It reminds me of a libertarian vs liberal debate between Slowman, and I believe Matt (MJuric). Slowman referenced this law, and I kept thinking to myself, “does he think this law will change anything?” Well, apparently an otherwise mundane law appears to be creating a lot of confusion. Since cars can’t cross the double line, cyclist are impeding traffic because they are unreasonably slow. An attorney said this is not the case, because crossing the lines is considered reasonable itself. At the end of the day, it sounds like the judgement of the police, who are probably indifferent. And do not have the legal training to interpret the law, so they will cite leaving it to the judge. Any thoughts?
I don’t care what laws you pass, people buzz me or honk at me all the time, and I ALWAYS RIDE CLOSE TO THE SIDELINE OR ON A DESIGNATED ROUTE. Cops have been witness to this and done nothing. So does it work?
I try to assume the honk is a friendly “hey there…careful I am coming up behind you” warning.
The people who buzz me…well, often they are women. It’s proven that women have worse depth perception. So the law is a moot point. Without a line to mark what 3 feet actually is, you can’t expect women drivers to know any better.
It reminds me of a libertarian vs liberal debate between Slowman, and I believe Matt (MJuric). Slowman referenced this law, and I kept thinking to myself, “does he think this law will change anything?” Well, apparently an otherwise mundane law appears to be creating a lot of confusion. Since cars can’t cross the double line, cyclist are impeding traffic because they are unreasonably slow. An attorney said this is not the case, because crossing the lines is considered reasonable itself. At the end of the day, it sounds like the judgement of the police, who are probably indifferent. And do not have the legal training to interpret the law, so they will cite leaving it to the judge. Any thoughts?
I don’t care what laws you pass, people buzz me or honk at me all the time, and I ALWAYS RIDE CLOSE TO THE SIDELINE OR ON A DESIGNATED ROUTE. Cops have been witness to this and done nothing. So does it work?
I don’t know if Mjuric was debating this with Dan, but I was. In whatever amount of time it’s been since that law apparently passed, I’ve yet to see anything anywhere advertising it so that people would know.
Since cars can’t cross the double line, cyclist are** impeding traffic** because they are unreasonably slow.
Who voted for cars to own the road? The problem is that priority to street space have been given to cars at the expense of everyone else such as cyclists and pedestrians Cyclists and kids walking to school getting killed on wide high speed streets) and this cannot continue. Impeading automobile traffic by elimintating traffic lanes and using the new space for wider side walks and bike lanes is a good thing. This car first mentality and fuck everyone else needs to stop. A three feet law is good start though.
Since cars can’t cross the double line, cyclist are** impeding traffic** because they are unreasonably slow.
Who voted for cars to own the road? The problem is that priority to street space have been given to cars at the expense of everyone else such as cyclists and pedestrians Cyclists and kids walking to school getting killed on wide high speed streets) and this cannot continue. Impeading automobile traffic by elimintating traffic lanes and using the new space for wider side walks and bike lanes is a good thing. This car first mentality and fuck everyone else needs to stop. A three feet law is good start though.
Bull Winkle, I am going to break this to you gently, as best as I can. I want you to sit down first, because I don’t want you to pass out and fall on your anus after you read the sentence I am going to put below. Are you sitting down? Good, now take a deep breath and read on…
I am a Republican, I am proud of it, and I agree with your comments.
There. That makes me feel good. It was…cathartic…yes, that’s it.
I try to assume the honk is a friendly “hey there…careful I am coming up behind you” warning.
The people who buzz me…well, often they are women. It’s proven that women have worse depth perception. So the law is a moot point. Without a line to mark what 3 feet actually is, you can’t expect women drivers to know any better.
My experience is that it is any Buick driver OR any luxury car driver. The landscaping trucks, diesels, etc. always are good to go around me. Of course, being a chick maybe they are nicer?
This law (which recently went into effect here in California) strikes me as one that has a dual purpose: the obvious one (criminalizes driving too closely) and the hidden one (it’s tool for an injured cyclist to use in a lawsuit against a driver following a crash).
This law (which recently went into effect here in California) strikes me as one that has a dual purpose: the obvious one (criminalizes driving too closely) and the hidden one (it’s tool for an injured cyclist to use in a lawsuit against a driver following a crash).
We have had the 3-ft law in TN for quite some time and there is NO enforcement for it whatsoever. You remember reading about Anders Swanson and his assault on Raccoon Mtn? That was violating the 3-ft law and it was embarrassing what ended up being “punishment”. I have other friends who have been hit, and nothing. The most I have seen done was actually due to a woman violating the leash law and causing a friend to go down as a result of being chased and bitten by 4 dogs.
