StateImpact

Protecting Big Utilties When Hikers And Bikers Invade

New legislation — introduced in Austin — is supposed to help build a lot more hike and bike trails. It would do it by using those long ribbons of green space called "rights of way", now used for big, utility transmission lines. But the proposal gives a very big break to the utility companies that own the land, granting them virtual blanket immunity from any law suit should someone get hurt — even if it was the utility company's fault. StateImpact reporter Dave Fehling has been looking into this.