California could soon become the nation's 19th state to enact a 3-foot passing law to protect bicyclists. Last week the California Senate approved CBC-sponsored Senate Bill 910 by a 27-9 vote, sending the bill to the Assembly.
SB 910, authored by Long Beach Sen. Alan Lowenthal and cosponsored by the City of Los Angeles, would establish three feet as the minimum clearance when a motorist passes a bicyclist from behind under most conditions. Three feet is the passing distance recommended in the California Driver's Handbook.
SB 910 is CBC's third try at enacting a 3-foot passing law in California. Six years ago the California Highway Patrol, truckers and transit drivers killed a similar CBC-sponsored bill in its first hearing. This year, a stronger campaign and hundreds of letters and from the state's bicycle clubs and advocacy organizations, including from the state's Republican-represented districts, helped the bill win a strong bipartisan majority.
The CBC's Give Me 3 awareness campaign, launched in Long Beach last month, is giving voice to hundreds of people who are concerned about the safety of our roadways.
Click here to see a video or Sen. Anthony Cannella of Ceres testifying in support of SB 910 about the number of times he's nearly been hit while bicycling.
Source: California Bicycle Coalition
