treadtread

.. did it have any observable effect? I haven't observed any changes yet - cars still pass by with a distance of less than 3 feet. Has the rule made any (positive or negative) impact on your commutes/rides? I cannot shake off the feeling that drivers will be less patient than before with this new rule, though I definitely want to be proven wrong.

Phugoid 

I haven't been out since the rule went into effect (will go check it out this afternoon), but I'm also interested to find out if it makes any difference. Personally, I think there will be a small net positive for cyclists- raising awareness to be careful around bikes and all that, but I'm sure some drivers will react negatively in the short term.

I just wish the rule kept the original provision that drivers are allowed to cross the double yellow when safe to do so. There are already too many timid drivers who sit behind me while I plod up Old La Honda and Kings Mountain...even when there's plenty of space to pass by briefly crossing the line.

caloso

My own small sample is that drivers have been more willing to take the entire other lane when passing. This is a two lane levee road with no shoulder to speak of, so I usually ride in the right tire "groove". Usually cars are pretty good about moving over, but yesterday I felt like they were giving me an especially wide berth. Hope that keeps up!

Leinster

Around Vacaville/Winters yesterday most drivers were more than willing to go all the way to the left to pass us, but we didn't see much traffic in general.

I was surprised to find out the law has only now gone into effect, I thought it already was. I don't think it'll make a huge difference on most of the rural roads I ride, where it's usually easy enough to pass.

I suspect the law's final usefulness will be in giving the police/courts specific tools to prosecute dangerous driving; a testimony that says "the truck passed the driver well within the required 3 feet" makes a better statement than "the truck was awful close to him, it looked pretty dangerous to me."

gsa103

More like, "the truck hit him, it was definitely passing too close". Basically, it eliminates the "cyclist swerved" defense.

caloso

Unfortunately, the law is going to get its first test because a rider was killed yesterday morning hit from behind while riding in the bike lane. Bicyclist killed by SUV on Freeport Boulevard in Sacramento - Crime - Sacto 911 - The Sacramento Bee

Darth Lefty 

The law seems pointless, except to punish someone who's already hit a bike. Where are people being passed so close to begin with? What nutty driver doesn't give that much room on his far corner to anything he passes? My route has very few places it will be an issue. I do think it raised bike awareness for a day or two, based on two strange reactions from motorists.

JTGraphics

I commute daily and so far this has been my experience also, when I have no bike lane I also tend to ride very close or in the tire groove so cars must move over but in the last week I have noticed most have given me some appreciated room. Thank You Drivers! and I have been hit twice but still here and riding none serious, Knocking on wood now.

I have send video to local traffic division of SUV (clear plate #) closer that 12" at 40 mph but at the time was told nothing could be done since I did not get hit. I am going to email the Captain who did respond directly to me with calls and emails at the time to see if video now helps to ticket or at least warn the driver, last time they could not even warn them.

Leinster

I got run off the road last year by a white pickup coming uphill and taking most of my lane as I was on a descent. He was well within 3 feet of me, and in trying to avoid him I ended up in the ditch. This could easily happen with a truck/car/van overtaking a cyclist too.


It was already illegal to drive in bike lanes, and it was definitely already illegal to run over and kill a cyclist, much and all as we might like to lament the times when no prosecution occurs. The law won't have any effect in this case.

gw_12

Other then comments from non-cyclists at work who think we now need laws to be passed to restrict cyclists from roads without separate bike lanes, no, I haven't seen any different behavior from motorists.

Personally, I think laws like this do little except to encourage anti-cyclist sentiment.

cccorlew

It's a $35 fine. That's lower than the fine for not wearing a seatbelt. It's goes up to an astounding $220 fine if a cyclist is injured when a driver is violating the 3-foot buffer.

Zero affect. Except for what gw_12 said.

Lanceoldstrong

I hope this article is correct and the future it anticipates does happen.

Why Bike Lovers Should Be Happy About 'Bikelash'
"Public hatred of biking culture is actually a natural part of its evolution into the mainstream."

Why Bike Lovers Should Be Happy About 'Bikelash' - CityLab

turkey9186

On the negative side, I chose to drive on a frontage road along -680 on my way to work. I am now seeing cyclist move to the double yellow when they hear cars coming, forcing the cars to wait until there is a safe place to pass. even then, the car is forced to the white line in the opposite lane to maintain 3' of separation. I have seen this now trying to pass a cyclist as well as cyclists heading the opposite direction.
Really, this is nothing but a feel good law. The fines are too small, kind of like those for cellphone use while driving.

treadtread

Reminds me of Mahatma Gandhi's quote:
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you and then you win.

Dave Cutter

This funny. Like laws is why people behave the way they do. Funny... like passing laws will have real-life effects on traffic and safety.

More really great humor! If we can completely ignore the events that are happening around us... then we can convince ourselves that bad news is in reality... good news.

Cars may soon be driving themselves for us... they already park themselves and similar technologies direct our travels. As these technologies replace the old fashioned human operator so will the human powered iron-horse be obsolete. Bicycles have had a great run as transportation/sport/toy. But popularity as a toy has fallen and there just isn't much of a place for bikes on modern roadways.

But bicycles will remain useable for decades to come. Nothing changes over night.

gsa103

Gotta say, going up Mt. Diablo was a little scary this weekend. Cars were excessively good about giving 3ft or more. The problem is that everyone still passed in blind corners, and now they're 100% in the opposite lane. Fine when they're passing, but coming down is little scary under those conditions.

VNA

Six feet for trucks, did not make a difference for a big semi truck passing me on Moraga Way yesterday, actualy he was a foot into the bike lane! And the bike lane is not very wide!

The law will be forgoten quickly unfortunately!

cthenn

Where can I get some of that good stuff that you clearly possess and use???

RaleighSport

No difference for me yet.. lots of respectful drivers on most roads and give lots of space on the pass until I ride into Santa Rosa itself.. then it's just a madhouse, but they treat other cars the same way too.

Dave Cutter

Judging by your "My Bikes" list... you also already own and use some of the same "good stuff" I use. Clean healthy living and (I would hope) clear thinking.

I Love cycling. And I hope to cycle as long as my well aged old body allows. As do many of my contemporaries! As a matter of fact it seems that cycling has replaced softball and bowling as our favorite sport... to actually participate in. But cycling has lost much of it's popularity at least for now. In America adult cycling is down by about 10%. And bicycles as toys.... haven't been what it once was... for a long time. I bicycled past the park with the completely vacant BMX course nearly everyday this summer. I remember when that is what that park was known for (its BMX activity). Times change.

As politicians scrambled to build and brag about the trendy bicycle lanes.... motorists have run short on patience with cyclists. Once it is clear that voting motorist no longer want to share "their" roadways with cyclists... politicians will scramble again.

treadtread

Got right hooked by a bus just before a red traffic light, with much less than 3 feet distance - if I hadn't hit the brakes, I would have collided. I was just about to take the lane in order to go straight through the intersection and glanced back to check, when I noticed the bus pull parallel to me. Was a really quiet bus too!

curbtender

When a lane narrows down enough not to be able to share a lane, I put my left hand out in a clinched fist. It's been like magic. People actually wonder what the heck I'm doing and change lanes. My biggest hazard seems to be elderly drivers, it's really scarry...