A Bill for Better Bicycling in Ohio

On Saturday, June 17, 2006, Governor Bob Taft signed HB 389 into law before a crowd of GOBA riders during the 2006 GOBA opening ceremonies at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia. The new law went into effect on September 21.

The Better Bicycling in Ohio bill, known as House Bill 389, makes Ohio laws regarding cycling conform more closely aligned with the Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC). The OBF worked for years as a member of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances to make the UVC more cyclist friendly. Now, Ohio law will follow the UVC.

The new laws will

• Substitute "far enough to the right to allow passing by faster vehicles if such passing is safe and reasonable" for "as close as practicable to the right-hand curb" in the "slow-moving vehicle" section of the Ohio Revised Code.
• No longer require front and rear wheel reflectors if a red light is used in the rear.
• Permit generator-powered lights.
• Permit either flashing or steady rear light.
• No longer require a bell or horn.

Other Articles

• To see how the new law fits into the Ohio Revised Code, you may read this article by attorney and OBF board member Pete Precario.
• For a more in-depth, up-to-date description, you may read this article by Fred Oswald and Cal Kirchick.
• We have a simplified description of the bill contents, written before passage.

Legislative Co-sponsors

The co-sponsors of our bill include Rep. Jim McGregor (R-Gahanna), Rep. Mark Wagoner (R-Toledo), Rep. John Widowfield (R-Cuyahoga Falls), Rep. Shawn Webster (R-Hamilton), Rep. Denny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights), Rep. Lorraine Fende (D-Willowick), Rep. William J. Hartnett (D-Mansfield), Rep. Sylvester Patton (D-Youngstown), Rep. Dixie Allen (D-Dayton), and Rep. Timothy DeGeeter (D-Parma).

Legislative History

10/24/05	Introduced into the Ohio House by Rep. Arlene Setzer (R-Vandalia).
11/10/05	Bill assigned to the House Transportation, Public Safety, and Homeland Security Committee, chaired by Rep. Steve Reinhard (R-Bucyrus).
2/23/06	Committee passed the bill unanimously and it will next be sent to the full house for voting.
3/7/06	Passed by the full House; to be assigned to the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee.
3/29/06	State Representative Arlene Setzer gave her sponsor testimony before the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee
5/16/06	Several members of the OBF Board gave testimony before the Senate Transportation Committee on May 16 and 23.
5/23/06	The Committee passed the bill by 9-0.
5/24/06	The full Senate passed the bill unaminously. The bill now is officially an Act.
6/17/06	Governor Bob Taft signed HB 389 into law during the 2006 GOBA opening ceremonies at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia. The new law goes into effect September 21, 2006.