Hello Fit Friends,



Membership is now open for the Tangipahoa Area Cyclists! Please read the
following e-mail from Justin who is leading the club. We will have the next
meeting here at Perfectly Fit on Monday night at 6:30. The first ride will be
this Saturday. Please read the information below if you are interested.



Thanks,

Mark Franatovich
Perfectly Fit



From Justin:



Hello all:



I hope that you have been able to enjoy this great weather and get some time in
the saddle since our last meeting. I just wanted to recap some of the progress
we have been making.



Save the date! Our next meeting will be Monday May 11th 6:30PM, Perfectly Fit.
Thanks to all that provided club name ideas. We had a bunch to pick from, and
in the end it was decided that we should take a name that was inclusive of the
entire parish. We will soon be officially incorporated as the Tangipahoa Area
Cyclists (T.A.C.) The law firm of Duncan and Bass has agreed to assist with the
Articles of Incorporation. They have also waived their fees, and have agreed to
cover any fees that the Secretary of State may charge (Thank you Tamara for
setting that up). Our next step will be to provide them with the names and
physical address of 3 officers.




Please do not forget our first group ride is this Sat May 9th @ 10AM in Manchac.
We will meet at the small park located just over the Manchac bridge (opposite
side of the bridge from Middendorf's). * a flyer is attached.



Advocacy update. State Rep. Michael Jackson has agreed to include in his bill,
HR725 the following items. These additions were a direct result of our clubs
efforts and Rep. Cameron Henry's (District 82) willingness to present them to
Rep. Jackson. Please call Rep. Henry's office and thank him for his support,
(504)736-7135.


HB 725 in it current form:
TRAFFIC: Requires motor vehicle operators to leave a safe distance between the
vehicle

and bicycles when passing and provides for signage, publications, and a public

awareness campaign

relative to bicycles; to provide a method by which drivers of vehicles shall
pass bicyclists; to provide for penalties; to provide for publications, signage,
and a public awareness campaign; and to provide for related matters.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: Section 1. R.S. 32:76.1 is hereby
enacted to read as follows: §76.1. Limitations on passing bicycles

A. This Section shall be known as the Colin Goodier Protection Act.

B. The operator of a motor vehicle, when overtaking and passing a bicycle
proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, shall leave a safe distance
between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet and shall
maintain such clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle.

C. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, is
directed to include a summary of this Section in any instructional publication
for drivers.

D. The Department of Transportation and Development is directed to place signs
in areas frequently used by bicyclists in an effort to make motorists aware of
the need to share the road with bicyclists.



Additions to HB725, per Rep. Henry's request.
Anti-Harassment of Cyclists:

Unlawful to harass, taunt, or maliciously throw an object at or in the direction
of any person riding a bicycle. A person that violates this provision and ,
upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars or imprisoned
not more than thirty days or both.



Clarification of Lane Positions:

Bicyclist operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right
side of the roadway as practicable. A bicyclist may, but is not required to,
ride on the shoulder of the roadway.

A bicyclist may ride in a lane other than the right-hand lane if only one lane
is available that permits the bicyclist to continue on his intended route.

Bicyclist must exercise due care when passing a standing vehicle or proceeding
in the same direction.

Bicyclists shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of
roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.



As you can see we have lots going on. Please make every effort to come out this
Saturday and bring a friend.
Justin