A new bill introduced in the B.C. legislature proposes amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act, changes Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore said will benefit pedestrians and vulnerable road users.
Bill 23 was introduced April 5 by Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Rob Fleming and set out to impose minimum safe passing and following distances.
B次元官网网址淥n my bike ride into work this week, I saw folks going to work and school and all the things, on bikes, on e-scooters, pushing strollers, walking, taking the bus,B次元官网网址� Lore said. B次元官网网址淭here are so many ways in our community to get around and people need to be able to do it safely and feel safe using active transportation.B次元官网网址�
These changes to the Motor Vehicle Act take into consideration the changing dynamics of B.C. roads as more people over cars.
B次元官网网址淭his bill makes some changes to make sure that weB次元官网网址檙e understanding that vulnerable road users are different than cars and drivers need to take the necessary precautions to protect and make sure that other road users can get where theyB次元官网网址檙e going safely,B次元官网网址� Lore said.
Included in the amendments are a three-metre minimum following distance for cars behind cyclists and a one-metre minimum passing distance.
The bill also touches on what Lore calls B次元官网网址渧ulnerable road usersB次元官网网址� and protections for pedestrians as well as cyclists, including a broader definition of pedestrian to include people in wheelchairs, people pushing strollers and even those on roller skates.
B次元官网网址淚 think there is room for everyone to get around in our community,B次元官网网址� Lore said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 space and ways for people to get around on foot, on wheels, in cars and we can share the roads.B次元官网网址�
The amendment to the act also establishes a framework for enforcement, as well as a window to regulate automated vehicles, putting B.C. in line with other provinces for when automated vehicles are authorized for manufacturing and sale under federal law.
READ MORE:
hollie.ferguson@vicnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
