Maine is the latest state to require that motorists give bicyclists 3 feet of clearance when passing.
The provision is included in the comprehensive bicycle safety bill passed by the Maine legislature. As many as 10 other states have similar laws on the books.
The bill also clarified when cyclists don't have to ride to the right, reduced liabilities that prevented cyclists from using drive-through windows, and increased fines for youths not wearing helmets.
Bicycle Coalition of Maine director Jeffrey Miller says the law changes will make Maine safer for cyclists.
The 3-foot provisions reads:
An operator of a motor vehicle that is passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall exercise due care by leaving a distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than 3 feet while the motor vehicle is passing the bicycle.
In addition, the law allows motorists in Maine to cross a double yellow line (when safe) in order to give cyclists the 3 foot margin.
Other states to pass similar legislation include Tennessee and Arkansas, although there's concern about getting the message out to motorists. In Washington, another state with a 3-foot rule, the Cascade Bicycle Club launched the Give 3 Feet campaign.
In California, a similar billed is stalled in committee, and in Texas the bill never made it to the final vote.
Other states that require the 3-foot margin are Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Utah and Wisconsin.
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