Comments on: Governor rejects 3-foot rule for drivers when passing bicyclists

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:05:43 +0000

There are a lot of terrible drivers on the roads. I see that more as a driver than a cyclist. I’d like to see us move away from the concept of driving as a right and make it a privilege.

As a cyclist, I avoid a lot of roads due to the inherent danger which is usually due to width of the road or design of intersections – not speed in my experience.

I see many cyclists giving all cyclists a bad name. But licensing them? To what purpose? License plates? Bureaucracy? Tickets and more burden on the courts? Are you going to give 10 year-old kids tickets? Or are you going to give kids a free pass and discriminate against adults?

A trucker above complained about slowing down for a cyclist. I have to slow down much more often for trucks than cyclists when driving.

By: Casey Mcvicars

Casey Mcvicars — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 01:55:03 +0000

I was intentionally run off the road today by a motorist who hit sworn his side view mirror. I was able to stay upright and was riding with a county sherrif, so he was arrested and taken to jail. Wish I had the governors side on this?

By: Wendy

Wendy — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:41:17 +0000

On the road, I am protected only by my reflexes and some very thin spandex when I am on a bike. I have only my own horsepower, and I have much less flexibility and ability to react than does a car. I have no disk brakes, no airbags, and no 2 tons of steel to protect me.

I always keep to the right of the white line when there’s a bike lane in good repair. If there’s no lane, or there are road hazards, I may pass into the lane. But I only do it for a VERY good reason, as I’m risking my life when I do so…and I’ve fully internalized this fact because I have friends who have been seriously injured and even one who has died while riding a bicycle.

I’m constantly seeing drivers cross that white line, taking turns without signaling,a nd doing other unpredictable maneuvers.

All I’m asking is that we ALL follow the traffic laws. You respect my space, and I’ll respect yours.

By: John

John — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Wow, so much anger from folks like Amanda and Karle. I think you need to take a deep breath and relax. Such a propensity towards road rage is likely not good for you in the long run. Eventually you’ll annoy someone in a bigger car than you and then you’ll be on the receiving end of what you seem to want to dish out.

By: George

George — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 18:53:19 +0000

I am sorrow all you drivers believe you have first right to the road – but you don’t. State laws in virtually all states mandate that bicyclists have the same rights and RESPONSIBILITIES as drivers. So if you do hit one of us, better keep driving and risk a “Leaving the scene of an accident” ticket. Of course if you get caught, you will pay. And pay. And pay.

Cyclists shouldn’t run lights, should stop at all stop signs and shouldn’t ride 2 or more abreast. A lot of them don’t. Likewise, most drivers have forgotten what their turn signals are for and how to use them. And they speed, driving 70 on 40 MPH back roads. And they swerve into the bike lane while they are TEXTING, for God’s sake.

It works both ways. When people in cars don’t behave responsibly they’ll get tickets. Bicyclists get tickets for running stops, and drivers get thrown in the slammer for hitting bicyclists. Relax, calm down and stop thinking your time is more important than my safety.

By: mp

mp — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 16:26:30 +0000

A key reason our streets are dangerous for riders is that multiple generations of motorists have been brought up to believe streets are their exclusive territory. This wasn’t always the case – prior to the advent of motorised transport, streets were largely the province of pedestrians at large and children at play. Motorists effectively took over by force of arms as streets became too dangerous for foot traffic.

This is a disappointment, but cultural changes take a long time

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 04:33:13 +0000

Amanda, Karle, bradpipal, bicycle riders have every right and every responsibilty out on the roads. Many of the roads in sonoma county dont have a shoulder with a white line and as such riders are forced to be in what you guys call the center of the road. As a driver you must yield until it is safe and then pass at a safe speed. It’s simply human decency to not ride a rider down with a two ton vehicle. If that is not enough initiative to drive safely around riders just look at the recent vehicle vs rider cases in sonoma county. You hit a rider and you go to jail. Many riders now ride with helmet or bike mounted camera and they are very effective at capturing vehicle make, model and plate numbers, so harassing or running down a rider on a rural road with not be an anonymous incident. If you hit a rider, your car will be towed, you will likely lose your license, be chared with assault with a deadly weapon, and possibly civilly charged. People who ride bikes are people who live in the same community as you guys. We are lawyers, doctors nurses and police officers. If you have something against bike riders maybe you should ask yourselves why. Do you dislike bike riders because we break traffic laws? Motorist break just as many laws. Do you dislike riders because they are spending their time engaging in a beautiful, enriching and fullfilling past-time? Think about your intentions and actions.

