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Whew! I'm glad that the 3 foot law is catching on. I'm also glad that they put in that part about throwing objects out the window at cyclist. (Really, that's a no-brainer....whoever thought that was okay?) Frankly, I'm not certain that 3 feet is quite enough space for a motor vehicle to clear while passing a cyclist on the road. I think that the states should outlaw Humvees and wide bodied trucks from driving in certain areas just like big rigs that are prohibited by law from using certain routes.

Thanks for sharing this information. It is encouraging!

That's great. Now who is going to educate the drivers. We have that law here and still get "skinned" by drivers passing us with oncoming traffic. Unbelievable. I guess they don't value our lives, the other drivers, or their own. Gotta get there faster than the other guy. Heaven forbid we ever have to step on the brake and slow down (not that this topic gets me going, you understand).

Actually, I don't expect drivers to give us any more room, the law is there to place blame in case they it one of us. Obviously, if they make contact, they didn't give us the lawful 3 feet. Three feet isn't enough anyway to help much, but it would help if I knew drivers cared. The only ones who do are cyclists themselves however.

The one thing that concerns me personally is the trailer swaying to and fro on the back of the vehicle (hitch), especially in the wind. The 3' rule certainly helps that. Many times I'll drive to NY state (not that far) and unload my bike and ride there as most of the state roads have 3'-4' paved berms.
I've been riding on roads since I was six and state highways since I was 12 so not much bothers me, but I don't like having stuff thrown at me or being smacked on the butt because some idiot thinks it's cute. The 3' rule might help alleviate that as well. It's hard to get and remember a license plate number and a driver description. When friends ride together here, one will get the first half of the plate number and another friend the second.

Rikitiki3,

Did you ride while away?

You know, I think it's just that many "drivers" just don't like
"riders".

Do most drivers give pedestrians their 3 feet? It's been my observation that most drivers do. And I'm talking about the pedestrians that walk with the traffic (which is against the law in Illinois). But a cyclists? We just don't get the same treatment by drivers. It's almost as if we're not there.

Then there is the driver approaching me from the front who decides to pass another car/truck that's approaching me. I just don't like the feeling of a car flying at me at 55-60 mph and missing me by a couple of feet! Didn't the see me? Sure they did. Then what is it?

Cacci,

I absolutely agree and I have experienced this many, many times over the last several years.

My opinion is that part of it is ignorance, and part of it is depth/speed perception. I drive a car, ride a bicycle and a motorcycle and I don't believe a driver's perception is correct until they gain more experience around us. About 20 years ago I pulled out in front of a motorcycle approaching from my left side; he had to slow quickly to avoid me. He wagged his index finger at me as if to say, "no, no!", which I appreciated and remembered far longer than a different finger wagging, and obscenities. (Perhaps a lesson for us angry cyclists, as well.)
What I learned from the experience is that we travel faster than sometimes is anticipated, and we are much smaller in size giving us the appearance that we are farther away. I brought this up at my motorcycle safety course, and at a cycling club meeting, and in both groups it was generally agreed upon.
I help new riders become accustomed to road riding, teach proper signals, etiquette and even attire and the hardest thing to teach is the 'road eye', that third eye or ear that picks up on the little things that can happen in a split second..the car stutter starting out, the backing out from behind the hedges or tree, listening to the sound of the car's engine behind as an oncoming car approaches (possible passing), etc.

I have to agree with you, Cacci. There are those drivers who do the little beep, beep and smile and wave, and then those who lean on the horn, as if we couldn't hear them coming, and yell at us to get on the sidewalk. Yeah, like that works with a road bike. I understand their frustration with the packs of riders who don't obey traffic laws. They frustrate me too. But to take that out on the solo rider, or small group, just makes me wonder what the heck they are thinking.

I gotta comment on the only drivers caring about cyclists being other cyclists. I had a little dweeb of a person with a mountain bike on the back of her Subaru about run me off the road in Durango a couple years ago. And, to beat that, right after that, within minutes, a Durango police officer did the same thing. There aren't many places I hate riding....but that would be one city. I won't comment on the snob level of other riders (sorry, another conversation).

I lead a lot of beginner rides here and instruct a lot, and of course teach safety and laws, but I also throw in there a little courtesy on our part. Traffic doesn't bother me in particular, but there are sure places I just don't ride, mostly because there or other places there are a lot safer, therefore a lot more relaxing and fun. I think education is big, but there will always be morons. I have decided that there is a farm somewhere the breeds them. Albuquerque has a nice campaign going on these days. Sure wish them luck and that it will spread up this way a little.

Ha, yes, the Moron Ranch. I think I know that place.