Vermont transportation agency outlines statutory review of laws for pedestrians, bicyclists; no draft bills yet

Vermont Agency of Transportation staff told the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 19 that an agency review has identified multiple places in state law that may need clarification to reflect current active-transportation practice, but staff have not yet drafted statutory changes.

The report, requested in Section 47 of last year’s transportation bill, cataloged statutory provisions in Title 19 and Title 23 affecting pedestrians, bicyclists and their interaction with motor vehicles and recommended further stakeholder consultation before proposing amendments. Amanda Holland, who now serves in VTrans’ Operations and Safety Bureau, said the agency convened monthly meetings with an “active transportation partners” group and held one-on-one conversations with nonprofits, state agencies and other stakeholders to prepare an appendix summarizing relevant statutes.

The review identified several topics needing further work: consolidating base definitions now split between Titles 19 and 23; updating mode-of-travel classifications (including how to treat personal mobility devices and distinctions among motor-assisted and electric bicycles); clarifying where various devices may operate (sidewalks, bike lanes, shared-use paths and paved shoulders); and harmonizing terminology and policy among state agencies including the Department of Forests, Parks and…