By: bradpipal

bradpipal — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 22:09:10 +0000

Just as I reported..
Tradesmen Unions said, “no way”…gravel haulers, hard rock, drill rigs, rubber tired/cranes, all require a road free of riders on self propelled bikes…
No way am I able to drive into traffic or shut down when operating with 126,000 lbs. crane/drill rig trucks….
Stupid to see bike riders, with no fall protection other than a helmet…

By: Foster Brooks

Foster Brooks — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 17:01:13 +0000

GOOD!

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:42:12 +0000

This bill was 100% robbing peter to pay paul. What a joke trading one dangerous act for another even more dangerous act. How about a law that says bikes have to not exist within 3 feet of the earths atmosphere because they’re?

By: Mike O.

Mike O. — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:17:39 +0000

When I am driving in my car, and I recognize that I won’t have enough time to slow down for a bicycle rider, I try to remind myself to SLOW down. I am driving too fast for the conditions of the road.
There could be a drunk driver, dog, pedestrian, or a texting driver around the next corner.
We need to pay attention while driving our cars, and be respectful to everyone on the road.

By: TFitz

TFitz — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 15:15:37 +0000

Shippy, you improved my line,’physics and biology over advocacy and politics’.

By: Skippy

Skippy — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:29:17 +0000

On the road I may have the same “rights” as a double-semi, but if I attempt to enforce those rights without the full knowledge and cooperation of the trucker, I die horribly.
And that’s in my car!
Arrogance around motor vehicles is stupidity, and Heinlein is correct when he states that stupidity is a capital crime with no appeals and summary punishment.
Cyclists need to read more Isaac Newton and less Abbie Hoffman.

By: Todd

Todd — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:02:13 +0000

hahaha the law didnt pass. Watch your backside roadies.

By: samantha

samantha — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 08:52:23 +0000

No one is exempt from driving safely. Cyclists ride often without caution or notice that they are on a ROAD. Personally, with my children in the car, i will NOT pass a cyclist by going over the line, nor will i slow to a dangerous speed to wait to pass. I will go. They will still have room to operate safely, if they choose to pay attention is up to them. Point is, both parties are responsible, and this law didn’t account for that so it was stricken down. And i appreciate that. As a parent and a safe driver, who has been hit by a cyclist before, yes hit, i was happy to see this bill not pass. One that creates some liability for both parties would be more effective, as the governor saw and tried to facilitate.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 07:53:13 +0000

Uh, Karle? Riders “own the roads” exactly as much as drivers do. That’s the law. If they can’t ride a road with no shoulder…you can’t drive your car on one, either.

The same thing is true of pedestrians. They have a right to walk on the roads, too.

I agree they shouldn’t ride double-file. I agree they should obey traffic laws. But drivers should, too: and one of them is that they have to respect cyclists, and, if necessary, slow down until it is safe to pass them.

By: mike abel

mike abel — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 07:30:10 +0000

3 ft rule …some drivers can’t judge the width of there car in a parking lot with marked lines or the space needed to open the door safely

By: mike abel

mike abel — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 07:18:18 +0000

do drivers making a right hand turn on a red light have to stop at the first white line of the crosswalk …cause with all the stopped cars in the left lanes i can’t see if i need to come to a full stop …

By: Sandra

Sandra — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 06:52:59 +0000

whats wrong with having a three foot passing distance? if anyone is in such a hurry to get somewhere, guess what, trying to hurry will only make you more late & cause problems for others especially if you cause an accident. I agree with another commenter that bike riders have caused problems as well. I’ve had bicyclist run into my vehicle & I’ve seen them jump curbs, cross against lights, not stop at 4-ways etc.I’ve seen drivers not care & turn right on red when a bike rider was right there trying to cross, I’ve seen drivers hug riders etc. The drivers should be punished when its right they be punished & accountable & the bike riders need to be punished & accountable when they’ve caused problems. This is a two way street-no pun intended. There needs to be more done for both sides of this issue not just getting after drivers. But starting with a wider passing is a good place to start. The gov is saying no until something happens to someone he knows or himself if he rides, then he’d decide it was a good idea. wink!

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 06:39:41 +0000

Karle is right on!