89R2106 RDR-D
By: Morales of Harris H.B. No. 341
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation on
traffic collisions involving persons operating bicycles, electric
bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Bicycle" has the meaning assigned by Section
541.201, Transportation Code.
(2) "Bicycle lane" means a designated lane or other
part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.
(3) "Department" means the Texas Department of
Transportation.
(4) "Electric bicycle" has the meaning assigned by
Section 664.001, Transportation Code.
(5) "Motor-assisted scooter" has the meaning assigned
by Section 551.351, Transportation Code.
SECTION 2. STUDY ON BICYCLE LANES. (a) The department, in
consultation with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, shall
study the extent to which the availability of bicycle lanes reduces
the rate of traffic collisions involving persons operating
bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters.
(b) In conducting the study, the department shall:
(1) examine collision reports received by the
department and any other relevant information available to the
department and compile the following information about traffic
collisions involving persons operating bicycles, electric
bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters in this state:
(A) demographic data of persons suffering injury
or death;
(B) geographic areas in which collisions
occurred and the population density of those areas;
(C) times of day of collisions;
(D) causes of collisions; and
(E) whether collisions occurred in bicycle
lanes; and
(2) analyze whether the information demonstrates that
the availability of bicycle lanes reduces the rate of traffic
collisions involving persons operating bicycles, electric
bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2027, the department shall
submit to the legislature a report on the findings of the study
conducted under this section. The report must also include:
(1) information on the availability of bicycle lanes
throughout this state;
(2) recommendations on roadway lane designations and
layouts that reduce traffic collisions involving persons operating
bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters; and
(3) a discussion of whether the inclusion of any
additional information in collision reports described by Chapter
550, Transportation Code, would facilitate future analysis of
traffic collisions inside and outside bike lanes involving persons
operating bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters.
SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires February 1, 2027.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2025.