Statement to Prince William Delegation to the Virginia General Assembly, January 6, 2018

I’m Allen Muchnick, a City of Manassas resident.  I’ve been a board member of the Virginia Bicycling Federation since 1994, and I helped found Active Prince William two years ago.  The following remarks are my own.

The Virginia Bicycling Federation seeks to improve justice for pedestrians and bicyclists injured by negligent motorists.   VBF supports legislation to reduce the current epidemic of distracted driving, to increase penalties for motorists who injure pedestrians or bicyclists, to require motorists to stop for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing roadways in marked crosswalks, and to advance Vision Zero.

VBF strongly opposes undermining the CTB’s Smart Scale project evaluation process--whereby transportation funds are awarded objectively by project merit, not political considerations—or to exclude pedestrian or bicycle projects or smaller projects from Smart Scale funding; specifically, HB 72, HB 103, and SB 207.  VBF also opposes HB 59, which would require VDOT to exclude or compromise needed pedestrian and bicycling improvements from highway construction projects, undermining existing Complete Street policies and practices.

Thank you for your time and attention.