Bicyclists in Santa Maria who’ve had brushes with motorists might get some breathing room if a bike safety bill making its rounds passes into law. The state bill intended to increase the safety of bicyclists and motorists alike will head to the Assembly after getting Senate approval. S.B. 1464 defines the distance a motorist must allow when passing a bicyclist.
Currently the law requires motorists to pass “at a safe distance.” SB 1464 would establish that as a minimum of three feet whenever possible. It also allows motorists to pass at a reasonable and prudent speed that doesn’t endanger the bicyclist, if the three-foot distance isn’t possible.
The bill is a revised version of legislation vetoed by the governor last October. Opposition to the earlier version primarily stemmed from language that required motorists to slow significantly when passing.
Many bicyclists in Santa Maria think the bill is a step in the right direction in terms of bringing awareness to both bicyclists and motorists of the importance of sharing the road. However, residents are divided on whether it can be effectively enforced.
“It needs to be tried. I think the statistics will show it will help,” said Tom McCullough, a member of the TailWinds Bicycle Club.
He said the buffer would be especially helpful on two-lane roads in instances when the cyclist, the car passing the cyclist, and the oncoming car in the far lane are all squeezed into the same section of road. A three-foot passing law would mean the car passing the cyclist would have to slow until the oncoming car passes to move over and create the required distance. But a car passing too close to a cyclist doesn’t just happen on two-lane roads, McCullough said.
“Once I had an SUV pass me when a garbage truck was stopped to load in the oncoming lane. There was no other traffic except us three. The SUV mirror brushed my shirtsleeve. The SUV needed to slow until I passed the truck and then there would be plenty of room to get over and give me three feet. I bet you will see a lot of riders wearing shirts that say ‘Give Me Three Feet’ on the back of their shirts once the law passes,” McCullough said.
He said he believes the law can be enforceable, perhaps with the use of video cameras.
John Klingensmith, vice president of Tailwinds, isn’t so sure.
“Unfortunately three feet will be unenforceable as I see it, and only when a cyclist is hit can it be determined the law was violated,” he said.
Like McCullough, Klingensmith has had close calls with motorists.
“I also had a personal experience on this subject when I was struck by a truck mirror while riding alone at the very right edge of Highway 1 a number of years ago. I only got a few bruises,” he said.
But he agrees the law is needed to bring awareness of bike safety for the motorist, as well as the cyclist.
California Highway Patrol spokesperson Jaime Coffee said the CHP doesn’t have an official stance on the bill, and that the bill leaves the enforcement to officer discretion.
“Officers will have to determine on a case-by-case basis if a motorist was in violation when passing a bicyclist,” Coffee said.
This article appears in Jun 7-14, 2012.
