By:  Maxey                                            H.B. No. 2809
       73R4360 DWS-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the regulation of the operation of bicycles.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 27, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on
    1-5  Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended
    1-6  by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
    1-7  follows:
    1-8        (a)  The provisions of this Act shall not be deemed to
    1-9  prevent local authorities with respect to streets and highways
   1-10  under their jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of the
   1-11  police power from--
   1-12              1.  Regulating the stopping, standing or parking of
   1-13  vehicles;
   1-14              2.  Regulating traffic by means of police officers or
   1-15  traffic-control devices;
   1-16              3.  Regulating or prohibiting processions or
   1-17  assemblages on the highways;
   1-18              4.  Designating particular highways as one-way highways
   1-19  and requiring that all vehicles thereon be moved in one specific
   1-20  direction;
   1-21              5.  Regulating the speed of vehicles in public parks;
   1-22              6.  Designating any highway as a through highway and
   1-23  requiring that all vehicles stop or yield before entering or
   1-24  crossing the same, or designating any intersection as a stop
    2-1  intersection or a yield intersection and requiring all vehicles to
    2-2  stop or yield at one or more entrances to such intersection;
    2-3              7.  Regulating the operation of bicycles and requiring
    2-4  the registration and licensing of same, including the requirement
    2-5  of a registration fee, except as provided by Subsection (e) of this
    2-6  section;
    2-7              8.  Regulating or prohibiting the turning of vehicles
    2-8  or specified types of vehicles at intersections;
    2-9              9.  Altering the speed limits as authorized herein;
   2-10              10.  Designating school crossing guards and school
   2-11  crossing zones;
   2-12              11.  Regulating the time, place, and manner in which
   2-13  roller skaters may use streets or highways; or
   2-14              12.  Adopting such other traffic regulations as are
   2-15  specifically authorized by this Act.
   2-16        (e)  A municipality with a population of 25,000 or fewer,
   2-17  according to the most recent federal census, may not prohibit the
   2-18  operation of a bicycle on a street or highway during any year
   2-19  unless the records of the department indicate that three or more
   2-20  accidents involving a motor vehicle and a bicycle occurred on the
   2-21  street or highway during the preceding year.
   2-22        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-23  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-24  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-25  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-26  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-27  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    3-1  passage, and it is so enacted.