The California Bicycle Coalition is hearing that Governor Jerry Brown is getting pressure from the California Highway Patrol and AAA to veto SB 910, the safe passage bill for bicyclists. Known as the "Give Me 3" bill, it would require drivers to give people on bikes at least 3 feet of space when passing from behind. It cleared both houses of the Legislature with overwhelming support, and is awaiting the governor's signature.
From the CBC:
CHP and AAA are recommending that Gov. Brown veto SB 910, yet neither one has produced any evidence of problems from the 19 other states with these laws, including Wisconsin, which has 38 years' experience under its 3-foot-passing law. Most CA drivers try give bicyclists enough space, but they get no guidance from CA's vague and subjective passing law.
Many CA drivers also willingly cross the double-yellow line to pass bicyclists on narrow two-lane roads, but why is it reasonable to ask them to break the law in order to do the right thing?
More bicyclists die from being hit from behind than from any other type of vehicle collision -- it's the single biggest cause of adult bicyclist deaths. Is this the status quo CHP and AAA want to preserve?
The CBC is encouraging Streetsblog readers to email Governor Brown's office asap and tell him: sign SB 910 into law! You can download a sample letter and get more instructions here.
