Should people be allowed to sleep in their cars? Should bicyclists and pedestrians be able to sue people who harass or assault them? City and county bureaucrats are considering ordinances that would allow both. A Santa Rosa woman has filed suit over local laws that prevent people from sleeping in [...]
Some recent comments from readers: Unsafe bicycling on skinny roads I am new to the Sonoma County backroads. I believe in sharing the road with bicycles, but was surprised by their behavior. Last Saturday I drove out to the coast on Petaluma Point Reyes road, narrow, double yellow line. The [...]
We've had several readers write in asking what the new STAR smog test program is. Here's an answer: The state Bureau of Automotive Repair on Jan. 1 changed its smog test program by eliminating Gold Shield smog-check stations, which generally handled potentially high polluting vehicles, and creating STAR test stations, [...]
The state Senate on Friday approved legislation that would require drivers to be at least three feet away when passing bicyclists in most cases and would allow drivers to cross solid yellow lines to pass if safe to do so. If safety conditions didn't allow for the three-foot clearance, then [...]
A Palo Alto state senator again is trying to raise the fine on motorists who illegally use cellphones and, for the first time, to fine bicyclists who text or talk on a hand-held phone. The state Senate on Monday approved 24-9 legislation by Democratic Sen. Joe Simitian calling for the [...]
ARE THESE BICYCLISTS RIDING LEGALLY? I am sending you this letter and attachment in the hope that you will help educate the biking community to their responsibilities under the law. I understand and support the individual bicycler’s right to share the road with me. But I do expect [...]
A bill winding its way through the Legislature would require drivers to make sure they stay at least three feet away when passing a bicyclist or slow to no more than 15 mph when passing a cyclist if less than three feet away. The measure, Senate Bill 910, passed the [...]
In one of several crackdowns on bicyclists who ride unsafe, Santa Rosa police ticketed 14 riders in the downtown area. Police Sgt. Lance Badger said five uniformed officers roamed the Courthouse and Railroad square areas early Monday evening and cited the bicyclists mostly for riding on the wrong side of [...]
Here's a question from a reader: Out on some rural roads in the county, it’s double yellow lines all the way. Sometimes I have to cross it to pass bicyclists. Is what I’m doing legal? Peter CHP Officer Jon Sloat responded: By the letter of the law, yes, it is [...]