Colorado bill protects rights of cyclists
05-12-09, 11:46 AM
#1
Goat
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Northern California
Posts: 44
Bikes: '06 Trek 5200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Colorado bill protects rights of cyclists
I am considering writing to my congressman and alerting him to this bill - this is something which needs to be strictly enforced across the country, not just in Colorado.
May 11, 2009 - 10:03 AM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gov. Bill Ritter plans to sign a bill here today aimed at protecting the rights of cyclists.
The measure (Senate Bill 148) requires that drivers give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing or risk a $110 ticket.
Anyone who throws an object at a cyclist could be charged with a class 2 misdemeanor. That carries a fine of between $250 and $1,000 and a possible sentence of three to 12 months in jail.
The bill was sponsored by a bipartisan pair of avid cyclists - Republican Sen. Greg Brophy and Democratic Rep. Mike Merrifield. It will take effect Aug. 5.
May 11, 2009 - 10:03 AM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gov. Bill Ritter plans to sign a bill here today aimed at protecting the rights of cyclists.
The measure (Senate Bill 148) requires that drivers give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing or risk a $110 ticket.
Anyone who throws an object at a cyclist could be charged with a class 2 misdemeanor. That carries a fine of between $250 and $1,000 and a possible sentence of three to 12 months in jail.
The bill was sponsored by a bipartisan pair of avid cyclists - Republican Sen. Greg Brophy and Democratic Rep. Mike Merrifield. It will take effect Aug. 5.
05-12-09, 11:54 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,760
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1109 Post(s)
Liked 1,200 Times
in
760 Posts
I am considering writing to my congressman and alerting him to this bill - this is something which needs to be strictly enforced across the country, not just in Colorado.
May 11, 2009 - 10:03 AM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gov. Bill Ritter plans to sign a bill here today aimed at protecting the rights of cyclists.
The measure (Senate Bill 148) requires that drivers give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing or risk a $110 ticket.
Anyone who throws an object at a cyclist could be charged with a class 2 misdemeanor. That carries a fine of between $250 and $1,000 and a possible sentence of three to 12 months in jail.
The bill was sponsored by a bipartisan pair of avid cyclists - Republican Sen. Greg Brophy and Democratic Rep. Mike Merrifield. It will take effect Aug. 5.
May 11, 2009 - 10:03 AM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gov. Bill Ritter plans to sign a bill here today aimed at protecting the rights of cyclists.
The measure (Senate Bill 148) requires that drivers give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing or risk a $110 ticket.
Anyone who throws an object at a cyclist could be charged with a class 2 misdemeanor. That carries a fine of between $250 and $1,000 and a possible sentence of three to 12 months in jail.
The bill was sponsored by a bipartisan pair of avid cyclists - Republican Sen. Greg Brophy and Democratic Rep. Mike Merrifield. It will take effect Aug. 5.
05-12-09, 12:10 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 229
Bikes: 2008 Specialized Tarmac Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I would think the throwing thing would already be covered - assault for throwing, battery for actually hitting the cyclist with it. Deadly weapon if it is reasonably able to kill the person - bottle, other hard object for instance - or any thing that reasonably could be assumed to cause the cyclist to crash. I wonder how those fines and jail sentences compare to assault and battery?
05-12-09, 01:03 PM
#4
Extra Medium Member
I would think the throwing thing would already be covered - assault for throwing, battery for actually hitting the cyclist with it. Deadly weapon if it is reasonably able to kill the person - bottle, other hard object for instance - or any thing that reasonably could be assumed to cause the cyclist to crash. I wonder how those fines and jail sentences compare to assault and battery?
__________________
Droping the hamer since '86
Droping the hamer since '86
05-12-09, 01:08 PM
#5
Sensible shoes.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: St. Paul,MN
Posts: 8,798
Bikes: A few.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think it's great, but we've had the three foot law for a while and I've not heard of anyone getting cited for it outside of an accident. It's pretty much a ghost law.
05-12-09, 01:52 PM
#7
impressive member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: fort collins
Posts: 2,706
Bikes: c'dale supersix, jamis trilogy, spec. tricross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
the three feet law isnt necessarily all that enforceable in a practical way, its just nice to have something to point to when we assert our rights. i'm comfortable with that, even if no one is ever charged with anything, maybe a few people will think about i as they pass me cuz they learned it in drivers ed or cuz they saw it in the paper or a cyclist explained it to them.
