The end of driving on the weekend. 09/16/14

[R390]

Beginning Sept. 16, motorists will be required to maintain a 3-foot buffer between themselves and bicyclists when they pass cyclists traveling in the same direction. If not enough space is available, the motorist must slow down and pass "when no danger is present to the bicyclist," according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles

Result.........this will is what will exactly happen.

can't pass them......
Get Out Of The Way! This Is Exactly Why Many People Hate Cyclists - YouTube

I'm for sharing the road but I think it's time cyclist pay like the rest of us to share the road in DMV fees. Also cyclists need to be Licensed and registered like a Motorcycle.


(09/16/14) 3-foot gap between bike & car law starts - FerrariChat.com

[Jim Richards]

CA needs to enforce the rules for slow moving vehicles.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21654.htm
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21656.htm
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24615.htm

[billybek]

You would think that with increasing number of cyclist (good and bad) that there would be pressure to regulate them to pay for road improvements to accommodate them.

[fintstone]

There should be a cycle lane paid for by road bike licensing fees. If a person wants to ride their bike on the road, they should be subject to the same rules as cars (including minimum speed) and ticketed.

[speeder]

I was under the impression that the 3-foot rule was already a law. I agree that bicyclists have no right to hold up traffic by hogging a lane and not moving over but who exactly here would pass a moving bicyclist closer than 3 feet away in a car??

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by R390

Result.........this will is what will exactly happen.

can't pass them......
Get Out Of The Way! This Is Exactly Why Many People Hate Cyclists - YouTube

I'm for sharing the road but I think it's time cyclist pay like the rest of us to share the road in DMV fees. Also cyclists need to be Licensed and registered like a Motorcycle.

That rider looks to be on the verge of a heart attack. Stupid place to ride and yes a A??hat for riding in the middle of the road. I would be angry too. Notice the rider further down keeping to the left.

That looks to be near the same spot where this happened a while back.

[/QUOTE]

San Diego is pretty much ground zero for the cycling world. Popular training routes have pretty wide shoulders that separate the riders from cages. East county roads are so numerous I rarely every encounter cyclists holding up traffic more than a few seconds. YMMV

[fintstone]

Speeder
If it were going 5 mph and I was going 7...

[fintstone]

Not much different than riding a skateboard or walking up the middle of the road...and wondering why folks overtaking you at 55mph seem annoyed.

[IROC]

Originally Posted by fintstone

There should be a cycle lane paid for by road bike licensing fees. If a person wants to ride their bike on the road, they should be subject to the same rules as cars (including minimum speed) and ticketed.

Absolutely!! Bikes on public roads are a hazard, plain and simple. If they can't maintain the speed limit (more than 10 mph under the posted speed limit is a ticketable offense in TN) and don't obey other traffic laws (like red lights - they often blow right through them) they should be ticketed. They never are.

This 3 foot law (in effect here in TN) also doesn't address whether crossing a yellow line is acceptable to enable the 3-foot clearance. I live off of a twisty, two lane road that is double-yellow lined for the most part. Once you get behind a bicyclist, you're stuck. For a long time. They refuse to move over regardless of how many people are stacked up behind them and they get to the red light at the end of our road and ride right through it as the rest of us have to stop. I've seen it happen many times.

[jyl]

Three foot rule simply means drivers give bicycles three feet clearance when passing, or slow down if passing the bicycle more closely I.e. no high speed buzzes.

21760.
(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Three Feet for Safety Act.
(b) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall pass in compliance with the requirements of this article applicable to overtaking and passing a vehicle, and shall do so at a safe distance that does not interfere with the safe operation of the overtaken bicycle, having due regard for the size and speed of the motor vehicle and the bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and the surface and width of the highway.

(c) A driver of a motor vehicle shall not overtake or pass a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway at a distance of less than three feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator.

(d) If the driver of a motor vehicle is unable to comply with subdivision (c), due to traffic or roadway conditions, the driver shall slow to a speed that is reasonable and prudent, and may pass only when doing so would not endanger the safety of the operator of the bicycle, taking into account the size and speed of the motor vehicle and bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and surface and width of the highway.

(e) (1) A violation of subdivision (b), (c), or (d) is an infraction punishable by a fine of thirty-five dollars ($35).

(2) If a collision occurs between a motor vehicle and a bicycle causing bodily injury to the operator of the bicycle, and the driver of the motor vehicle is found to be in violation of subdivision (b), (c), or (d), a two-hundred-twenty-dollar ($220) fine shall be imposed on that driver.

(f) This section shall become operative on September 16, 2014.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

[/QUOTE]

That rider should thank those cyclist for stopping him from running into the side of that hill. He looked like he was in a little trouble to begin with...

