Anti-bicycling bill considered in Iowa this week

The League of American Bicyclists writes:

The Iowa state legislature is considering legislation that would prohibit bicyclists from certain roads in the state where a parallel path or designated shoulder bikeway is present. Please help stop this legislation - which would be a bad precedent in Iowa and elsewhere - from becoming law. The Iowa Senate is debating the bill THIS week. To find out more and to e-mail key Iowa state senators, please visit www.bikeleague.org and click on the "Write to Congress" button. . . .

Iowa State Senator John Putney has introduced Senate File 2032 (formerly SF 2001), An Act relating to bicycles on primary highways and providing a penalty. The legislation would prohibit bicyclists from riding on the roadway of four-lane, divided highways in the State if a multipurpose recreational trail or a paved shoulder designated as a bikeway runs parallel to the roadway and is adjacent to or within the highway right of way.

To find out more, or find contact info for Iowa state Senators, visit the BikeLeague Advocacy site. Please note that comments from out of state can be quite influential, because no state wants to do something that will drive away visitors, tourists, business, and so on.