There has been legislation introduced in Ontario, that would make it mandatory, for any motorized vehicle passing a cyclist, for the motorist to give a minimum of a Three Foot berth to the cyclist.
In Canada - rules and laws governing the roads are a Provincial matter. I have written a letter to my local MPP, Frank Klees( Aurora-Newmarket) in support of this legislation.
It’s a nice idea but would it really make a difference? In Quebec we have a 1.5 meter law (almost 5 feet) but cars pass as they choose not acording to a law they don’t know about that will NEVER be enforced.
Wouldn’t it be great if it could be a two-meter law? We have a 3-foot-law in Washington state. It’s at least something, but it’s sure not much when an SUV or truck blows by quickly. Many drivers don’t seem to know where the side of their car is, and wander over to the shoulder after passing.
I’m starting to wonder if it would be advantageous to always ride with movie cameras recording fore and aft.
It’s a nice idea but would it really make a difference? In Quebec we have a 1.5 meter law (almost 5 feet) but cars pass as they choose not acording to a law they don’t know about that will NEVER be enforced.
There is a part of me that agrees with this. What? We need a law to tell us not too pass too closely to a cyclist as you whiz by in yur car at over 80 kmh an hour nearly playing chicken with him/her? One would think that with the cyclists, life potentially in the balance, the common sense thing to do is to slow down and give the cyclist a wide berth. But how many do that? I think the methodology here is that if the law passes, then there is some PR that is generated and even if it does not there is some PR generated.
It’s like the No Texting Law - people need a law to let them know this is a really bad and dangerous thing to do? I actually fear for our society as a whole when stuff like this has to happen.
I’m surprised that there is no provision for bicycles already; a quick look shows that drivers must take care to not scare horses when overtaking, but that there is no mention of cyclists.
In Quebec, bicycles are included in the highway code. The clause for passing is something like ‘No vehicle shall overtake a bicycle in the same lane unless there is space enough to do so safely…’. There are also exclusions to the solid line rules for passing bikes. I think that it’s a good idea to support the kind of legislation that you’ve described. I think a ‘3-foot rule’ is difficult to enforce, but the spirit of it is there. I also think that we need be careful about how we ‘demand’ enforcement of the legislation. A strict cry for zero tolerance can have detrimantal effects, as well. For example, in Quebec, all bicycles are required by law to have reflectors front and rear, as well as on the pedals and spokes of the wheel. Imagine all the pretty Cervelos decked out in their reflectors!
Good, though. Awareness is the key. I’ve actually been afforded what feels like alot more courtesy on the roads since the incidents made the news. So very sad that something tragic has/had to occur to prompt action…
There is also a Law that you must slow down dramatically and move into the next lane when passing a Police Vehicle that has pulled over to the side of the road - any road, but how many people do that? How often is that enforced? I believe the fine for that is fairly substantial and involves the immediate on-site suspension of your drivers license!
Again -it’s another common sense thing. You see the flashing lights, there is an officer over at the side of the road, you slow down and change lanes. It’s remarkable to me how few drivers actually don’t this. Observe next time you are out driving.
It’s a nice idea but would it really make a difference? In Quebec we have a 1.5 meter law (almost 5 feet) but cars pass as they choose not acording to a law they don’t know about that will NEVER be enforced.
This is the credited response. These laws make ZERO difference. But they do provide some means for public marketing and commercials on tv. I think giant signs proclaiming the law would be the most valuable thing.
I agree. I do alot of driving, through Quebec and Ontario. I see people ‘buzzing’ police cars all the time; people actually get annoyed when I slow and change lanes to pass. My car is important for my livelihood, so I try and follow the rules as much as possible.
With respect to common sense and enforcement, I honestly believe that there is a big, big lack of common sense today, both on and off the roads. Most drivers - any many cyclists, too - have a sense of entitlement and an artificial sense of urgency that is amazing. To sit and watch any intersection or road for a time, and see how people drive, is mind-boggling. Impatience, intolerance, genuine rage… it’s crazy.
Makes me think of that old joke: Sociologists have discovered the absolute shortest measure of time; it’s defined as the gap between the light turning green and the a$$hole behind you honking his horn.
If I remember correctly this resulted in a 90$ fine for the driver who doored the cyclist.
Under law in Ontario a bicycle is considered a vehicle. I’m sure there are laws about safely passing other vehicles on the books. This 3 foot thing is a waste of time. Politicians will pat each other on the back and nothing will change. The enforcement of laws when cyclists are involved are a joke. Ride smart, protect yourself.
The current law for emergency vehicles in Ontario is that where it is safe to do so, you must move into another lane when passing a stopped emergency vehicle. Failing to do so, will net you 3 demerit points and a $400 fine.
Last year, I was a passenger in a vehicle and the driver got pulled over and ticketed. They had a blitz where they were strongly enforcing it to raise awareness.
I got your tweet about the new cycling legislation yesterday and plan on writing to my MPP. I think that the bill, if passed, will be a valuable addition to the Highway Traffic Act. Depending on the enforcement of it, it could either give police officers a specific section of legislation to charge unsafe drivers or be used to raise awareness.
