BICYCLE HAND SIGNALING

House Bill 4866

Sponsor:  Rep. Anthony G. Forlini

Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Complete to 9-30-13

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4866 AS INTRODUCED 6-20-13

The bill would give bicyclists the option of signaling a right turn by either (1) extending the left arm and hand upward (as now is required), or (2) extending the right hand and arm horizontally.

Under the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.648), a person operating a vehicle or bicycle on a highway is required to give a mechanical or electrical signal before safely stopping or turning. Currently if a signal is given by hand, the operator is required to signal as follows: for a left turn, extend the left hand and arm horizontally; for a right turn, extend the left hand and arm upward; and to stop, extend the left hand and arm downward.

House Bill 4866 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to make the required hand signals above applied to vehicles (other than bicycles) and to provide the following required hand signals for bicycles:

·                    For a left turn, extend the left arm and hand horizontally.

·                    For a right turn, extend the left hand and arm upward or extend the right hand and arm horizontally.

·                    To stop or decrease speed, extend the left hand and arm downward.

(The underlined language is the only difference between the two sets of hand signal requirements.)

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4866 has no anticipated fiscal impact on state or local government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Ben Gielczyk

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.