LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
Revision 1
April 29, 2001
TO: Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on
State Affairs
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB238 by Wentworth (Relating to the safe operation of
bicycles on roadways.), As Introduced
**************************************************************************
* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB238, As Introduced: positive impact of $0 through the biennium *
* ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
**************************************************************************
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $0 *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
*****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from State *
* Highway Fund *
* 0006 *
* 2002 $(492,000) *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
*****************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to require persons operating
bicycles on a roadway to ride single file and to prohibit persons
operating bicycles in a group of three or more from riding on a
farm-to-market or ranch-to-market road that is without improved
shoulders. The bill would also require that a bicycle that is not
operated on path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles would
have to have a slow-moving-vehicle emblem.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
Methodology
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) estimates that an
informational sign would need to be erected every 10 miles on
approximately 22,800 miles of farm-to-market or ranch-to-market road
that do not have improved shoulders to notify bicyclists of the
prohibition against operating bicycles in a group of three or more on
those roads. TxDOT also estimates that similar signs would need to be
erected at 1,000 intersections. TxDOT estimates each sign would cost
$150 and that a total cost of $492,000 would be realized in fiscal year
2002 for erecting 3,280 new signs.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 405 Texas Department of Public Safety, 601 Texas
Department of Transportation
LBB Staff: JK, RB, MW, DG