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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE BILL NO. 513
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
TRAFFIC: Provides relative to bicycle and pedestrian traffic on roadways
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 32:1(4), (4.2), (13), and (65), 212(A), and 232(1)(a) and (b) and2
R.S. 47:463.148, to enact R.S. 32:74(C) and 329.1, and to repeal R.S. 32:197(B) and3
329, relative to bicycles and traffic; to amend, enact, and repeal provisions relative4
to bicycles and traffic; to amend provisions for the "Share the Road" license plate;5
and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 32:1(4), (4.2), (13), and (65), 212(A), and 232(1)(a), and (b) are8
hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 32:74(C) and 329.1 are hereby enacted to read as9
follows:10
§1. Definitions11
When used in this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the12
meanings ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates a13
different meaning:14
* * *15
(4) "Bicycle" means every device upon which any person may ride,16
propelled exclusively by human power, and having one or more wheels propelled by17
human power upon which any person may ride and designed to travel on two tandem18
wheels.19
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(4.2) "Bicycle lane" means the part of the roadway adjacent to the travel1
lane, designated by striping, signing, and pavement markers official signs or2
markings for the preferential or exclusive use by bicycles and usually elective3
electric mobility aid users.4
* * *5
(13) "Cross-walk" means: (a) That part of a roadway at an intersection6
included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks shoulders or a7
combination thereof on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or,8
in absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway or if there is neither9
a sidewalk nor shoulder, a crosswalk is the portion of the roadway at an intersection10
that would be included within the prolongation of the lateral lines of the sidewalk,11
shoulder, or both on the opposite side of the street if there were a sidewalk or12
shoulder.13
* * *14
(65) "Shoulder" means the portion of the highway contiguous with the15
roadway for accommodation of stopped vehicles, for emergency use, pedestrian use,16
mobility aid use or bicyclists when other accommodations are not available, bicycle17
use, and for lateral support of base and surface.18
* * *19
§212. Pedestrians right of way in cross-walks20
A. When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver21
of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need22
be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a cross-walk when the23
pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or24
when the pedestrian is approaching closely from the opposite half of the roadway as25
to be in danger the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or the roadway onto26
which the vehicle is turning.27
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§232. Traffic-control signals1
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different2
colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in3
combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special4
pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and said lights shall indicate and apply to5
drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:6
(1) GREEN indication:7
(a) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight8
through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But9
vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall stop and yield the10
right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or11
an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.12
(b) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in13
combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to14
make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted15
by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall stop and16
yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to17
other traffic lawfully using the intersection.18
* * *19
§74. When passing on the right is permitted20
* * *21
C. This Section does not prohibit the use of a bicycle in a bicycle lane or on22
a shoulder.23
* * *24
§329.1. Bicycles; front lamps; rear lamps; side and rear reflectors25
A. Any bicycle when in use at the times specified in R.S. 32:301 shall be26
equipped with the following:27 HLS 11RS-679 ORIGINAL
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(1) A lamp mounted on the front that shall emit a white light visible from a1
distance of at least five hundred feet to the front. A generator-powered lamp that2
emits light only when the bicycle is moving may be used to meet this requirement.3
(2) A lamp mounted on the rear that shall emit either flashing or steady red4
light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may be used in lieu of5
the red reflector.6
(3) A red reflector mounted on the rear and a reflector on each side facing7
outward at a right angle to the bicycle frame that shall be visible from all distances8
from one hundred feet to six hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful9
lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.10
B. A lamp or lamps worn by the operator of a bicycle shall comply with the11
requirements of Subsection A of this Section, if this lamp or lamps can be seen at the12
distances specified.13
C. A bicycle or its operator may be equipped with lights or reflectors in14
addition to those required by this Section, except that red lamps and red reflectors15
shall not be used on the front of the bicycle and white lamps and white reflectors16
shall not be used on the rear of the bicycle.17
D. No person shall sell or offer for sale any bicycle unless such bicycle is18
equipped with at least one reflector on the rear and one reflector on each side as19
required by this Section.20
E. After December 31, 2010, no person shall operate any bicycle at nighttime21
on a state highway, parish road, or city street unless such bicycle is equipped with22
light to comply with Subsection A of this Section.23
F. Any person who violates Subsection A of this Section subsequent to24
December 31, 2010, shall be given a warning ticket only.25
G. This Section shall not apply to bicycles while engaged in sanctioned26
competition races.27
H. The provisions of Subsection A of this Section shall not apply to any28
child under the age of ten years, who may operate a bicycle.29 HLS 11RS-679 ORIGINAL
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Section 2. R.S. 47:463.148 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:1
§463.148. Special prestige license plate; "Share the Road"2
* * *3
B. The special prestige license plate shall be known as the "Share the Road"4
license plate and shall bear the likeness of a person on a bicycle riding on the road5
and a pedestrian walking centered on the left side of the licence license plate. The6
"Louisiana" name logo shall be at the top of the plate. The center of the plate shall7
display a number, with the first issued plate displaying the number one and shall8
continue in consecutive numerical order for each plate. Centered at the bottom of9
the plate below the number shall be the words "Share the Road".10
C. The prestige license plate shall be issued, upon application, to any citizen11
of Louisiana to any person, in the same manner as any other motor vehicle license12
plate.13
D. The department shall collect the following fees for this license plate:14
(1) An initial annual royalty fee of twenty-five dollars, which shall be15
disbursed in accordance with Subsection E of this Section.16
* * *17
Section 3. R.S. 32:197(B) and 329 are hereby repealed in their entirety.18
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Williams HB No. 513
Abstract: Revises provisions relative to bicycles and traffic movement.
