Advocacy & Safety - New Maine Law: Give Cyclists 3ft of Clearance

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zpl
09-19-07, 02:21 PM
Saw this today in the local newspaper:

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070919/NEWS0104/70919042

New Maine laws kick in Sept. 20

...

Drivers must also pay closer attention to bicyclists. A new law says motor vehicles must give cyclists 3 feet of clearance when passing. It also clarifies that motorists may cross the center line in no-passing zones in order to pass bicyclists, if it's safe to do so.

I'm in the process of finding out if New Hampshire has a similar law. If not, I'd like to get involved in helping something similar get passed. There are no penalties defined, but it certainly seems like something injured cyclists could use to help their cases in court, and as a focal point for raising awareness about cycling.

Now, if only the highway department could be mandated to give cyclists 3ft of road shoulder... :rolleyes:

Scott

noisebeam
09-19-07, 02:26 PM
Of possible interest:
http://azbikelaw.org/articles/ThreeFoot.html

As to other states:
http://azbikelaw.org/blog/three-foot-passing-laws-2007-updates/
-=(8)=-
09-19-07, 02:32 PM
Florida has this law.
It might be a stretch of the imagination, but not a lot of drivers
choose to abide by it, most generous ones opting for 10"- 12"s :D

randya
09-19-07, 02:37 PM
only relevant when reconstructing the accident in which a cyclist was injured/killed. no cop anywhere is going to go out of his or her way to enforce this as a matter of routine.
JohnBrooking
09-19-07, 02:59 PM
I gotta believe there are drivers out there who will obey it but did not know that they were supposed to before. Provided of course that they hear about it now. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine, the organization that got this law passed, is now turning its attention to TV and radio campaigns to get the word out. You can get more details and contact info from their website ("http://www.bikemaine.org/). Even if it was a short item on the evening news or in the newspaper, that reaches some people. Not to mention word of mouth from the people that do know about it.

OP: Perhaps there is a similar organization in your state you can get involved with. Perhaps our Bike Coalition can give you some contacts there.

Nice to see our little state getting some national attention! (Such as it is... :))