Assembly Transportation Committee Schedules June 27 Vote on “Give Me 3”

Having already passed the Senate earlier this month, Senate Bill 910, the three-foot passing law, heads to its first Assembly hearing next Monday, June 27 at 1:30 P.M.  If you can't make it to Sacramento, you can listen to the hearing here, or follow L.A. Streetblog's coverage on twitter.

The Assembly Transportation Committee has three local members including Pasadena's Mike Eng, the Valley's Bob Blumenfield and Long Beach's Bonnie Lowenthal who is not related to Senator Alan Lowenthal, the author of S.B. 910, who also resides in Long Beach.  The entire committee roster, with links to each Assembly Member's home page, can be found here.

As we've discussed earlier, S.B. 910 requires motorists to give cyclists a three foot berth when passing unless the motorist is driving less than fifteen miles per hour faster than the cyclist.  While this exemption wrangles many cyclists, most organized groups are supporting the legislation.  Standing in opposition is the California Association of Bicycling Organizations which is concerned that as written it would allow a car traveling 55 miles per hour to pass within inched of a bicycle traveling 40 miles per hour.

But outside of CABO, cycling groups are lining up to support S.B. 910.  The California Bike Coalition has set up a website asking legislators to "Give Me 3," off roar cycling group CORBA  is encouraging members to call their Assembly Member, and Better Bike Beverly Hills wrote its own letter calling for swift passage.

Alexis Lantz, the Policy and Planning Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition explains why so many cyclists are excited about S.B. 910.  "This law serves as an important progression of the "Give Me Three" campaign by legally defining three feet as a minimum safe passing distance and establishing consequences for those who breach it. We feel this removes the ambiguity that existing now in the CVC regarding safe passing distance and provides a tangible measurement to utilize with motorist education and increase motorist understanding regarding safe passing."

Last week, the LACBC e-mailed members with information on how they can add their voice to the debate.  Streetsblog will report on next week's hearing as it proceeds.