Community Corner
Do You Support SB 1464, the 3-Foot Passing Rule?
A bill has passed the state Senate requiring automobiles to pass no closer than 3 feet to bicyclists. What do you think? Take our poll and tell us in the comments.
In the wake a vehicle collision that killed a bicyclist, and with the city of Santa Monica installing more than 30 new miles of bike and sharrow lanes, we're gauging local opinions about SB 1464.
The proposed state law—which would make it a legal requirement for automobiles to give bicyclists a minimum clearance of 3 feet when passing—has the support of Los Angeles cyclists.
SB 1464 has now passed the state Senate and is up for a vote by the Assembly Friday.
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"The state of California is one step closer to safer cycling!" blogger Jordan Miles wrote on the LADOT Bike Blog in June, after the California Assembly Transportation Committee voted in favor of the bill.
An earlier version of the bill was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown because it would have required motorists to reduce their speed to at least 15 mph if providing three feet of passing space was not possible, Miles explained.
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This past spring, the City of Los Angeles, with the support of organizations across the state, including the California Bicycle Coalition, initiated a second attempt at a three foot passing law, Senate Bill 1464. This bill, which has the same intentions for increasing the safety of bicyclists throughout California, has changed some of its language in order to better appeal to the Governor.
Rather than require a specific reduced speed when the 3-foot passing space is not feasible, the new bill allows vehicles to slow to “a speed that is slow and prudent,” taking into consideration other traffic conditions.
How would you vote if it were up to you?
Tell us in the comments, keeping in mind that we ask commenters to use names when taking part in our community dialogue.
If you'd rather remain anonymous, you may email your comment to jenna.chandler@patch.com.
Either way, please take our non-scientific poll below to let us know where you stand on this issue.
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