Bikes Get 3 Feet Clearance - on paper, anyway

[Nehmo]

Since mid 2011, Kansas has had a 3-Foot Passing law. But nobody obeys it. I'd be happy with 3 inches, if I really got it.

K.S.A. 8-1516 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-1516. The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles and bicycles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions and special rules hereinafter stated:

(a) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.

(b) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal and shall not increase the speed of his or her vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

(c) (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a distance of not less than three feet and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle.

(2) The driver of a vehicle may pass a bicycle proceeding in the same direction in a no-passing zone with the duty to execute the pass only when it is safe to do so.

 

[rojitor]

I'd be happy with 3 inches, if I really got it.

The same here, sometimes i thought to carry a baseball bat with me.

 

[Brentis]

For all you Ontarian's :wink:
The M.T.O.'s own rules. Circa 2010, but are current IIRC.
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/e-bike-faq.shtml

 

[John in CR]

I'd be happy with 3 inches, if I really got it.

The same here, sometimes i thought to carry a baseball bat with me.

On the rare occasion that I get passed if it's even within a foot or two, I chase them and read them the riot act, bike chain in hand. It's only been a few occasions though more commonly them accelerating to pass when it's inappropriate, but my methods have been effective because I've seen a couple of those drivers since and they give me and others cyclists wide birth.

 

[deardancer3]

yep, I would like to see a folding yardstick sold, then would stick a few of the corners of my bike rack to keep cars at bay.
fold it up when not needed in tight quarters around the house, unfold for being on the road.
d

 

[Rassy]

I would like to see a folding yardstick sold, then would stick a few of the corners of my bike rack to keep cars at bay.

As soon as I read this I thought of the folding carpenters rulers. This one is 6' long.

http://www.amazon.com/Lufkin-X46-6-Foot-Red-End-Folding/dp/B00002N5KI

 

[MattyCiii]

I would like to see a folding yardstick sold, then would stick a few of the corners of my bike rack to keep cars at bay.

As soon as I read this I thought of the folding carpenters rulers. This one is 6' long.

http://www.amazon.com/Lufkin-X46-6-Foot-Red-End-Folding/dp/B00002N5KI

I gotta post a pic of my bike one of these days. I've installed a base, hinge, handle and 3' carbon fiber rod onto my seat post. The hinge snaps open/snaps closed (cupboard hinge from Lowes), so it stays in place. Oh and the 3' pole is covered with LEDs.

On the straightaway, I reach down and fold it "out" - it sticks 3' straight to the left. Drivers, not wanting the paint on their precious cars to get a scratch, go around. As I reach traffic & want to lane split, I fold it in so the pole/light is in line with the length of the bike.

Once, when reporting a case of 4 teenager in a car harassing me, the local cop said "Oh, you're the guy with the pole". I was so tempted to whip out my wanker...

 

[Brentis]

I would like to see a folding yardstick sold, then would stick a few of the corners of my bike rack to keep cars at bay.

As soon as I read this I thought of the folding carpenters rulers. This one is 6' long.

http://www.amazon.com/Lufkin-X46-6-Foot-Red-End-Folding/dp/B00002N5KI

I gotta post a pic of my bike one of these days. I've installed a base, hinge, handle and 3' carbon fiber rod onto my seat post. The hinge snaps open/snaps closed (cupboard hinge from Lowes), so it stays in place. Oh and the 3' pole is covered with LEDs.

On the straightaway, I reach down and fold it "out" - it sticks 3' straight to the left. Drivers, not wanting the paint on their precious cars to get a scratch, go around. As I reach traffic & want to lane split, I fold it in so the pole/light is in line with the length of the bike.

Once, when reporting a case of 4 teenager in a car harassing me, the local cop said "Oh, you're the guy with the pole". I was so tempted to whip out my wanker...

love it

 

[Brentis]

I'd be happy with 3 inches, if I really got it.

The same here, sometimes i thought to carry a baseball bat with me.