Present law defines bicycle as "every device propelled by human power upon which any
person may ride and designed to travel on two tandem wheels".
Proposed law defines bicycle as "every device upon which any person may ride, propelled
exclusively by human power, and having one or more wheels".
Present law defines "bicycle lane" as "the part of the roadway adjacent to the travel lane,
designated by striping, signing, and pavement markers for the preferential or exclusive use
by bicycles and usually elective mobility aid users". HLS 11RS-679 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 513
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are additions.
Proposed law defines "bicycle lane" as the part of the roadway adjacent to the travel lane,
designated by official signs or markings for the preferential or exclusive use by bicycles and
electric mobility aid users.
Present law defines "cross-walk" in part as "that part of a roadway at an intersection included
within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway
measured from the curbs or, in absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway".
Proposed law defines "cross-walk" in part as "that part of a roadway at an intersection
included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks shoulders or a
combination thereof on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in
absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway or if there is neither a sidewalk
nor shoulder, a crosswalk is the portion of the roadway at an intersection that would be
included within the prolongation of the lateral lines of the sidewalk, shoulder or both on the
opposite side of the street if there were a sidewalk or shoulder".
Present law defines "shoulder" as "the portion of the highway contiguous with the roadway
for accommodation of stopped vehicles, for emergency use, pedestrian use, mobility aid use
or bicyclists when other accommodations are not available, and for lateral support of base
and surface".
Proposed law defines "shoulder" as "the portion of the highway contiguous with the roadway
for accommodation of stopped vehicles, for emergency use, pedestrian use, mobility aid use,
bicycle use, and for lateral support of base and surface.
Present law provides that when traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation
the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to
so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a cross-walk when the pedestrian is
upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is
approaching closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.
Proposed law provides when traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation the
driver of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right of way, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway
within a cross-walk when the pedestrian is upon the roadway upon which the vehicle is
traveling or the roadway onto which the vehicle is turning.
Present law provides that whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting
a green colored light or arrow signal that vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to
other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk
at the time such signal is exhibited.
Proposed law provides that whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals
exhibiting a green colored light or arrow signal that vehicular traffic shall stop and yield the
right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an
adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.
Present law provides that the "Share the Road" prestige license plate shall be issued upon
application to any citizen of Louisiana.
Proposed law provides that the "Share the Road" prestige license plate shall be issued to any
person, in the same manner as any other motor vehicle license plate.
Present law provides that DPS&C shall collect an initial fee of $25 dollars for the "Share the
Road" prestige license plate
Proposed law provides that DPS&C shall collect an annual royalty fee of $25 dollars for the
"Share the Road" prestige license plate. HLS 11RS-679 ORIGINAL
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Present law provides that the driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass upon the right of
another vehicle under certain conditions.
Proposed law provides that the section of law permitting a vehicle to overtake and pass upon
the right of another vehicle under certain conditions does not prohibit the use of a bicycle
in a bicycle lane or on a shoulder.
Present law provides that every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a
lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet
to the front and with a red reflector on the rear and a reflector on each side facing outward
at a right angle to the bicycle frame, all of a type approved by the department which shall
be visible from all distances within 600 feet to one hundred feet to the rear when directly in
front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light
visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red
reflector.
Proposed law provides that any bicycle when in use at the times required by law shall be
equipped with the following equipment:
(1)A lamp mounted on the front that shall emit a white light visible from a distance of
at least 500 feet to the front. A generator-powered lamp that emits light only when
the bicycle is moving may be used to meet this requirement.
(2)A lamp mounted on the rear that shall emit either flashing or steady red light visible
from a distance of 500 to the rear may be used in lieu of the red reflector.
(3)A red reflector mounted on the rear and a reflector on each side facing outward at a
right angle to the bicycle frame that shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet
to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on
a motor vehicle.
Present law requires every bicycle when in use at nighttime on a state highway, parish road,
or city street, in addition to the requirements of present law, shall be equipped with a lamp
emitting a red flashing light or a red light on the rear of the bicycle, which has sufficient
candle power so that such lamp projects light from all distances within 100 feet to 600 feet
when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Proposed law provides that a lamp or lamps worn by the operator of a bicycle shall comply
with the requirements of proposed law if the lamp or lamps can be seen at the distances
specified.
Present law provides that persons riding bicycles upon a roadway, which includes an
improved shoulder, may ride upon the improved shoulder.
Proposed law repeals present law.
(Amends R.S. 32:1(4), (4.2), (13), and (65), 212(A), and 232(1)(a) and (b) and R.S.
47:463.148; Adds R.S. 32:74(C) and 329.1; Repeals R.S. 32:197(B) and 329)