Youth with Disabilities Push for Vulnerable User Bill

Cyclists and individuals with disabilities across Michigan are teaming up to increase access to communities everywhere. There are currently two bills (HB 4792 and 4799) in the House of Representatives that will raise penalties of motorists injuring or killing vulnerable users--that is anyone walking or using a bicycle or mobility device. The League of Michigan Bicyclists explains what these bills would mean:

“Modeled after accepted European standards and containing penalties similar to those used in numerous states and communities across the country, this legislation creates enhanced penalties for drivers who injure or kill a vulnerable roadway user, defined as a bicyclist, pedestrian or wheelchair user. The enhanced penalties include community service, driver-improvement education, fines, and jail time, as well as a mandatory one-year license suspension. These would only apply if a driver committed a moving violation resulting in the injury or death of a non-motorized user who was following Michigan traffic laws” (www.lmb.org, full article can be found here).

Why does this law matter to the disability community?

James, 22, is a young advocate from Programs to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC). James faces the challenge of cerebral palsy and a cognitive impairment, and is living independently at Eastern Michigan University. When discussing the Vulnerable User bill, James stated “I just want to be safe getting around on my bike. I don’t want to be hit by a car. I want drivers to stop and look.”

Others are also speaking out. Jessica is a student who participated in PEAC’s Active Transportation Program, where she learned to operate the fixed route bus system in her community. She has often felt concerned about her safety while on the roadways as a pedestrian. “We just want drivers to think before they act.”

John Waterman, Executive Director of PEAC, is passionate about raising awareness of this issue.

“Without a legal ramification, motorists will continue to drive carelessly around vulnerable users. We don’t want to see anybody getting locked up, but this law will be excellent at raising awareness about the real issue that is affecting vulnerable travelers. It will make drivers responsible and accountable for their driving habits. Making our roadways safer is a way of increasing independence and increasing access to our communities for individuals with disabilities, and this is an incredibly important bill.”

Join all of us in this important legislative push toward making our roads safer for individuals with disabilities. PEAC will be traveling to Lansing with our young advocates on September 11th for the first hearing of this bill. You can help to strengthen the voice of the disability community by emailing the representatives on the Criminal Justice Committee:

Kurt Heise (R) Committee Chair, 20th District (KurtHeise@house.mi.gov)

Joseph Graves (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 51st District (JosephGraves@house.mi.gov)

Kenneth Kurtz (R) 58th District (KennethKurtz@house.mi.gov)

Mike Calton (R) 87th District (MikeCallton@house.mi.gov)

Ed McBroom (R) 108th District (EdMcBroom@house.mi.gov)

Margaret O’Brien (R) 61st District (MargaretOBrien@house.mi.gov)

Klint Kesto (R) 39th District (KlintKesto@house.mi.gov)

Stacy Oakes (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 95th District (stacyerwinoakes@house.mi.gov)

Rose Mary Robinson (D) 4th District (rosemaryrobinson@house.mi.gov)

John Kivela (D) 109th District (johnkivela@house.mi.gov)

Brian Banks (D) 1st District (brianbanks@house.mi.gov)

Joy Brewer, Committee Clerk (joybrewer@house.mi.gov, 517-373-8474)

Additionally, please sign up here to receive email updates from PEAC about this legislative push.

We all share the sentiment of young advocate Connor Waterman: “I don’t want to get squashed on the road.” It is time to step up as the disability community and have our voices heard.