Vermont Drivers' Manual Gets Revamped
by Bob McKearin

GMBC's Bicycle Advocacy Committee is very pleased to report that the Department of Motor Vehicles has made substantial, bicycle friendly changes to the 2001 Vermont Drivers Manual. The GMBC folks worked with members of the Bike Ped Coalition to develop the recommended changes. Their many meetings and cold pizza dinners finally paid off.

The new manuals include an explanation of bicyclists' rights to use highways all across the State. In previous manuals motorists were only instructed to look for other motor vehicles, with an occasional reference to motorcycles, throughout the new manual there are specific references to bicyclists (and pedestrians). Some of the specific topics covered include motorists over taking bicyclist riders, right turns when passing a bicycle rider and bicycle riders making left turns in intersections. In all, now there are more than 70 references to bicycles and bicyclists in the new manuals compared with only a half dozen in the previous editions. Most important of all, the Manuals plainly state that the bicyclists have a right to be on the highways.

Of course with those rights come responsibilities. As legal users of the highways bicyclists also have the obligation to obey traffic regulations. GMBC riders can do a world of good for their public image and for riders in general by making a point of obeying stop signs and traffic signals (at least when there is other traffic around). Racers trying to squeeze in a training ride between work and family obligations or recreational riders simply trying to maintain a "good" average speed on a ride can be tempted to blast through the intersections. That and riding three or four abreast are the sorts of things that really irritate motorists and give all of us a bad name. If you can't control yourself, at least leave the club jersey at home.

The folks at DMV, Sharon Romeo, David Lee and the other unnamed people who reviewed our proposals, were very receptive to our suggestions. No hard sell was necessary. Ben is sending them a letter of appreciation from the Club. If you know or meet any one from DMV a word of thanks would be nice.