Give Me 3

CicLAvia ride buddies Lance Armstrong and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have joined forces again.  Their target: Governor Jerry Brown.  Their message: sign S.B. 910, the state's three foot passing law that would protect cyclists from drivers who pass too close and too fast.

Yesterday, the California State Assembly joined the Senate in passing S.B. 910 by an overwhelming 41-20 vote.  S.B. 910 would require motorists to give bicyclists a three foot cushion when passing at miles in excess of fifteen miles an hour faster than the cyclist.  The legislation needs re-approval by the Senate, something that occurs 99% of the time, because of some technical changes that occurred in the Assembly at the request of the bill's author, Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach).  From there it will await signature from Governor Jerry Brown.

This Friday, S.B. 910, the Three Feet Passing Law authored by Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-LB) heads to the Assembly Floor.  S.B. 910 has been passing committees and the full Assembly by mostly party-line votes, but that doesn't mean that passage is assured in two days.  The California Bicycle Coalition has a sample letter to email Assembly Members in advance of Friday's hearing.

Regular reader and occasional commenter Bob Davis is in Memphis for vacation, doubtless having a great time riding their electric streetcar system.  However, he also sends word that not only does Tennessee have a three-foot passing law for cyclists, but the Volunteer State just made the law more powerful and easier to enforce.  He writes:

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.