Beyond an initial awareness campaign, however, it would probably be used only sparingly, where a cyclist is injured and they can prove who the guilty party was (i.e. police witness the offense).
To sit and watch any intersection or road for a time, and see how people drive, is mind-boggling. Impatience, intolerance, genuine rage… it’s crazy.
Agreed.
To sit at any busy intersection or in a busy parking lot, and just watch for a while, and see the shenanigans and absurdity going on, you have to wonder if these are actually intelligent human beings behind the wheels of the cars.** How did more than a few of these people actually get there license? **How did they pass the test?
I am sure that if a Cop just hung out at a busy intersection, for a day or even a half a day, they could get their quota of moving violation tickets right then and there.
Here in Wyoming we have that law, and every car that passed me during yesterday’s ride on a two-lane road moved into the opposite lane when it was clear to do so. Several of them had the yellow bumper stickers from an LBS that reminds drivers of that law. If it weren’t for the interminable winters, this place would be perfect!
Good points all around, though. I have no idea how the law is enforced, but the drivers here just might be courteous anyway. Shocking.
They can pass all the laws they want, the only people that will know about it is the cyclists. The drivers don’t care about the law and aren’t going to spend 3 seconds learning it.
You would think that not running someone over wouldn’t really need to be a law, but what do I know.
It’s a nice idea but would it really make a difference? In Quebec we have a 1.5 meter law (almost 5 feet) but cars pass as they choose not acording to a law they don’t know about that will NEVER be enforced.
There is a part of me that agrees with this. What? We need a law to tell us not too pass too closely to a cyclist as you whiz by in yur car at over 80 kmh an hour nearly playing chicken with him/her? One would think that with the cyclists, life potentially in the balance, the common sense thing to do is to slow down and give the cyclist a wide berth. But how many do that? I think the methodology here is that if the law passes, then there is some PR that is generated and even if it does not there is some PR generated.
It’s like the No Texting Law - people need a law to let them know this is a really bad and dangerous thing to do? I actually fear for our society as a whole when stuff like this has to happen.
One needs a law, not because people need to be told what is common sense, but, because without a law society can impose no consequences for those who flaunt common sense and the safety of others.
It’s a nice idea but would it really make a difference? In Quebec we have a 1.5 meter law (almost 5 feet) but cars pass as they choose not acording to a law they don’t know about that will NEVER be enforced.
I share your cynicism, this is political opportunism at work, but no one is touting it as a solution that would have prevented any of the recent deaths in Quebec. Neither is the talk of whether or not the shoulders should have been paved or not a solution. There’s never one solution, so every step we take to reduce risk is worth it. Sadly, when multi-tonne vehicles share the roads with relatively tiny vehicles travelling at widely different relative speeds, the risk of cyclists dying in collisions with cars will always be there (short of removing human control over vehicles/‘smart roads’ generations away). The reason to introduce this is the current laws in Ontario are silent on a minimum passing distance at less than 50kph. As of today, Maryland became the 16th state to have similar laws. I’ll be supporting the legislation.
There is also a Law that you must slow down dramatically and move into the next lane when passing a Police Vehicle that has pulled over to the side of the road - any road, but how many people do that? How often is that enforced? I believe the fine for that is fairly substantial and involves the immediate on-site suspension of your drivers license!
Again -it’s another common sense thing. You see the flashing lights, there is an officer over at the side of the road, you slow down and change lanes. It’s remarkable to me how few drivers actually don’t this. Observe next time you are out driving.
Believe it or not, in New York state this law was just enacted. I observed it first hand on Tuesday evening. State police had a speed trap set up on a 6 lane divided highway (strangely my safest, reliable route). I was descending the back side of a long climb (with miles of visibility) when I saw a cop and driver pulled over about 1/2-mile ahead. As I approached them, I checked behind me to see if I could roll out into the “slow” lane and go around. Suddenly, 3 cars come barrelling down the hill side-by-side, the one in the slow lane very nearly clipping the cop as he walked back to his car. He promptly hucked his brief into the vehicle and shot down the highway, nabbing the guy a couple of miles down the road. These highway cops usually keep their cool, but this guy looked like he was about to lose his sh*t on the driver and exercise some 1994 LAPD-style justice. Ironically, I think the woman in the first car drove off with no ticket and hopefully a valuable lesson.
even if the law does nothing (or isn’t even passed), the simple fact that the media is talking about it might get the attention of a few unaware drivers. there will always be jerks who either refuse to obey it or are simply oblivious, but even one more person saying “hmm, maybe i should move over” is a good thing.
even if the law does nothing (or isn’t even passed), the simple fact that the media is talking about it might get the attention of a few unaware drivers. there will always be jerks who either refuse to obey it or are simply oblivious, but even one more person saying “hmm, maybe i should move over” is a good thing.
Good for you. Thanks for making the effort.
I agree that I don’t think the law in and of itself, will miraculously make the roads safer, but there will be a certain amount of PR that comes out of this whether the legislation passes or not. If 5% of drivers get the message that they need to be more cautious around cyclists, then we have moved forward!
