Landmark safe passing bill beats stiff opposition to win Assembly committee vote

From a Press Release issued by the California Bicycle Coalition, our bicycle advocates in Sacramento, the 3 foot passing bill, AB 910 was approved by the Assembly Transportation Committee in an 8 to 5 vote. This will determine how drivers must pass bicyclists by requiring drivers to give bicyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing from behind. Three feet is the passing distance required in 19 other states.

The bill goes next to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, however, SB 910 does not require or allocate any public funds or have any other fiscal consequences for state or local government.

“I applaud the Assembly Transportation Committee for looking out for the safety of bicyclists in passing SB 910,” said Lowenthal after the hearing. “While the opposition to this bill tried to obfuscate and confuse the committee, members saw through this ruse and did the right thing.This simple measure will provide safety to bicyclists while at the same time providing clarity to motorists. This bill is a win-win for everyone.”

Representatives from the California State Automobile Association and the Automobile Club of Southern California proposed gutting the bill by making the three-foot passing provision optional, a proposal rejected by Lowenthal and the committee chair. In other states with 3-foot passing laws, AAA either supported or did not oppose the legislation.

A lobbyist for the Teamsters expressed their opposition by denouncing scofflaw bicyclists and predicting dire consequences for traffic and safety if the bill were enacted. “This bill is veto-bait!” he shouted before storming out of the hearing room, indicating the Teamsters plan to lean on Gov. Edmund G. Brown to veto the law if it’s passed.

Testifying in support of the bill were representatives from the California Bicycle Coalition, the cities of Los Angeles and Pasadena, and the Sierra Club, the California Association of Bicycling Organizations, and Policy in Motion, among others. Dozens of local bicycle advocacy organizations, bicycling clubs, environmental groups, safety advocates and businesses, and more than 200 individuals throughout California, also contacted the committee to express their
support for the bill.

Sen. Michael Rubio of Bakersfield made a surprise appearance to testify in support of the bill as a private citizen. An active bicyclist, Rubio recounted a bicycle pile-up near Bakersfield on Fathers Day caused when by a driver impatient to pass struck a line of 15 bicyclists. Testimony given in legislative committee by legislators speaking as private citizens is extremely rare.

“We’re thrilled with the committee’s vote and with the significant support this bill has attracted,” said CBC Executive Director Dave Snyder. “Putting the priority on safer roads is absolutely the right policy, especially as more people choose bicycling for transportation.

“But yesterday’s hearing offered a sobering reminder of how far California still has to go to ensure that everyone who uses the roads can do so safely. It’s disturbing to see AAA and the Teamsters try to defeat a measure that would give drivers – those with the greatest potential to harm others on the road – clear guidance on how to share the road more safely. Drivers who ride bicycles or know someone who does should be deeply concerned about how they’re being represented before lawmakers in Sacramento.”