California's 3-foot buffer zone for cyclists takes effect today

[petronius]

Statewide regulations that take effect today require drivers to stay at least three feet away from cyclists while passing, or face a $35 fine.

If a vehicle is in the buffer zone and a collision occurs that injures the cyclist, the driver could face a $220 fee.

More than 150 cyclists were killed in car collisions in California in 2012, according to the California Highway Patrol's most recent data. In Los Angeles County, nearly 5,000 cyclists were killed or injured in traffic accidents that year.

--- Snip ---

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-3-foot-buffer-zone-cyclists-20140916-story.html

[NYC_SKP]

1. Curious, does this apply everywhere, even where bikes are prohibited?

If they're riding against traffic, running stop signs and lights, etc.?

Just curious.

[petronius]

2. As I read it, it seems to only apply to "overtaking"

A bicycle, but no word on whether the bike has to be there legally or not.

21760. (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the
Three Feet for Safety Act.
(b) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle
that is proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall pass in
compliance with the requirements of this article applicable to
overtaking and passing a vehicle, and shall do so at a safe distance
that does not interfere with the safe operation of the overtaken
bicycle, having due regard for the size and speed of the motor
vehicle and the bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and
the surface and width of the highway.
(c) A driver of a motor vehicle shall not overtake or pass a
bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway at a distance
of less than three feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any
part of the bicycle or its operator.
(d) If the driver of a motor vehicle is unable to comply with
subdivision (c), due to traffic or roadway conditions, the driver
shall slow to a speed that is reasonable and prudent, and may pass
only when doing so would not endanger the safety of the operator of
the bicycle, taking into account the size and speed of the motor
vehicle and bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and
surface and width of the highway.
(e) (1) A violation of subdivision (b), (c), or (d) is an
infraction punishable by a fine of thirty-five dollars ($35).
(2) If a collision occurs between a motor vehicle and a bicycle
causing bodily injury to the operator of the bicycle, and the driver
of the motor vehicle is found to be in violation of subdivision (b),
(c), or (d), a two-hundred-twenty-dollar ($220) fine shall be imposed
on that driver.
(f) This section shall become operative on September 16, 2014.

Section 'd' makes it sound like the old law still applies where 3' isn't possible, but I'll let someone else be the test of that...

[skippy66]

3. Thanks

Lots of cyclists here in Santa Barbara. I hadn't heard about this

[msongs]

5. in other words to typical bike rider behaviors nt

[barbtries]

4. ifg i'm reading that correctly the numbers

cannot be correct.

[petronius]

6. For the LA County data, they've combined injuries and

fatalities, but the statewide number is fatalities only. CHP gives 152 fatalities and 13,861 injuries statewide for 2012 (Table 7M); it's not impossible that LA County is more than 1/3 of the injuries. Although it does seem high, maybe the LA numbers are from a different source with a broader definition of 'injury'...

[barbtries]

7. okay.

makes a little sense that way.

[Cleita]

8. One thing I'm a tiny bit concerned about is the cyclist's responsibility.

Now as you know where we live there are bike lanes on just about every road and most of us are very aware of the cyclists and give them all the space we can. However, today, I had a cyclist on a busy street not giving me three feet even though he had his own rather generous lane. There was nowhere for me to go without going into the left lane. However it was full of traffic. When we came to a stop sign, the bike guy was only a foot away from my car and barely in the bike lane.

What I'm wondering about is, if the police decide to start handing out citations, who is at fault?

[Zorro]

9. I hear ya

There are more than a few obnoxious bike riders out there.

Some will ride almost on top of the road stripe separating the bike lane from the traffic lane, forcing drivers to move partly into the opposing lane to get around them.

[SoapBox]

10. Exactly my complaint!

Thank you for even daring to mention this!

There is a road, heavily traveled, single lane in each direction, large planted median in the center...where there is a bike lane on each side. The bikers ride either ON the painted line on the side of the lane (not in the center of the bike lane) OR 2/3 abreast sticking into the traffic lane. Another thing that ticks me off, they come up the right side at a light and pull in front of the car.....grrrrrr.

I so want to them to have to give me some courtesy too.