Kim Reynolds signs law giving Iowa cyclists, wheelchair users more crosswalk protection
Iowa cyclists and wheelchair users will now have greater protection when using crosswalks under a law signed Friday by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
The law, House File 2568, requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to cyclists, people using wheelchairs and other crosswalk users who aren't on foot.
The law expands the definition of pedestrian to include those using a conveyance such as a wheelchair, stroller, skateboard, scooter or a similar device.
It also requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to cyclists crossing roadways within any marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection where traffic-control signals are not in place.
Reynolds signed the law Friday in a private ceremony in the governor's office at the Iowa Capitol.
Cycling groups, including the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, had pushed for the law.
"Whether you are out on the trails as a cyclist, a person with disabilities in a wheelchair, a senior citizen on an electric scooter, a kid on a skateboard or a parent with a baby in a stroller, this legislation is a clear victory for all Iowans," said Luke Hoffman, the coalition's executive director. "We thank Gov. Reynolds for signing this bill into law and making Iowa a safer place for everyone who uses our shared roadways and crosswalks."
The bill's Senate sponsor, Sen. Mark Lofgren, R-Muscatine, noted the importance of events such as RAGBRAI in attracting visitors to Iowa.
"This new layer of safety and accountability makes a strong statement that we are committed to ensuring safety for our residents and visitors to make Iowa the best place in the country to live, work and play," he said in a statement.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds signs Iowa crosswalk law for wheelchair users, cyclists
