Correction of Senate Bill 51 requested
Recently in the Columbia Patch:
Senate Bill 51 requires drivers to safely pass cyclists by maintaining a minimum distance of three feet, as long as the road is wide enough to safely do so. In return, cyclists must stay to the right side of the road (or the bike lane, if applicable) and maintain a steady course while the vehicle passes.
http://columbia.patch.com/articles/a-spotlight-on-exercising-safely-in-the-dark
And on a DC area Law blog:
And in the Examiner:
http://www.examiner.com/alternative-transportation-in-tulsa/maryland-enacts-pathetic-excuse-for-three-feet-passing-law
(Read this article how the above summary would be read from a windshield perspective, pretty horrifying for getting additional legal protection via this bill.)
To the authors of the above articles I would like to point out where we have the corrected summaries of laws:
http://www.mva.maryland.gov/Driver-Safety/Bicycle/default.htm
and I will highlight:
As for a discussion what the heck do all those clauses mean in SB 51 see:
http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20101005122814769
To those working on correcting the summaries, per my Google search this is the offending document:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/90-Day-report/Part-G.pdf
Senate Bill 51 (passed) requires a driver of a vehicle to safely overtake a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device (EPAMD), or a motor scooter at a distance of at least three feet, unless at the time, the bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter rider fails to ride to the right side of the roadway, comply with a requirement to ride in a bike lane or shoulder, or maintain a steady course. The passing rule under the bill also does not apply if the highway on which the vehicle is being driven is not wide enough
Again let me express my displeasure on not mentioning this is in addition to exercising due care, how poorly a lawful riding cyclists is described, the selection of the secondary clause over the primary clause "less than 3 feet is caused solely by the bicyclist" and poorly summarizing the exception to an extremely rare road type both in occurrence and in conflicts.
I hope that all official documents in relation to our 3' safe passing distance bill will be corrected, thanks.
BaltimoreSpokes.org
Senate Bill 51 requires drivers to safely pass cyclists by maintaining a minimum distance of three feet, as long as the road is wide enough to safely do so. In return, cyclists must stay to the right side of the road (or the bike lane, if applicable) and maintain a steady course while the vehicle passes.
http://columbia.patch.com/articles/a-spotlight-on-exercising-safely-in-the-dark
And on a DC area Law blog:
Senate Bill 51:
- "Requires a driver of a vehicle to safely overtake a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device (EPAMD), or a motor scooter at a distance of at least three feet, unless at the time, the bicycle, EPAMD,or motor scooter rider fails to ride to the right side of the roadway, comply with a requirement to ride in a bike lane or shoulder, or maintain a steady course.
- The passing rule under the bill also does not apply if the highway on which the vehicle is being driven is not wide enough to lawfully pass the bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter at a distance of at least three feet."
And in the Examiner:
Maryland enacts pathetic excuse for three feet passing law
Senate Bill 51 requires a driver of a vehicle to safely overtake a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device (EPAMD), or a motor scooter at a distance of at least three feet, unless at the time, the bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter rider fails to ride to the right side of the roadway, comply with a requirement to ride in a bike lane or shoulder, or maintain a steady course. The passing rule under the bill also does not apply if the highway on which the vehicle is being driven is not wide enough to lawfully pass the bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter at a distance of at least three feet.http://www.examiner.com/alternative-transportation-in-tulsa/maryland-enacts-pathetic-excuse-for-three-feet-passing-law
(Read this article how the above summary would be read from a windshield perspective, pretty horrifying for getting additional legal protection via this bill.)
To the authors of the above articles I would like to point out where we have the corrected summaries of laws:
http://www.mva.maryland.gov/Driver-Safety/Bicycle/default.htm
and I will highlight:
- Drivers shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicycle, Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device (EPAMD), or motor scooter being ridden by a person.
- The driver of a vehicle must not pass any closer than three (3) feet to a bicycle or motor scooter if the bicycle is operated in a lawful manner. It is not lawful to ride against traffic.
As for a discussion what the heck do all those clauses mean in SB 51 see:
http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20101005122814769
To those working on correcting the summaries, per my Google search this is the offending document:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/90-Day-report/Part-G.pdf
Senate Bill 51 (passed) requires a driver of a vehicle to safely overtake a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device (EPAMD), or a motor scooter at a distance of at least three feet, unless at the time, the bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter rider fails to ride to the right side of the roadway, comply with a requirement to ride in a bike lane or shoulder, or maintain a steady course. The passing rule under the bill also does not apply if the highway on which the vehicle is being driven is not wide enough
Again let me express my displeasure on not mentioning this is in addition to exercising due care, how poorly a lawful riding cyclists is described, the selection of the secondary clause over the primary clause "less than 3 feet is caused solely by the bicyclist" and poorly summarizing the exception to an extremely rare road type both in occurrence and in conflicts.
I hope that all official documents in relation to our 3' safe passing distance bill will be corrected, thanks.
BaltimoreSpokes.org
What's Related