Last week, the entire Go Georgia team traveled to Washington, DC, to attend the National Bike Summit, hosted by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB). We were joined by several local advocate groups from across the state, who rounded out the Georgia delegation (pictured right).
In between the great speakers and mobile workshops, our group participated in a lobby day on Capitol Hill. The Secretary of the US Department of Transportation has initiated a halt to spending on bicycle infrastructure, so Go Georgia joined the LAB in asking congressional offices to ensure that funding continues to flow for these critical, life-saving projects. Go Georgia also participated in the search for co-sponsors for the Sarah Langenkamp bill, which would enable state DOTs to fund bike/ped projects with 100% federal funding (without the need for a local match). While we were on the hill, Go Georgia Executive Director John Devine also teamed up with his counterpart from Bike Walk Nebraska to meet with majority and minority staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, urging Senators of both parties to protect Congress’s power of the purse.
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Go Georgia has been hard at work supporting state-level bills to make biking, walking, and rolling safer and more enjoyable. An important procedural milestone, “crossover day,” occurred on March 6th this year. By this date, any bill introduced in either the House or the Senate must successfully pass through its chamber of origin to continue its journey through the legislative process.
Georgia Yield
The Georgia Yield bill (HB 393, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Cooper of McDonough), failed to pass in the House before crossover day, even after unanimous passage in the House Transportation Committee. This bill would allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs at certain intersections, when it is safe to do so. Go Georgia is confident that passing this safety-focused legislation would result in fewer crashes at stop sign-controlled intersections, and we will continue to champion it going forward. Thanks are due to Rep. Cooper for her leadership on this bill, as well as to co-sponsors.
Speed Cameras in School Zones
This session has seen fierce debate regarding the operation of speed cameras in school zones, with both the House and the Senate grappling with how to address this issue. Speed cameras have been allowed in school districts by law since 2018, and may be used to cite drivers who are going more than 10 mph over the speed limit within an hour before or after the start or end of the school day. Criticism of this practice has grown in recent years, with some lawmakers accusing local governments of using speed cameras purely to generate revenue. However, communities where they are in use are fighting to keep them legal, maintaining that they are an effective tool to curb speeding and keep school-children safe. Several pieces of legislation were introduced in both the House and the Senate, including bills that would outlaw the use of speed cameras in school zones, as well as bills that would revise existing law by adjusting penalty amounts, signage requirements, hours of operation, and other similar provisions. Two bills on this issue crossed over from the House: one to fully repeal (HB 225, sponsored by Rep. Dale Washburn of Macon), and the other to revise (HB 651, sponsored by Rep. Alan Powell of Hartwell).
VRU Study Committee
Lawmakers are still considering the creation of a Vulnerable Roadway User study committee (study committees are not subject to the crossover day deadline). Go Georgia firmly supports this effort, sponsored by Sen. Elena Parent of Atlanta, to bring more awareness to the escalating safety crisis among Georgians who bike, walk, or roll.
Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program Budget
As part of the 2025 budgeting process, the House made changes to the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP) budget. GOSP is a dedicated funding mechanism that uses tax revenue from outdoor recreation equipment sales to support park and trail development, and to protect critical conservation land. When sales of these items drop by more than one percent, Georgia law requires a 20% reduction in GOSP grants. However, this program has become so popular that the House has moved to cut only 5%, rather than the required 20% from the GOSP budget. Current funding already falls short of the demand; last year, 36 applicants requested $69 million and the Board of Natural Resources approved 12 projects for $24.5 million. In the past, GOSP has funded important projects such as the Firefly Trail in northeast Georgia and the Tabby Trail (part of the East Coast Greenway) in St. Marys.
Thank you for supporting our mission and for your commitment to making Georgia a better place to bike, walk, and roll. Despite a challenging advocacy landscape, we look forward to continuing to advocate on your behalf at every opportunity.
