NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1973 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 1447

SENATE BILL 1372

 

 

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BICYCLE AND BIKEWAY PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

"Part 1. General Provisions.

Section 1.  This act may be cited as the North Carolina Bicycle and Bikeway Act of 1974.

Sec. 2.  Definitions. As used in this act, except where the context clearly requires otherwise, the words and expressions defined in this section shall be held to have the meanings here given to them:

(1)        Bicycle: A non-motorized vehicle with two or three wheels tandem, a steering handle, one or two saddle seats, and pedals by which the vehicle is propelled.

(2)        Bikeway: A thoroughfare suitable for bicycles, and which may either exist within the right-of-way of other modes of transportation, such as highways, or along a separate and independent corridor.

(3)        Program: North Carolina Bicycle and Bikeway Program.

(4)        Department: North Carolina Department of Transportation and Highway Safety.

Sec. 3.  Findings. The General Assembly hereby finds that it is in the public interest, health, safety, and welfare for the State to encourage and provide for the efficient and safe use of the bicycle; and that to coordinate plans for bike ways most effectively with those of the State and local governments as they affect roads, streets, schools, parks and other publicly owned lands, abandoned roadbeds and conservation areas, while maximizing the benefits from the use of tax dollars, a single State agency, eligible to receive federal matching funds, should be designated to establish and maintain a State-wide bikeways program.

Sec. 4.  Program Development. The Department is designated as such State agency, responsible for developing and coordinating the program.

Sec. 5.  Duties. The Department will:

(1)        Assist and cooperate with local governments and other agencies in the development and construction of local and regional bikeway projects;

(2)        Develop and publish policies, procedures, and standards for planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, marking, and operating bikeways in the State; for the registration and security of bicycles; and for the safety of bicyclists, motorists and the public;

(3)        Develop bikeway demonstration projects and safety training programs;

(4)        Develop and construct a State bikeway system.

Sec. 5.  Bikeways may be designated along and upon the public roads.

Sec. 6.  Funds. The General Assembly hereby authorizes the Department to include needed funds for the program in its annual budgets for fiscal years after June 30, 1975, subject to the approval of the General Assembly.

The Department is authorized to spend any federal, State, local or private funds available to the Department and designated for the accomplishment of this act. Cities and towns may use any funds available.

Sec. 7.  Effective Date. This act shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 13th day of April, 1974.