Interest in an Allow Three Feet To Pass Shirt?

[ratebeer]

California and Oregon both have bills before their state legislatures that would require all motorists to allow at least three feet when passing a bicycle.

Anyone interested in a tee shirt or cycling jersey? It seems like there's some interest in the shirt. If you think you might want one, would you prefer a jersey or a tee shirt? I'll probably pay the up front costs for this out of pocket and I want to limit my risk to a couple thousand dollars so it'll probably be one or the other.

Joe

[filtersweep]

I lived in a state with that law- didn't seem to mean much. It wasn't exactly enforceable, and besides, a truck three feet away is still too close.

[MrCjolsen]

Considering I oppose those laws, I'd have to say no.

[Cynikal]

MrC, care to elaborate a bit? I'm failing to see a downside to these laws, although it is early on a Sunday morn.

[Stacey]

If reasonabley priced and attractively stuled I'd be interested in a t-shirt, XL thank you.

[chipcom]

My luck, I'd be wearing it while riding and in order to read it, some driver would have to move closer and end up bumping me into a ditch! :eek:

[MrCjolsen]

MrC, care to elaborate a bit? I'm failing to see a downside to these laws, although it is early on a Sunday morn.

My commute has just about every on-road cycling environment imaginable - narrow, two lane roads, expressways with bike lanes, expressways without bike lanes, urban traffic, residential neighborhoods, even an elementary school playground (when there are no kids present, of course).

I get passed by a lot of things at a lot of different speeds. Big trucks, small trucks, sports cars, etc. What I've found is that the speed of whatever is passing me is far more disconcerting than how close they are to me. A big truck passing me two feet and going 35mph doesn't shake my nerves nearly as much as a sports car going 90mph and giving me a wide berth.

Now here's the rub. If a road has any sort of shoulder or bike lane, then there's plenty of room for both me and the cars. I've watched cars pass cyclists ahead of me on Jefferson Blvd in West Sacramento, and if the cyclist is "as far to the right as practical" and the car stays in it's own lane, then there is three feet already. I've been passed by cars on the Tower Bridge and felt perfectly comfortable. I'm not sure if there was three feet, but as long as everyone stays in their lane it's safe for cyclists. The current project to widen the sidewalk on that bridge is a waste of money in my opinion.

In an urban environment like downtown Sacramento one-way streets, I'll be taking the lane. So such a law would be a moot point. The only outcome would be to outrage drivers when I do things to my advantage like lane split.

And on narrow rural roads, the only way to make them safer for cyclists will be to lower and enforce speed limits. There's no reason why a person should be able to go down Putah Creek road between Davis and Winters at 70mph.

The "three foot" bills do nothing to solve the real problem which is automotive speed. The fact is that todays monster-sized cars and SUV's go faster because we all know that the larger the vehicle, the slower your percieved speed is.

[donnamb]

I'm in favor of the 3 feet to pass, but in Oregon it is bundled up with some additional legislation that allows for cars to be in the bike lane more, and I really don't support that. So, I haven't decided yet.

If the 3 feet to pass bill was a stand-alone, I'd be wanting your t-shirt very much.

[San Rensho]

People generally dont like to be told what to do. In Miami, a shirt telling people to give cyclists 3 feet when they pass is an invitation for cagers to see how close they can come when they pass.

[Blue Order]

People generally dont like to be told what to do. In Miami, a shirt telling people to give cyclists 3 feet when they pass is an invitation for cagers to see how close they can come when they pass.That was my first thought in response to the question.

[lyeinyoureye]

Yeah... A shirt like that is tempting fate imo. I'd rather have a nice big clump of steel wool on a spring/locking hinge that extends two and a half feet past the edge of my left handlebar, and attach some orange tape/streamers/blinkies to it just for caution and whatnot. :D

[powerhouse]

Before I say "yes" and ask for a jersey, I need to find out some information and ask some questions.

1. Does the three-feet-to-pass exist in the state of Maine? If there are other Maine members who know the answer to this, please PM me.

2. What material are the jerseys made of (e.g. cotton, polyester, etc.)? Is it a material that wicks away sweat, or does it soak it up?

3. What does the jersey look like? What color(s) is it in?

4. What sizes are available? If my size isn't available, would I be able to pay to have one made?

Hopefully I'll get back with my answer.

Powerhouse

[banerjek]

I'm in favor of the 3 feet to pass, but in Oregon it is bundled up with some additional legislation that allows for cars to be in the bike lane more, and I really don't support that. So, I haven't decided yet.

If the 3 feet to pass bill was a stand-alone, I'd be wanting your t-shirt very much.

Like other posters here, I suspect that if such a law is passed, it will have very little practical effect on how people drive. If it does, my guess that the greatest benefit will be in those situations where there is no bike lane (i.e. most roads).


People generally dont like to be told what to do.

Especially rednecks and jerks. No t-shirt for me -- I think it would provoke rather than inform.

[Philatio]

My luck, I'd be wearing it while riding and in order to read it, some driver would have to move closer and end up bumping me into a ditch! :eek:
yea I think this combined with the *******s would keep me from wearing it. It's not a bad idea though.

[powerhouse]

Good news! Add Maine to the list of states that has legislation for motorists to allow three feet of space between them and the average cyclist. Horray!

[bbunk]

Arizona already has the 3 feet to pass law, I only have two feet so I can't pass:D

I don't think it works although it is a good idea. Most people I have talked to don't know the law exists.
I really think controlling speed is the bigger issue. I commute on a 45 mph road and people get upset if someone actually does the speed limit.

[buzzman]

People generally dont like to be told what to do. In Miami, a shirt telling people to give cyclists 3 feet when they pass is an invitation for cagers to see how close they can come when they pass.

yup.


and it ain't just in Miami.

:(

[sbhikes]

If a road has any sort of shoulder or bike lane, then there's plenty of room for both me and the cars.
Blasphemer!

[Brusheda]

I was just thinking about this yesterday. I think a jersey is a good idea. But I don't have much money to spend, so it would have to be cheap. Most of the people I encounter seem to be ignorant not jerks. Another idea I had for a jersey, since motorists think that the roads are just for cars, is one that says that I payed taxes to have the road built and it is my road too.