New Bike Laws
October 17th, 2006 by Tim GrahlSeveral states across the country have inacted a new law that requires drivers to give cyclists a least a three foot buffer zone when passing. This changed the older laws that read vaguely that a driver must give “sufficient” room when passing.
I’ve discussed this with a few other cyclists and on the Spokesmen Podcast, and I think the actual law won’t make much difference. The only thing I think it will do is help increase awareness with the media covering the this new provision.
However I’m curious what your thoughts are. Will this help make cyclists more safe? Or not make any difference at all? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
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Not sure how long Georgia has had this code but I recently learned about it after a tractor trailer nearly ran over a pack of us on a four lane. I researched the codes pertaining to bicycles in traffic and how autos were to interact and found the code about a 3′ min berth when passing.
We were in single file to the right of the lane on a designated state bike route. The guy had another lane that he could have moved over to but stayed in “his” lane with us blowing his horn the whole time.
Yeah I think we have all been in this kind of situation, and I honestly can’t see police keeping an eye out to make sure motorists are leaving a three foot gap. There are plenty of other driving laws that are routinly broken that are never acted upon but law enforcement.
Like I said, I just hope this brings more awareness to people that bikes really do belong on the road and not “somewhere else” even though there never seems to be an answer for where that “somewhere else” is supposed to be.
I live in GA and there’s a woman who is constantly coming too close to me on my morning commute, like both of us somehow squeeze between the fog and the double yellow line (just like Ashley’s situation). She drives a silver Isuzu SUV. Now that I know about this law, I may have her called in next time. I seriously have about been ridden off of the road. However, I do have my doubts as to whether or not the law will be inforced, or that my complaint will be taken seriously by the local sheriffs.
Just starting to commute to work, I’ve noticed a few drivers cutting things close. Most drivers, however, give plenty of room, thank god. I one issue that has risen, is the city, Mount Airy, NC, won’t allow parking of bikes outside the new public restrooms on Main Street while using the facilities. I’ve even had a custodian summon police. There aren’t any laws to prohibit such parking. The city now has erected signs banning bikes, and only bikes. All I have figure out is how to approch the city on this matter. Hell, I’d even help install a rack, if I could just find one cheap.
This law was passed in Minnesota several years ago and nothing has changed. There is no awareness of the law on the part of auto drivers and there is no enforcement.
It’s similar to a law that requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. It almost never happens and I’ve never heard of it being enforced.
Laws without corresponding enforcement are a waste.
The 3 foot passing law was defeated in Texas last year, and I don’t know if it passed this year or not.
From what I read it was not really geared to be enforceable on its own, but rather designed to be used to charge a motorist with a valid motor vehicle violation if the motorist hit a cyclist. As messed up as it sounds, in Texas right now, a motorist can hit a cyclist and not even get a ticket.
This 3-foot rule is a solid measure, which beats the heck out of ‘reasonable’, which defines nothing at all. If we get that rule, and anyone breaks it, I will photograph their car/plate and report it to both the police and the media.
Hey, if I ever get hit by a car, (and I live) I will not only file criminal charges, I will sue the F-ing sh*t out of the motorist. It seems to be the only way to get any justice. When the motorist has to second mortgage their house/trailer to pay me, I hope he undertands he made a mistake.
How is a driver supposed to give 3 feet clearance when the cyclist is already 4 feet into the lane? Maybe there should be a law to keep a cyclist on the white line instead of in the lane.
I think you should be able to ride on both sides of the bike lines and I do belive there are people who agree with me.
“How is a driver supposed to give 3 feet clearance when the cyclist is already 4 feet into the lane?”
A driver can pass a cyclist safely by waiting until it is safe to pass. It’s really simple. The laws and techniques for passing other vehicles are well established and easy to follow.