hotbike

Here's a story from a State which shares a common border with New York:

https://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs....015/FEATURES06

Vermont cyclists lobby for 3-foot law

January 27, 2008
By JENNY NIXON CARTER Correspondent

The Vermont legislature is considering several bills this session that would protect cyclists on the road.

The three bills (H-577 Vulnerable Users; H-578 and S-275: 3-Foot Law) will recognize the vulnerability of cyclists on Vermont roads and require an area of safety around cyclists. These bills, if passed, would protect both motorists and cyclists alike and improve the safety of Vermont roads.

In Vermont, cyclists assume the same rights and responsibilities on the road as drivers of motor vehicles, except where a law does not apply (such as seat belts and speed). For obvious reasons, cyclists are more vulnerable than motorists in both accidents and close interactions.

The proposed language would create a 3-foot minimum passing distance between motorists and cyclists. It would also require cars to turn right only when safe, allows cyclists to use the full lane when negotiating complex intersections and allows cyclists to pass cars on the right.

The Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition is a non-profit organization that works to promote bicycling and walking in Vermont, emphasizing access, safety and education. The coalition is actively gathering signatures on a petition in support of the proposed law.

"Motorists passing bicyclists too closely create a dangerous situation by not allowing cyclists maneuvering room to avoid hazards or by causing a dangerous wind blast," according to Nancy Schulz, executive director of the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition. "A 3-foot minimum passing distance addresses this inherent vulnerability by placing the responsibility on motorists, who are not only protected but have better visibility since they are the passing vehicle, to leave adequate room."

Eight other states have similar legislation in place, including Maine. Anecdotal evidence suggests that having these laws in place increases both motorist and cyclist awareness of their surroundings and decreases potentially harmful interactions.

Providing a minimum passing distance is especially important in places like Rutland County, which lacks specific biking infrastructure. Rutland County does not have dedicated bike lanes. A 3-foot passing distance between motorists and cyclists would protect cyclists who literally "share the road" with motorists.

In addition, having a specific minimum passing distance is important in motorist and cyclist education. Many drivers simply do not know that cyclists need enough space on the road and should be made aware. And cyclists need to be mindful of their own riding patterns, both individually and in groups, and ride responsibly and safely at all times.

The 3-foot law needs your support. To read more about it and sign an on-line petition supporting this proposed law, go to: www.vtbikeped.org.

Jenny Nixon Carter is the executive director of the Rutland Area Physical Activity Coalition. She rides her bikes on roads and trails throughout Rutland County. She can be reached at 353-0037 or contact@rapac.info.

-=(8)=-

I was part of that org in VT. Maybe it was my whining about the Rutland area
that I rode through daily that was mentioned by Nancy

The ironic thing about it is that VT drivers are the most courtious I have ever seen.
Even with no 3ft rule they would always give you lots of room. Althought there was
an occasional close pass by a speeding redneck in a pick-up that was the rare exception.
Only white platers showed any aggressive tendencies.

For me Vermont proves its all attitude more than facilities. In fL, home of the meanest,
nastiest mindset I have ever suffered we have the 3ft rule and if 20 cars on my 10 mile
ride home on the afternoon abided by it Id be shocked. But, that is the lowest on my list
of things to worry about when given all the other stuff that one might encounter here.

John E

We have a few major problems to resolve, including inattentive or distracted motorists and motorists who do not acknowledge our right to use our public roads. I hope the proposed legislation passes, but, ever mindful of unintended consequences, I hope it achieves its objectives.

barndoor

I think it's HR-143 in Maryland....

Pretty much the same thing....a bunch of us have been bombarding our Rep's. with e-mails in support of this one....

fordfasterr

3 foot law is in the books here, but 99.999% of motorists don't even know it exists ... much less that cyclists are equally allowed to use the roadways as cars.

Pat

We just got the 3' law here in FL and, as far as I can figure, I makes no difference in driver behavior.

The motorists don't know of the law. I don't think the police know the law, at least I hope the police vehicle that passed within a whisker of my handlebars was ignorant of it.

It is nice to have it. But I don't think it has an effect on the streets.

bike2math

You can't legislate: morality, common sense, good manners, and consideration for others.

You can try, but it will have no effect on reality. We have a plethora of local, state, and federal laws, both current and failed, as examples.

These are things that must be taught, and more often than not it seems they are not.

-=(8)=-

I just pulled this from the newspaper I used to read in Vermont.
Really, this is not made up .




" look these bicyclists are a hazzard to traffic all together. they should only be able to ride where there are sufficent break down lanes for room .Not on rte 100 or similar roads where there is no shoulder . they ride in the middle of th lane and are not courtious at all about moving over . so i say restrict them to larger roads with breakdown lanes and id like to see them have to pay some tpe of usage tax make them register thier bikes . geeze its only fair you have to register your four wheeler but you cant ride it on the highways. So my suggestion to cyclists is if you want a 3 foot rule ride where theres 3 feet to give and not on some narrow winding road where you hold the chance of gettin ran over at every blind corner by a tractor trailer or some other poor individual trying to get somewhere on time . as a last note ive seen more than 1 instance where a cyclist almost cused an accident for being bullish to traffic. if they get ran over i see it as their fault but none wants that."

road monkey

My thoughts exactly. Most drivers here give me plenty of room.


It's only the flatlanders that be ragin'...

bmike

vt is a great place to ride.
when i lived in a small town i found most folks on rural roads treated me with respect - we were all out there doing our own things... bikes, cars, tractors, pick-ups.

up here in the big city i find much more aggressive behavior. i try to avoid williston and shelburne road, but those 2 places are gateways to other good riding - so i often cut through to get somewhere else, often on the only realistic routes through these area which are usually the major streets.

if someone is driving aggressively out on the rural roads, most times i can guess that their plates are not green. depending on the season there are certainly roads and times to avoid... (cough *ski* cough) i have had the rare vt plated vehicle yell out the window or act aggressively - but its pretty rare compared to when i ride over in the daks in NYS or when i lived in upstate.



i hope the 3' rule goes. i doubt it can be enforced - but vt bike ped is not looking for enforcement - but an opportunity to educate.