Rail Crossing Safety to Improve – a Little
By Daniel R. Laurence
The Biden administration has just announced $560 million in grants to help railroad and municipalities improve plan, design, and build at-grade rail crossings around the country, as part of $3 billion allocated to railroad safety over the next five years...
Our Daughter Toys with the Supreme Court
By Daniel R. Laurence
When our second-born, Julia, decided to go to law school, we weren’t surprised. Growing up, I told her how I have enjoyed the practice, had many interesting cases, and how rewarding it is to represent people who need our help. On our way to...
Injured Bicyclists May Qualify for Underinsured Motorist Benefits in Washington
By Daniel R. Laurence
If you are injured by a motor vehicle while riding your bicycle, the Washington Supreme Court has given you a hand up by allowing you to claim uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits under your own...
The “Idaho Stop” is Now Legal in Washington
By Daniel R. Laurence
In 1982, Idaho made it legal for a person riding a bicycle to treat a stop sign as a yield sign. This is not a license to “blow through” stop signs; it is...
Making the Roads Reasonably Safe for Scooters—Not
By Daniel R. Laurence
Today the Seattle Times reports that the City of Seattle proposes to allow electric scooters in bike lanes but not on sidewalks. (See https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/scooters-would-be-allowed-in-bike-lanes-but-not-on-sidewalks-under-seattle-proposal/).
My friend asked me, why...
Promises and Pitfalls of Autonomous Vehicles
By Daniel Laurence
The “promise” of “autonomous vehicles” is still not even a promise. It is a risky dream that may eventually be done, like going to the moon. If and when it does, it will change...
Rules of the Road: Washington Grants New Protection to “Vulnerable Roadway Users”
By Daniel R. Laurence
I am an all-too-frequent motorist, and insufficiently frequent road cyclist, who enjoys the activity but not the fear and aggression that are all-too-regular effects when motorist impatience and cyclist entitlement...