The North American Bikeshare Association celebrated a victory for the future of bikeshare — an Oklahoma bill that would have preempted local control of dockless bikeshare failed to be heard on the House floor due to pressure on legislators.
“The North American Bikeshare Association, PeopleforBikes and other allies worked to keep SB 1374 from reaching the House floor,” said NABSA Executive Director Samantha Herr. “Legislators in Oklahoma have sent a clear and powerful message that bikeshare needs to be regulated at the local level.”
In January 2018, the Oklahoma Senate introduced SB 1374, preempting local governmental power to make decisions about bikeshare issues. According to NABSA, the bill did not account for cyclists’ safety, data privacy, right of way management, the needs of communities and other critical policies.
“As a leader in the bikeshare industry, NABSA works hard to encourage its members as well as advocates to share their voices and fight for safe, equitable bikeshare systems everywhere,” said Herr. “This bill’s defeat is a victory for the bikeshare industry, as well as users of bikeshare systems, to uphold the standard that bikeshare providers work with communities to develop the system that best meets each communities’ needs.
SB 1374 comes at the heels of two other harmful bikeshare bills in Florida. SB 1304 and HB 1033 were introduced by the Florida House of Representatives and Senate in December 2017, attempting to preempt local control of bikeshare policy. During a three-month legislative session, NABSA and allies urged Florida legislators to denounce the bill and keep bikeshare control local. In March 2018, the bill was defeated.
