About three months ago, I hand an opportunity to read over parts of the Rhode Island Driver’s Manual. At the time, I was shocked by how little information the manual contained about bicycles and, even more surprised by how much of the information contained actually tried to address cyclists rather than motorists. I posted these thoughts and shortly afterwards representatives from the Greenways Alliance of Rhode Island, the Narragensett Bay Wheelmen, the Sierra Club, and the Providence Bicycle Coalition came together to draft some proposed changes to the Rhode Island Driver’s Manual.
In the next few weeks, the members of this working group will be meeting with a representative from the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicle (RIDMV) to discuss the proposed changes. The next printing of the RI Driver’s Manual is going to press soon and we are hoping our recommended changes can be incorporated into the next printing.
We’ve also received word from RIDOT’s manager of Driver’s Ed Training that our proposed changes document has made it’s way across his desk. They are considering not only distributing our changes to the instructor, so they can be incorporated into the training material used for the courses and practice tests. Furthermore, they are also considering the development of a brochure using our material to to go the children and their parents!
Both of these, if they do indeed come to fruition, would be a great help to spreading the word about the rights of cyclists within the new and upcoming motorists.