Relating to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation on traffic collisions involving persons operating bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters.

89(R) HB 341 - Introduced version - Bill Text

89R2106 RDR-D

By: Morales of Harris

H.B. No. 341

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation on

traffic collisions involving persons operating bicycles, electric

bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:

(1) "Bicycle" has the meaning assigned by Section

541.201, Transportation Code.

(2) "Bicycle lane" means a designated lane or other

part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.

(3) "Department" means the Texas Department of

Transportation.

(4) "Electric bicycle" has the meaning assigned by

Section 664.001, Transportation Code.

(5) "Motor-assisted scooter" has the meaning assigned

by Section 551.351, Transportation Code.

SECTION 2. STUDY ON BICYCLE LANES. (a) The department, in

consultation with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, shall

study the extent to which the availability of bicycle lanes reduces

the rate of traffic collisions involving persons operating

bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters.

(b) In conducting the study, the department shall:

(1) examine collision reports received by the

department and any other relevant information available to the

department and compile the following information about traffic

collisions involving persons operating bicycles, electric

bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters in this state:

(A) demographic data of persons suffering injury

or death;

(B) geographic areas in which collisions

occurred and the population density of those areas;

(C) times of day of collisions;

(D) causes of collisions; and

(E) whether collisions occurred in bicycle

lanes; and

(2) analyze whether the information demonstrates that

the availability of bicycle lanes reduces the rate of traffic

collisions involving persons operating bicycles, electric

bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2027, the department shall

submit to the legislature a report on the findings of the study

conducted under this section. The report must also include:

(1) information on the availability of bicycle lanes

throughout this state;

(2) recommendations on roadway lane designations and

layouts that reduce traffic collisions involving persons operating

bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters; and

(3) a discussion of whether the inclusion of any

additional information in collision reports described by Chapter

550, Transportation Code, would facilitate future analysis of

traffic collisions inside and outside bike lanes involving persons

operating bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor-assisted scooters.

SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires February 1, 2027.

SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September

1, 2025.