Despite the chilly January air, the new Pennsylvania legislative session is heating up in Harrisburg. the 2011-2012 session is shaping up to be a big one for addressing important walking and bicycling issues. Numerous important bills have already been introduced. Here’s what we have so far.

Safe Bicycle Passing bills have been introduced into both chambers: House Bill 170 and Senate Bill 156. While the bills do not have identical language, they both aim to make the same changes. The bills will require motorists to give bicyclists a safe four foot distance when passing. The bills will also assert that a turning motorist cannot move into the path of a bicyclist. We believe that these changes will be instrumental in making our streets safer for road users, and we will be following it closely.

Since the start of the session, three different bills have been introduced to restrict the use of mobile phones while driving. None match the strength of the language passed by the House in the last session. House Bill 8 and House Bill 189 are very similar; if enacted they will prohibit text messaging and emailing while driving. Both will still allow drivers to talk on a handheld mobile phone. House Bill 146 takes a different approach by allying just to work zones; it prohibits all handheld and text use of mobile phones in work zones. While all of these bills will make Pennsylvania’s roads safer if passed, none go far enough. Pennsylvania’s road users need a law that prohibits all handheld mobile use while driving.

Finally, the Bicycle and Jogging Path bill – Senate Bill 112 – was reintroduced into the Senate. This short bill will require all state parks of 1000 acres or more to include a bicycle and jogging path one mile or longer in length. If your local state park doesn’t already contain a trail, then this bill may be a step toward improvements in your community.