Michigan Makes Roads Safe for Fuzzy Dice, Not Bikes

From Michigan’s M-Bike.org, a story of misplaced priorities.

Apparently the Michigan State Senate unanimously voted this week to strike down a law that prohibited drivers from hanging possibly distracting objects from their rear-view mirrors. The measure is popularly know as “the fuzzy dice bill.”

As M-Bike.org points out, the same lawmakers can’t seem to find the time to deal with some other matters that might be a bit more urgent — especially for cyclists who want safe passage on Michigan’s roads:

Now let’s look at some bicycle safety bills the Michigan Senate has not passed or voted on.

• Senate Bills 529 & 530,
  which “enhance penalties for moving violations causing physical injury
  or death to bicyclists and other vulnerable roadway users” according to
  the League of Michigan Bicyclists.
• Senate Bill 531,
  which stipulates that driver education “shall include information
  concerning the laws pertaining to bicycles and shall emphasize
  awareness of the operation of bicycles on the streets, roads, and
  highways of this state.”

Maybe now that the pressing question of whether the state’s drivers can hang air fresheners from their mirrors has been resolved, the Michigan Legislature can move on to something that might actually make roads safer for more vulnerable users. We’ll keep you posted.

More from around the network: Bike Omaha wonders about e-bikes. Bello Velo, based in Huntsville, Alabama, looks longingly at the plan for bike infrastructure in Tyler, Texas. And Cyclelicious shares some opinions on bikes and business travel.