Legislative Watch - BikeOklahoma

To promote safe bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation statewide through advocacy and education

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2021 - HB1706 - US Bike Route 66

Require the Oklahoma Department of Transportation sign and send application requesting Historic U.S. Route 66 be declared a U.S. Bicycle Route.

Status: 3/12/2021: ODOT has agreed to create a committee to work on AASHTO application. This bill may be closed soon.
3/31 - First ODOT US BR 66 meeting was held.

Click HERE for details

How you can Help Route 66 - How to help

SB184: Improving regulations for electric assist bicycles on trails

SB184 improves recent legislation on the use of e-bikes on paved trails by changing focus from vehicle technology to behavior. This has 3 direct benefits:

It removes risk of profiling in enforcement;
It more directly addresses trail safety in a way that is enforceable;
It increases accessibility, better supporting active transportation.

Status 5/3/21 - Passed House and Senate - signed by Governor.

Click HERE for details

2021 - HB435 Tax credit for electric assist bicycles

What It Accomplishes SB435 provides a $200 tax credit for applicable electric assist bicycle purchases, which will increase active transportation modes with 3 key benefits:
1. Healthier for the individual, reducing strain on our healthcare system;
2. Improve impact to air quality;
3. Reducing wear and tear on our roads by encouraging lighter vehicles.

Click HERE for details

SB618: Establishing a State-wide Complete Streets Policy

SB226: Updating Speed Limit regulation to allow lower speeds

SB618 directs the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to develop a Complete Streets Policy, with 3 key benefits:
1. Prioritizes design that reflects transportation being about people and safety, not just cars and speed;
2. Structures technical and financial assistance to local projects to reflect the same safe and efficient transportation priorities;
3. Provides consistent guidelines to enhance familiarity of associated infrastructure, while also reducing future maintenance burdens.

SB 226 updates 47-11-801 and 803 to more easily allow school zones and neighborhoods discretion to set speed limits below 25 mph.

Click HERE for details

HB1770 comprehensive bike bill

filed by Rep. Dobrinski.
The four main subjects of this bill include:

Allowing people on bikes to treat stop signs as yields, sometimes called the “Idaho or Delaware Stop”.
Update hand signals so that a person on a bike can lawfully use a right hand to signal when turning right.
A person cannot honk at a person on a bike, equine or animal-drawn carriage when there is no immediate danger

Status
3/12/2021: Passed house 76-13.
4/5/21 HB1770 passed Senate Safety committee 9-2 - n

4/20 - Senate Vote passed 43-4!
5/4/21 - re-approved by House.
On to the Governor's desk for signing into law, to take effect Nov 1, 2021!

More info: click HERE
Text of bill - click HERE