(Update April 13: Maryland enacts 3-foot passing law ) There's isn't much positive news to send back home to bicyclists from the state capitols this year.
One of the few bright spots came from Mississippi, where the State Legislature approved a bill requiring motorists give bicyclists 3 feet of clearance when passing.
(That is Maryland's One Less Car president, Greg Cantori, at left demonstrating what three feet looks like when passing.)
Similar bills were either rejected or ignored in 8 other states — Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Virginia and Washington. Iowa may still get some bicycle safety provisions passed, however, and Vermont is still considering a “due care” passing bill. [April 10 update: Some last-minute action for Maryland's 3-foot rule.]
Currently, 15 states require a 3-foot gap for bicycle riders. They are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi (effective July 15, 2010), New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
Mississippi
Mississippi's bill, the John Paul Frerer Bicycle Safety Act, was named for an 18-year-old senior at Tupelo High School. He struck by a pickup in August 2009 as he trained on his bicycle for upcoming triathlete events.
Signed into law by Gov. Haley Barbour, the bill passed resoundingly by 110-9 in the House and 50-0 in the Senate. In addition to requiring that motorists pass bicyclists and other vulnerable road uses by 3 feet or more, it makes it a crime to harass, taunt or toss objects at cyclists.
Similar bills in other states did not fare so well.
Idaho:
Two bicycle bills by Senator Elliot Werk are dead. One required three feet to pass, while the other prohibited motorists from harassing bicyclists. Idaho's Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong spoke in favor of both bills. (Three feet is required in the city of Boise.)
On a plus note, a bill requiring brakes on fixed-gear bikes also failed.
Iowa:
While an effort to require motorists to give bicyclists 5 feet of clearance when passing appears dead, less controversial aspects of the legislation have appeared in a catch-all bill submitted by Democrats in the Iowa Legislature. Among proposals for such things as bingo, motel taxes, and state trooper meal allowances, is a provision for bicycle safety.
According to the Des Moines Register:
“Drivers would have to follow some limited new rules for respecting bicycle riders – including not throwing anything at them, another provision says.
“Drivers could not steer their vehicles “unreasonably close to or toward a person riding a bicycle on a highway, including the roadway or the shoulder adjacent to the roadway,” the provision says.
“And no one could “knowingly project any object or substance at or against a person riding a bicycle on a highway.” A violation would be a simple misdemeanor.”
Maryland
Senate Bill 51 is Maryland's three-foot bill. It passed the Senate, got through the House Environmental Matters Committee and is poised for a House vote. Because of changes, it has to go back to the Senate for a final vote before the session ends on Monday. A similar House bill, HB 461, has seen no action since at mid-February hearing. (SB 51 passed on the final day of the session, April 12)
Missouri
House Bill 1250, a three-foot passing bill, is languishing in the House transportation committee with no action planned.
On another note, funding for the 2010 Tour of Missouri has survived in the state budget so far.
Ohio
Senate Bill 174 requires a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle to maintain a safe passing distance between the motor vehicle and bicycle of not less than 3 feet. Introduced in December, it's still in committee.
South Dakota
Senate Bill 70, which required a 3-foot gap when passing a bicycle, was rejected on Feb. 18.
Virginia
House Bill 1048 would have required that motorists give bicyclists at least 3 feet. The bills also outlaw tailgating and create a new Class 3 misdemeanor of Careless Driving — to counter the difficulty of charging motorists with Reckless Driving when they kill or injure cyclists. It was defeated on Feb. 16.
Washington
A three-foot provision, HB 1491, passed the House in 2009. Languishing in the Senate transportation committee since then, it was reintroduced in special session. A bill that set penalties for injury accidents involving vulnerable users, SB 5838, also was reintroduced and retained in its present status.
The state Legislature did pass a bill making it a primary offense to hold a cellphone to your ear while driving, or to read, write or send text messages. The bill, which Gov. Christine Gregoire says she'll sign, also prohibits drivers under 18 from using a cellphone at all.
Vermont:
Legislators are still looking at House Bill 540 that requires motorists to use “due care” when passing bicyclists and other vulnerable users. It also forbids anyone to throw objects at bicyclists and others from passing motor vehicles.
The bill passed the House and was refered to the Senate transportation committee on March 23.
Recent Comments