[speeder]

The bicyclists in that video are riding as far over to the right as possible. I sure hope that the MC rider got sued into lifelong poverty.

[IROC]

Originally Posted by jyl

Three foot rule simply means drivers give bicycles three feet clearance when passing, or slow down if passing the bicycle more closely I.e. no high speed buzzes.

21760.
(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Three Feet for Safety Act.
(b) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall pass in compliance with the requirements of this article applicable to overtaking and passing a vehicle, and shall do so at a safe distance that does not interfere with the safe operation of the overtaken bicycle, having due regard for the size and speed of the motor vehicle and the bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and the surface and width of the highway.

(c) A driver of a motor vehicle shall not overtake or pass a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway at a distance of less than three feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator.

(d) If the driver of a motor vehicle is unable to comply with subdivision (c), due to traffic or roadway conditions, the driver shall slow to a speed that is reasonable and prudent, and may pass only when doing so would not endanger the safety of the operator of the bicycle, taking into account the size and speed of the motor vehicle and bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and surface and width of the highway.

(e) (1) A violation of subdivision (b), (c), or (d) is an infraction punishable by a fine of thirty-five dollars ($35).

(2) If a collision occurs between a motor vehicle and a bicycle causing bodily injury to the operator of the bicycle, and the driver of the motor vehicle is found to be in violation of subdivision (b), (c), or (d), a two-hundred-twenty-dollar ($220) fine shall be imposed on that driver.

(f) This section shall become operative on September 16, 2014.

So, is passing allowed if it requires crossing a solid yellow line?

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by fintstone

If a person wants to ride their bike on the road, they should be subject to the same rules as cars (including minimum speed) and ticketed.

When I got my first ticket (rolling stop on my bike in 7th grade) and went before the judge, he told all of us (more than one kid got ticketed that day) that we were subject to the exact same laws as cars. I find most people on bikes now days think they have the same rights of way as pedestrians.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by fintstone

There should be a cycle lane paid for by road bike licensing fees. If a person wants to ride their bike on the road, they should be subject to the same rules as cars (including minimum speed) and ticketed.

Read somewhere pre-internet that by having a bike lane (the extra 3-4 feet of paving on each side) road life was increased by 30% or so. Seems most road damage is from the edges crumbling and cracking.... Don't think adding a bike lane would add 30% to the cost, so it is probably worth doing even if bikes are not allowed on that particular road (ie, look at the big wide margins on an interstate).

[joe payne]

This will make Muhlholland/The Snake real fun. It already sucks. Don't cross the double yellow line AND stay 3 ft. away from the bike thats already in the middle of the lane on a blind corner.
Throw in a few cops and its tickets and problems for everyone!!

[fintstone]

I once lived in a city that had bike lanes or paths almost everywhere. Some folks used them...but none of the "pro" guys with the spandex. I asked one why...and he said they like the road better...and they had every right to block traffic. Seemed pretty militant...something about teaching folks in cars who had a higher calling. Different mentality I guess.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by fintstone

I once lived in a city that had bike lanes or paths almost everywhere. Some folks used them...but none of the "pro" guys with the spandex. I asked one why...and he said they like the road better...and they had every right to block traffic. Seemed pretty militant...something about teaching folks in cars who had a higher calling. Different mentality I guess.

Right up until they get wiped out by a car.

There was a thread about stereotypes a while back...it's the damn tri guys that are doing this. Riding with aero bars thinking we all need to respect their space and not mess up their personal best time.

In reality the bike lanes never get swept and are full of hazards. I never used them either (except in Europe where they are amazing).

[nostatic]

There are douche bicyclists. Just like there are douche motorcyclists. And douche drivers. You can't really generalize - unless you want to because *they* annoy you.

I rarely ride my bicycle on the street anymore as drivers have become distracted and downright homicidal. Everyone is important and in a hurry. People do pass with less than 3'. And I ride way to the right. But a smart cyclist also knows that people in parked cars open their doors without looking so when you go by a parked car you have to give enough room to allow for that (if you can't see into the car - which is often the case).

As stated above, one problem with dedicated bike lanes is that they tend to accumulate crap - dirt, sticks, trash from cars, etc - and they don't get cleaned. So they end up being more dangerous than the road. But most places don't have separate (i.e. with curbing) lanes.

[fintstone]

The ones where I lived were as clean as the street...and there were many that were like another road (and as wide as a full lane or more) about 6-10 feet off to the side of the road with grass and landscaping in between.

I cannot imagine riding a bike on local roads at 10mph where the speeds are 50 mph. There are dead deer on the side of the road everywhere that indicate the likely fate of a cyclist.