The Passing Rule

Tenzor07

Looks like the state of California is about to get the "3 foot" rule passed into law

http://calbike.org/assembly-approves-3-foot-passing-bill/#more-4096

And it comes with a base fine of $220 for a motorist who injures a cyclist if passing from behind...

Though 3 feet is less than a meter, and $220 is €175

monument

To be honest it seems a bit more realistic than a 1.5m mandatory passing distance.

rp

monument wrote: »

To be honest it seems a bit more realistic than a 1.5m mandatory passing distance.

1.5m is the European standard for safe passing distance, so we should expect that rather than US aligned laws, plus I think it is enshrined in Irish case law, unfortunately that only helps when there has been an incident. So much for prevention.

Tenzor07

monument wrote: »

To be honest it seems a bit more realistic than a 1.5m mandatory passing distance.

True, esp. on narrow Irish roads... though in the states I imagine the lanes are like their parking spaces i.e. twice as wide as over here?

buffalo

rp wrote: »

1.5m is the European standard for safe passing distance, so we should expect that rather than US aligned laws, plus I think it is enshrined in Irish case law, unfortunately that only helps when there has been an incident. So much for prevention.

But culturally (wrt cycling) we're a lot closer to the US than the continent, so I reckon unless the EU rules on something, if we get a safe passing distance, it'll be closer to the US distance than the European.

Except hopefully in metres.

Beasty

Of course if we get a 1.5m passing rule and it's applied to all vehicles we will be required to do the same ourselves - could make for some interesting bunch sprints when racing

07Lapierre

Rules only work if they are enforced! I suspect they will enfoce this law in California, ( the CHP love any excuse to pull a driver over. Many drug busts are the result of a driver being pulled over for minor traffic violations), pity we cant say the same about Ireland.

fat bloke

I did a bit of cycling in the States this summer and last summer and in my experience and compared to Ireland, motorists are incredibly wary of cyclists. None of that in-the-same-lane close-passing rubbish.

piston

A lot of the drivers around here seem to think 3 inches is being too generous.:mad:

cdaly_

piston wrote: »

A lot of the drivers around here seem to think 3 inches is being too generous.:mad:

Nah, it's just that they think it's 9 inches...

monument

rp wrote: »

1.5m is the European standard for safe passing distance, so we should expect that rather than US aligned laws, plus I think it is enshrined in Irish case law, unfortunately that only helps when there has been an incident. So much for prevention.

In France it's only seems to be 1.5m on rural roads and 1m in urban areas.

A review of Spanish laws for VOCA, an EU exchange of information among cycle campaigners, says: "Cars can overtake a bike allowing a compulsory 1.5 meter distance (seldom respected by cars)."

It's also in Germany??

rp

monument wrote: »

In France it's only seems to be 1.5m on rural roads and 1m in urban areas.

A review of Spanish laws for VOCA, an EU exchange of information among cycle campaigners, says: "Cars can overtake a bike allowing a compulsory 1.5 meter distance (seldom respected by cars)."

It's also in Germany??

Netherlands: 1,5m

Germany doesn't have a stipulation, but you should leave 1.5 to 2m when the traffic situation allows (the ADAC - AA-type org - recommends 2m): in addition, if a cyclists feels scared by the maneuver, the over-taker has broken the law.

morana

rp wrote: »

... in addition, if a cyclists feels scared by the maneuver, the over-taker has broken the law.

that would be a good conversation with a garda!

monument

rp wrote: »

monument wrote: »

In France it's only seems to be 1.5m on rural roads and 1m in urban areas.

A review of Spanish laws for VOCA, an EU exchange of information among cycle campaigners, says: "Cars can overtake a bike allowing a compulsory 1.5 meter distance (seldom respected by cars)."

It's also in Germany??

Netherlands: 1,5m

Germany doesn't have a stipulation, but you should leave 1.5 to 2m when the traffic situation allows (the ADAC - AA-type org - recommends 2m): in addition, if a cyclists feels scared by the maneuver, the over-taker has broken the law.

In the Netherlands cyclists are mostly highly segregated.

buffalo

Sean02

Had a very close call in Sabinaningo spain last week. local fruit and veg man thought it was 1.5 cms passing distance. clipped elbow fortunately wing mirror folded back. no injury,but too close for comfort. Absolutely amassing to see french cyclist in large and small groups cycling single file. Understandable in urban or busy roads,but in the middle of nowhere on perfect wide traffic free roads!!!

07Lapierre

Sean02 wrote: »

Had a very close call in Sabinaningo spain last week. local fruit and veg man thought it was 1.5 cms passing distance. clipped elbow fortunately wing mirror folded back. no injury,but too close for comfort. Absolutely amassing to see french cyclist in large and small groups cycling single file. Understandable in urban or busy roads,but in the middle of nowhere on perfect wide traffic free roads!!!

Come out with the SwordsCC Saturday morning group and you'll see this on the roads behind Dublin Airport!....Single file, heads down, tongues hanging out!