New Oregon bike bill would require reflective gear

Wear a reflective coat or vest, or receive a sizable fine. An Oregon lawmaker wants cyclists to be fined $250 if they are riding without the proper safety gear at night.

House Bill 3255 would require cyclists to wear,”reflective clothing, including but not limited to a reflective coat or reflective vest.”

Oregon law already requires nighttime cyclists to use a front white light (headlight) and a rear red light (taillight). The new bill would be an additional requirement.

Even those who are very involved in the biking community aren’t sure that’s the way to go.

“Seems that adding a law on top of that may not produce the effect of increasing safety,” Bike Around Bend blogger Lucas Freeman said Tuesday.

Freeman acknowledges the need for safety gear while riding, especially at night when visibility is low, such as wearing protective gear and proper lighting — as he does.

But he also said he feels potential cyclists might be discouraged to use the option of riding if there are too many rules and restrictions.

Other commuters are already using the proposed safety precautions.

“At night, I wear multiple lights,” bike commuter Peter Werner of Bend said. “I also wear my reflective vest if I know I’m going to be traveling home.”

The bill is currently at the speaker’s desk.

Read more and track the bill here:https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB3255/Introduced