SRC-SEW S.B. 238 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 238 77R1722 MTB-DBy: Wentworth State Affairs 2/7/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under current law, bicyclists may ride two abreast in a single lane on a roadway and have unrestricted access to most roadways in Texas. The influx of bicyclists on Farm-to-Market and Ranch-to-Market roads is causing growing concern among farmers and ranchers using the same roads while hauling heavy equipment or loaded livestock trailers. As proposed, S.B. 238 requires bicyclists to ride single file, places certain restrictions on cyclists riding in groups of three or more, and requires bicycles to be equipped with slow-moving vehicle emblems. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 551.103, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e) to require bicyclers on a roadway to ride single file only rather than two abreast and to prohibit bicyclers in groups of three or more to ride on a farm-to-market or ranch-to-market road that has no improved shoulders. Deletes text regarding arrangements of bicyclists on various roadways. SECTION 2. Amends Section 551.104, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to prohibit a person from operating a bicycle unless the bicycle is equipped with a slow-moving-vehicle emblem (as defined by Section 547.001) that conforms to the requirements of Section 547.703(a), excepting persons operating a bicycle on a path set aside exclusively for bicycles. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001.