Under a bill introduced in the Wyoming legislature in late January, cyclists in the state would be required to wear reflective neon, carry government-issued IDs, and mount rear lights on their bikes. If enacted, the bill would take effect July 1.
has six co-sponsors and very specifically mandates that cyclists on roadways 鈥渟hall wear not less than 200 square inches of high visibility fluorescent orange, green, or pink color clothing visible from the front and rear of the bicycle.鈥 The rear 鈥渓ight-emitting device鈥 would have to be something like a strobe or flashing light. The government-issued photo ID can be anything from a passport to a driver鈥檚 license.
Brian Schilling, coodinator for Jackson Hole Community Pathways, likes having cyclists equip their bikes with rear lights because they鈥檙e cheap and have a long battery life. But the neon-attire requirement is too much, he said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a little onerous,鈥 he . 鈥淢y five-year-old kid, I don鈥檛 think her entire surface area is 200 inches.鈥
鈥淭his is a deeply concerning bill,鈥 Wyoming Pathways executive director Tim Young told the News and Guide. 鈥淭his is an inappropriate way to look at bike legislation in Wyoming.鈥 He also wondered whether legislators would also force pedestrians to carry ID and wear neon clothing on public streets.
The six co-sponsors haven鈥檛 commented on the bill at this time.
鈥淎s far as the actual threat posed to public safety, a far greater good would be achieved by focusing on risky behaviors of motorists,鈥 Schilling told the News and Guide. 鈥淪ince they are operating vehicles with far greater potential for causing injury or death, they also have greater responsibility for safe operation of those vehicles.鈥