On the rare occasion that I get passed if it's even within a foot or two, I chase them and read them the riot act, bike chain in hand. It's only been a few occasions though more commonly them accelerating to pass when it's inappropriate, but my methods have been effective because I've seen a couple of those drivers since and they give me and others cyclists wide birth.

I use this when my bike is out of sight long/in a bad area.




I could kill a mofo with that things.
Only problem is @ 6lbs wrapped around my chest. Too heavy.
I've only used it a couple of times.
Leaving me to use my "words" to solve bad drivers. :lol:

 

[dnmun]

remember that most of the time they are drunk or on the phone and don't even see you. the flashing led on the flipout bamboo pole is cool, maybe add fish hook that would pull a long length of string out of a poly bottle of paint so the hook will drag the paint out of the tube and flutter along the side of the car as they race off.

since they hit you, they are liable.

you could offer to clean it off for them if they grovel on the ground and beg, then charge them $40 to wipe it off.

 

[DAND214]

since they hit you, they are liable.

GOOD LUCK PROVING IT.

You better have a video or a witness to get anywhere today.

Dan

 

[veloman]

3 feet is not comfortable.

Luckily, most cars will give you 5-10 feet. I personally would not be comfortable at all passing a cyclist in my car with only 3 feet distance. That's really not far or much room for error.

I honestly believe the drivers who give less than 3ft either don't see you, see you at the last second, or simply want you off the road and will brush you to cause you stress to make you reconsider riding a bike.

Thanks to the ebike, I have about 10% as many cars pass me as I use to on the ebike. Many rides I'll not have any cars pass since it's city riding and I usually take lower volume roads. And many of the roads I ride have new bike lanes that keep cars at least 4-5 feet away, minimum.

In my old town I once saw an older guy riding a bike with a pole sticking out the left side with a yellow flag on the end. You can bet he doesn't get brushed. Good idea if you want immediate relief from cars passing too close. I don't do it because I don't need it most of the time and sometimes I need to pass traffic that is slow/stopped, ride sidewalks with pedestrians and because I don't want to ruin the look of my bike.

 

[Brentis]

...


I honestly believe the drivers who give less than 3ft either don't see you, see you at the last second, or simply want you off the road and will brush you to cause you stress to make you reconsider riding a bike.

+1

Especially, the run you off the road,because they hate sharing the road with Cyclists, kinda driver.
Usually a rear wing civic, with the diesel truck exhaust can, douche.
Or Redneck in a pickup.
Yes, we have all sorts of redneck(albertans), hillbillies(BC) and worst of all Douche bags(Ontario) in Canada. eh. :wink:

 

[dkw12002]

What I notice is a lot of older people usually on a highway or street with center lines are afraid to cross the center line to give you space even if nobody is coming from the other direction. I have had them come inches from me rather than cross over that sacred center line. Watch the gray haired 80-year-old men, gray-haired wife in front driving Lincoln Town cars.

 

[MattyCiii]

What I notice is a lot of older people usually on a highway or street with center lines are afraid to cross the center line to give you space even if nobody is coming from the other direction. I have had them come inches from me rather than cross over that sacred center line. Watch the gray haired 80-year-old men, gray-haired wife in front driving Lincoln Town cars.

+1 on that.

One of the few times I've been hit (not me, or the bike, just my obnoxious side-mounted pole) was a white haired old lady who I'm sure simply never saw me. She tracked perfectly center between the white dashed line on her left and the white solid line on her right.

That's exactly why I now ride much farther into the lane than I used to - and take the full lane whenever there are two lanes in my direction. The best way to make them see you is to be dead center in front of the driver's eyes.

 

[John in CR]

When sharing the road with cars it's so much better to match or exceed their speed. Then you choose your own spacing. I simply wouldn't ride if I was stuck to the side relying on them to avoid me, because they're not trustworthy and make too many mistakes. I enjoy riding in the spaces they leave, but the roadways and traffic here are far different than stateside...significantly slower.