Two bills supported by cycling advocates are moving forward in the state legislature.

The first, the so-called "vulnerable users bill," would enhance criminal penalties for people who carelessly hit and injure a cyclist, pedestrian, wheelchair user, skater, farm equipment operator, or someone riding on an animal. The bill has been softened significantly from last year's version, which would have made it possible to jail certain drivers who injured vulnerable roadway users like cyclists.

The new version—sponsored, like last year's by Sen. Joe McDermott (D-34)—would enhance the state's negligent driving law so that anyone who kills a vulnerable user while committing second-degree negligent driving will, within one year, be required to complete a traffic-safety course and perform up to 200 hours of community service. Additionally, anyone guilty under the new law would have to pay a fine of up to $5,000, have their license suspended for 90 days, and show up for a hearing to prove they've completed all the terms of their sentence.

The second bill would require the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to consider the benefits of non-motorized transportation projects when evaluating which projects are worth funding, instead of limiting itself to “congestion relief,” code for more roads. Although Cascade Bicycle Club policy director David Hiller initially called the idea "seditious" in Olympia's pro-car political climate, the proposal actually appears to be gaining some momentum. In addition to the usual bike stalwarts (Hans Dunshee, D-44, Geoff Simpson, D-47, Brendan Williams, D-22, and Jim Moeller, D-49), the bill's co-sponsors include Marko Liias, D-21 and Jay Rodne, R-5. That bill will get a bill number on Monday.

The vulnerable users bill, meanwhile, has a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 26. Hiller rates its chances of passage at "about 50-50," adding, "I don't have four 'Nos" yet [on the eight-member committee], but I've only got four "Yeses." The "maybe" is presumably James Hargrove (D-24), one of five Democrats on the committee.