Washington House Bill 1491 would change the law regarding passing pedestrians and bicycles. Currently, drivers are required to "pass to the left at a safe distance." The new bill would specify a minimum distance of three feet when passing. The bill also makes an exception for driving to the left of the center of the roadway when passing a pedestrian or bicycle.

Three Feet Law
More people who work and commute via a bicycle need to get off their keester and start to do some work in the government to make noise about how the laws and streets should reflect higher standards of safety for pedestrians and cyclists. It is not until we begin to challenge the existing precedent that there will be any change made. And I for one am tired of reading about motorists who kill people on bikes. Let's face it, when a bike and car tango, the car is always the winner. Until some real changes are made, and I am talking money and screaming at the top of our lungs, there will be no preventive safety measures taken by those in power. Things are not done just because it is the right thing; things get done when people are ready for a change, and do the work that it takes to make sure it gets done.
Comment by sarahsoren [myopenid.com] Tue 17 Feb 2009 03:01:45 PM PST