrition/ ) Get out there and start living life! I can carry home a full shopping cart of groceries, car pool two kids or just get lost in the great outdoors camping for a week. Well I got go, another outing this weekend.
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. This is a good first step that will reap rewards in the future, but what do you do with those motorists currently on the road that will not see the new manual? I hate to say it, but periodic retesting of all drivers should be instituted INCLUDING a reevaluation of their vision. .