FRANKFORT, KY.-A house bill increasing safety for cyclists on roadways passed the through the Senate by a unanimous vote Monday.
House Bill 33 would require drivers to keep vehicles at least 3 feet away from bicyclist while attempting to pass. If 3 feet of space isn’t available then drivers are urged to use reasonable caution. Another provision of House Bill 33 allows drivers to cross the yellow line to pass as long as the coast is clear. An amendment to the bill states that cyclists can ride side by side, but no more than two at a time. Avid cyclists say that the bill does not only protect the cyclists, but the drivers as well.
“This is as important for the motorists as it is the cyclists. A lot of motorists, and I’m saying this from experience, they get behind you and they don’t know what to do. You are in the road and you are not going very fast, maybe 15-20 miles an hour, they are afraid to pass you and they don’t know if they should pass you. Then when they do pass you they often wait until just the wrong moment to do so, which means another car is coming, and then there is not enough room. The right thing for the motorist to do when approaching a bicycle is pass them as soon as you can when it is safe and give that cyclist three feet.”
Fields went on to say that if House Bill 33 becomes law that Kentucky would be one of the last states to pass it. The Bill now goes back to the House for consideration of the Senate change.
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