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California State Assembly Votes on 3-ft Rule For Bicyclists

August 24, 2012 by 3 Comments
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Many people cite safety as the biggest reason they’re not commuting via bicycle, self included. Don’t cue the violins, I’m lucky to have had a full recovery from the crash I’m really sick of talking about, and I know my own road rage had some part in it. However, if seeing a cyclist in a wheelchair tugs at your heartstrings, go right ahead and urge your local Assembly member to vote yes on 1464. Twenty one states in the country already have similar laws for passing cyclists. Earlier this year, Senate Bill 1464 was passed by the California State Senate. In September, the Assembly will vote on this critical traffic safety measure.

Transform has a handy form letter you can send to your very own CA State Assembly member to ask them to vote yes on the 3-foot passing rule for cyclists. Under this rule, car drivers will be required to give 3′ of space when passing a cyclist. You can read more about it on the dedicated site for the give me 3! campaign. With more people on bicycles, that’s fewer people in cars, and less stress and trauma for everyone. Not to mention the cleaner air…

If you’re in LA and want to have some fun riding around town without cars, check out cicLAvia on October 7th. The city closes about 10 miles of streets so that over 100,000 people can enjoy cycling, walking, skating the streets of LA. It’s a great way to re-discover how much fun cycling is, in relatively safe environment. I say relatively, because with that many Sunday riders in one 10-mile stretch, you do have to keep an eye out for the ones who don’t hold their line- usually the kids.

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Filed Under: Activism, Bicycles, Policy, Politics Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
About Susanna Schick

Susanna is passionate about anything fast and electric. As long as it's only got two wheels. She covers electric motorcycle racing events, test rides electric motorcycles, and interviews industry leaders. Occasionally she deigns to cover automobile events in Los Angeles for us as well. However, she dreams of a day when Los Angeles' streets resemble the two-wheeled paradise she discovered living in Barcelona and will not rest until she's converted the masses to two-wheeled bliss.

  • Rick

    Susanna, as a fellow bike rider I can sympathize. As a driver, I can say that sharing the road goes both ways. While I don’t know what happened to you, I have had some bad experiences on both two and four wheels.

    Last year, I followed a rude biker for several minutes who refused to show any courtesy in allowing me to pass. I blew my horn, he flipped me off and I passed him with way, way less than 3 feet. I often wonder if he has yet flipped off the wrong driver and ended up in the hospital or worse. Yup, courtesy goes two ways!

    • Susanna Schick

      true dat. road rage is wrong no matter who’s dishing it. But cycling in LA can be so terrifying that we sometimes react with fear-based anger. And then some cyclists are just entitled jerks. Just as some cagers are.

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