Hearing Monday on Passing Distance Bill
Posted by: EvanJan 25 2007, 2:14 pm
Next Monday Jan 29 the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on SB 299, the BTA's omnibus bike law bill that would require drivers to give at least 3 feet when passing cyclists, would allow drivers to cross the center line to give enough room, and would modify laws about cyclists in crosswalks. (more about the bill)
The hearing will be from 1 to 3 pm in Room 343 of the State Capitol. As always, hearings may not get to everything on the agenda, so if you want to listen or testify, be ready for things to change at the last minute.
This isn't a call to action — it's an initial hearing about the bill to introduce it to committee members. Once citizen testimony would be most effective, we'll let you know.
You can watch the discussion live.
Hey Gang,
I saw that the text of the bill had changed to "create additional exceptions to allow motor vehicles to operate in a bicycle lane."
http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/sb0200.dir/sb0299.intro.pdf
Section 6.
Granted I can't claim to know the details, but I am a little worried about that one. Should I be?
You tell us if you're worried.
There are two parts to cars being able to be in bike lanes: to avoid hazards and to pass left-turning cars.
Generally, bikes can leave bike lanes to avoid hazards, and cars can do other things to avoid hazards, so this is only bringing bike lane law into accord with other laws.
The second provision — to pass left-turning cars — is something that is commonly done, and, subject to yielding to any bikes around, seems reasonable. Do you think it will cause significant safety problems?
Yes. I am worried.
I understand the “Avoiding Hazards� component, but the “Left Turning Car� part seems dangerous. It sounds like we are giving up protected space on the road for someone to save five seconds on their way home from work. People will probably do it anyway, but that doesn’t mean we should make it legal.
I think the law needs to reflect that bike lanes are for bikes, not cars; and the law as stated seems to give exception to just about everything already. (2. A person may operate a motor vehicle upon a bicycle lane when: a) Making a turn.)
I think that it is a dangerous move to make the solid white line of a bike lane more permeable and that is what this new language seems to do.
Thanks for the feedback. Our intention is to amend the language to strongly clarify that "a motorist may use a bicycle lane after first yielding right-of-way to other occupants of the bicycle lane when:" and include left turns. Our intention is to make the bike lane a seamless part of the roadway, but make it clearly state the motorists must yield to bikes!
I agree with Austin. I don't think cyclists should pander to driver's impatience. Let's concentrate on the three-foot passing rule and use of reasonable speed by bikes in crosswalks and on sidewalks and keep the car provisions out of this bill entirely.
I think Section 6 creates substantial danger for bicyclists, motorists, and pedestrians! Consider the motorist signalling a left turn who is stopped, not for an oncoming car, but for a pedestrian crossing immediately in front of him. The following motorist will assume the motorist ahead is waiting for a chance to turn left and will zip past on the right running down the pedestrian! This provision will create what is known as a multiple threat condition for the pedestrian. It essentially turns the bike lane into an additional lane to be used by speeding motorists! Please get this out of the bill!