Three-Foot Passing Bill Vetoed in California
From Bicycle Retailer:
Despite hundreds of letters from cyclists, advocates and industry suppliers and retailers in support of a bill that would require motorists to give riders three feet of room when passing, California Gov. Edmund Brown vetoed the pending legislation Friday.
His opposition stemmed from a provision in the bill (SB 910) that said that if a motorist couldn’t give a cyclist 3 feet when passing, then the driver would need to slow down to 15 mph. The current law requires that drivers pass cyclists at a safe distance but doesn’t specify what that distance should be.
vegancommuterOctober 7, 2011 at 10:43 pm
15 mph? I cruise at 19 to and fro.
KevinOctober 7, 2011 at 10:47 pm
His statement for why he voted it is important.
He wants a plain 3ft rule. None of this “well, if the motorist is going 15mph they’re allowed to pass within an inch” ambiguity. Always 3 ft, regardless of speed.
KevinOctober 7, 2011 at 10:48 pm
Sorry by “voted it” I meant “vetoed it”.
AlexOctober 8, 2011 at 12:00 am
who is “California Gov. Edmond Brown”?
Eric GoebelbeckerOctober 8, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Have a car slow down to 15MPH? Outrageous! They need to hurry to the next 3MPH traffic jam!
MattOctober 9, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Too bad. Here in conservative Florida, we have the three feet rule.
bergerandfriesOctober 9, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Texas had the plain 3 ft bill vetoed by Rick Perry. BikeTexas did NOT re-introduce the idea, instead choosing to back a Complete Streets bill.
S. MolnarOctober 9, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Kevin, thanks for the info. I was beginning to wonder why I voted for Brown for president in the 1992 primary here in Massacusetts, but I agree with his reasoning.