Minn. lawmakers draft bicycling bills

Minnesota legislators have recently introduced several bills that support bicycling, according to the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN). The bills would provide funding for Safe Routes to Schools, designate the Mississippi River Trail Bikeway, give riders of electric-assisted bicycles access to roads and trails, and require children to wear helmets while riding bikes.

The authorization of the Mississippi River Trail from Itasca State Park to the Iowa border as a state bikeway is included in "non-controversial housekeeping bills" introduced in the House and Senate.

Minnesota's Safe Routes to School program could get a $3 million boost in 2012-13 if a bonding bill is passed. "However, this bill will likely be acted upon in 2012, not 2011," a press release from BikeMN stated.

House File 1412 and Senate File 1136 would permit electric-assisted bicycles, capable of going no more than 20 mph, to be ridden on trails as bicycles and on streets without having to follow many of the motorcycle rules. Pointing out that electric-assisted bicycles are not the same as mopeds, which can travel up to 30 mph, BikeMN supports the legislation "to make Minnesota law consistent with the federal laws."

Under House File 918 and Senate File 596, children 16 years old or younger would be required to wear a helmet while bicycling.

"The penalty, however, for neglecting to wear a helmet would be to simply give the violator a brochure that explains the importance of wearing a helmet and how to obtain one," according to BikeMN. The alliance "supports everyone wearing a helmet, but feels such a program could already be implemented on a voluntary basis by state agencies in partnership with local law enforcement. In fact, several police departments already have such a program in place and offer incentives like ice cream cone coupons when a young cyclist is caught wearing a helmet."