Sure, it gets the conversation started and education out there, but law enforcement is rarely (if ever) stepping it up to step in and have charges placed for these cases.
That is the only possible scenario I see… FL has a 3 foot law, I believe Arizona does. Doesn’t stop people from following too close. Even had a close call with a cop once?
Heck, the next to last long ride I did, some rednecks yelled get on the trail to me. I was riding my try bike and there was a dirt trail that ran parallel to the road, but what does that have to do with anything? Even casual bike riders can’t be counted on, since they reinforce that cyclist should be riding on the sidewalk by doing it themselves or riding against traffic.
I’m just curious form all the different articles, that clearly there isn’t consistent guidance and frankly I think the intended result of cyclist isn’t going to materialize in the near future. I think it is a utopian idea at best. Personally, when somebody puts my life in danger, I challenge them, I’ve caught up to a driver that buzzed me and kicked their car. I’ve even sprayed sports drink on a windshield when somebody nearly killed me. One time when a guy started mouthing off and lecturing me at a stop light because I was “impeding traffic” I told him to fuck off and if he wanted to take it to another level step out of the car. I think that does more to prevent them from screwing with people’s lives than a law. And frankly, I don’t think it does much at all beyond making me feel better.
Whether we all like it or not, roads weren’t built for recreational traffic, which is what most cyclists are doing. Roads were built, first for horse, then horse and carriage, then cars for the purpose of transporting people and goods from one place to another. The reason roads favor cars is not because someone voted for it to be that way; it’s because that’s primarily what roads are for.
I suspect this particular law has had exactly the impact I suggested it would when I debated it with Dan; that is, no impact at all. Most people don’t know it exists, and those who do know about it either don’t follow it or can’t follow it or don’t know when it conflicts with other laws. Cops either can’t or won’t enforce it, which is not a surprise since no one is cruising around with a measurement tool to see if a car is 3 ft from a cyclist of 2.5 ft. When a car hits a cyclist (if it’s the driver’s fault) there are already laws that cover that, so the 3ft law doesn’t really add anything.
Cars need to share the road with cyclists. I obviously ride and I definitely understand both sides of the issue. However, only the very stupid think this is solely a car caused problem. Cyclists are horrible on the roads. Living in San Diego, I see cyclist on the road literally every time I drive anywhere. At least 75% of the time I see cyclists run lights, roll through stop signs, ride the wrong way on one way streets, jump into traffic without looking, fail to use the bike lanes that are already there, ride multiple abreast in areas where they shouldn’t, etc. Yes, drivers can be careless as well, but this problem is not one sided.
^^ I don’t disagree with you. I ride mostly alone, with 1 group ride a week.
They are a solid group save a couple, and they aren’t afraid to call someone out for not adhering to good etiquette. I have never had any issue while out by myself though. Not once.
Since cars can’t cross the double line, cyclist are** impeding traffic** because they are unreasonably slow.
Who voted for cars to own the road? The problem is that priority to street space have been given to cars at the expense of everyone else such as cyclists and pedestrians Cyclists and kids walking to school getting killed on wide high speed streets) and this cannot continue. Impeading automobile traffic by elimintating traffic lanes and using the new space for wider side walks and bike lanes is a good thing. This car first mentality and fuck everyone else needs to stop. A three feet law is good start though.
I’m with you on this. Imagine how nice life was in the 1860s and 1870s. All those four lane asphalt highways and no cars buzzing around on them, nothing but cyclists, pedestrians, skateboarders, and baby strollers. But remember, the asphalt interstate highway system was built by Abe Lincoln, and he was a Republican. The asphalt and concrete road system needs to be returned to those for whom it was first constructed.
Since cars can’t cross the double line, cyclist are** impeding traffic** because they are unreasonably slow.
Who voted for cars to own the road? The problem is that priority to street space have been given to cars at the expense of everyone else such as cyclists and pedestrians Cyclists and kids walking to school getting killed on wide high speed streets) and this cannot continue. Impeading automobile traffic by elimintating traffic lanes and using the new space for wider side walks and bike lanes is a good thing. This car first mentality and fuck everyone else needs to stop. A three feet law is good start though.
That’s just symptomatic of people being in a hurry all the time. Many drivers get just as mad at another driver who is going slow (often enough the speed limit) as they do at cyclists or anyone else that gets in their way.