Two bills critical to the continued operation of our state parks were introduced in the Michigan Senate on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 388 and Senate Bill 389 were both referred to the Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs committee. This committee will hold a hearing on them next Wednesday at 1pm.

[EDIT: The hearing has been postponed.]

These bills are a reflection of years of studying various options by our Citizen’s Committee for Michigan State Parks, but especially under the guidance of committee member Dr. Chuck Nelson from MSU.

What do these bills do? From the new Citizen’s Committee web site, www.OurMichiganParks.org:

These bills would ask every Michigan driver to pay an?optional?$10 fee each year when renewing their Michigan vehicle registration on non-commercial vehicles. While non-residents would still have to purchase a non-resident motor vehicle permit, worker time in entrance booths at most parks would be drastically reduced, resulting in cleaner bathrooms, less litter, better resource stewardship, improved security and increased education and interpretation programs. In addition to providing support for state parks and boating access sites, this would also provide funding for our outstanding and underfunded state forest recreation system including more than 140 rustic campgrounds and almost a thousand miles of non-motorized pathways that serve hikers, mountain bikers, cross country skiers and equestrians. Finally, it would approximately double the amount of grant money annually available to local units of government to renovate or improve recreational facilities in local parks across Michigan.

The Committee is calling on Michigan residents to contact their state senators to voice their support for this legislation. Here’s how you can get your senator’s contact information.

HOV lane signage on Michigan Avenue

We recently brought up the issue with the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Michigan Avenue.  These HOV lanes were on the right side of the road where cyclists would normally ride.  Did this mean cyclist had to ride in the center lanes?

Fortunately, HOV lanes and their use were not defined in state law.  MDOT worked quickly to change that.  We spoke with MDOT about including an exception for bicycles when the HOV lane is also the right lane, as it is on Michigan Avenue in Detroit.

That legislation (Senate Bill 1462) was introduced on Tuesday and it does include our requested exception:

The restrictions imposed on HOV lanes do not apply to … Bicycles, if the HOV lane is the right-hand lane of a highway open to bicycles.

We certainly encourage anyone to contact their Senator to express their support for this legislation.

UPDATE 9/19/08: A related House and Senate bill has been modified which limits MDOT to having HOV lanes only on Michigan Avenue and only in Detroit.

UPDATE 12/9/08: The Governor signed this bill into law

This just in from the League of Michigan Bicyclists. We could use cyclists contacting their State Representative and Senator to make sure these bills get passed.

Legislative Action Alert

Tell your Legislator to Support HB 6299 and HB 6300, make roads safer for cyclists.

Representatives Andy Coulouris (D-Saginaw) and David Palsrok (R-Manistee) on June 29 introduced House Bills 6299 and 6300, which enhance penalties for moving violations causing physical injury or death to bicyclists and other vulnerable roadway users.

Senator Tom George (R-Kalamazoo) has committed to introduce Senate companion bills with the same language. (Check www.LMB.org/advocacycenter.htm) for future information, including Senate bill numbers and co-sponsors.)

A teen on a bike deserves the same protection as one driving a tractor. These bills will make Michigan roadways safer for bicyclists and all vulnerable users of our taxpayer-funded road system.
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Michigan state forest recreation relies primarily on three funding sources: camping fees, taxpayer support (general fund), and a portion of the fuel taxes (used primarily for capital improvements.) Without these funds, state forest campgrounds and state forest pathways could not afford to keep these facilities open and functional.

When the state legislature cut the taxpayer support to this program, the DNR was forced to close 20 state forest campgrounds which were bringing in the least revenue.

Fortunately either the public outcry or common sense forced a reversal. The legislature just restored the funding.

Below is the list of campgrounds which will be re-opened. The DNR expects the re-opens to by mid-May though some campgrounds “will require maintenance repairs to the water wells during the month of May.” (more…)