Austin American-Statesman: Austin police get serious about enforcing the city's 3 foot passing of bicyclists law
Missouri currently has a safe passing of bicyclists law, passed by the Missouri General Assembly in 2005 at the urging of MoBikeFed.
Currently one of the top priorities of MoBikeFed's Legislative Platform--strongly supported by the vast majority of MoBikeFed members--is to add a specific 3 foot minimum distance requirement to the law. The 3 foot minimum passing distance makes the law clearer and more understandable to both motorists and law enforcement officers, and also makes the law far more enforceable by law enforcement officers.
This recent article about the work by Austin police to enforce the city's 3-foot passing law shows just how effective these laws can be:
Under the ordinance, enacted in 2009, motorists must allow at least 3 feet of clearance when passing vulnerable road users such as bicyclists, construction workers and pedestrians.
Heavy trucks must allow at least 6 feet.Because it’s hard to enforce safe passing on a day-to-day basis, Austin police set up special operations like this one to watch for violations. Today’s is the sixth such operation, and more are planned. . . .
Typically, two undercover officers head out on bikes. They ride single file up and down a short stretch of road, waiting for motorists to pass. Officers in patrol cars pull over those who get too close, issuing warnings or citations based on the severity of the violation.
Before they hit the streets, the undercover cyclists practice judging the 3-foot distance by setting up a pole and riding past it. They measure the distance from the end of the handlebar to the farthest part of vehicle — usually the mirror. GoPro video cameras mounted on the bike record everything.
“If I were riding along and could reach out and touch the mirror, those get a citation,” says Cunningham, who was a cyclist before she became a police officer. “If it’s one we feel is right on the cusp, we give a warning.”
In the nearly four years since the law went into effect, officers have written 104 citations and warnings for people violating it, according to Cmdr. Fred Fletcher with the Austin Police Department. . . .
Police target roads that don’t have bike lanes, but connect to popular cycling routes. So far they’ve worked stretches of Oltorf Street, Cesar Chavez Street, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Airport Boulevard, South Lamar Boulevard and Pleasant Valley Road.
“Most people say they didn’t know the law,” Cunningham says. Others know the law, but say they didn’t realize they were passing so closely.
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