Olympic medalist calls for better bike-safety laws

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press:  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Olympic cycling champion Kristin Armstrong is encouraging Idaho lawmakers to pass new safety laws she says will help curtail harassment of bicyclists across the state. The Boise resident told the Senate Transportation Committee Thursday that motorists who drive too close to bikers or who cut them off are a problem on Idaho roads. Armstrong, who won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said she’s had firecrackers thrown at her while biking. She learns about bikers being harassed at least once a week. The bicyclist spoke in favor of a measure that would penalize motorists who harass bikers or drive within three feet of a cyclist. Boise Democrat Sen. Elliot Werk, the bill’s sponsor, says it was prompted by three bicyclist deaths in Boise last year and another in Twin Falls.

The committee voted to send the bill to the Senate’s amending order, after concerns were raised about it by Jerry Deckard, lobbyist for the Associated Logging Contractors.