The Three-Feet-for-Safety law went into affect on September 16, 2014. There was a three year lag between the first veto of this law and it's final enactment. Bike deaths will be tallied going forward to determine the decrease in bike fatalities by enacting this law. It is expected the 140 bicycle deaths average per year in California will decrease to about 100. |
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Cyclists killed or injured after Governor Brown's veto
After Governor Gerry Brown made his veto of the 3-Foot-Passing Bill the following people have been injured or killed from hit from behind accidents: Omar Gomez of Pomona, 27, Oct. 8,2011, dead (57th So. Cal death this year) Brian William Davenport of McKinleyville, 52, Nov. 25, 2011, dead Bob Orneles, Former Mayor City of Arcata, 53, Nov. 29, 2011, punctured lung, 5 broken ribs. Carol Schreder, Topanga,?, Dec 3, 2011, dead (65th So. Cal death this year) (The3-Foot-Passing Bill would have taken full effect in January 2012) Whether it would have made a difference in these cases we may never know. But thanks to Governor Brown, it won’t make a difference for anyone else killed or injured, either. |
Youtube the 3-Foot campaign
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1oJ665qU8w&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCeppjuw6ak Senator Cannella floor speech: http://vimeo.com/24795374 |
Republicans have voted for SB910
What do Tim Pawlenty, Jon Huntsman, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal and Jeb Bush have in common? All of them are Republican and all signed 3-foot passing bills into law as governors of their respective states. It's hardly news that in most of the 18 states with 3-foot passing laws on the books, Republicans and Democrats worked together to get them enacted. Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana and Tennessee enacted 3-foot passing laws with solid bipartisan support. In Georgia and Kansas, Republican lawmakers sponsored the legislation that was later signed by the Republican governor. Earlier this month Georgia's Republican Governor Nathan Deal signed that state's 3-foot passing law, which was sponsored by two Republican lawmakers. In April, the 3-foot passing bill signed into law in Kansas by Republican Governor Sam Brownback was sponsored by the Republican-led House Transportation Committee. And in Colorado, Republican Sen. Greg Brophy, an avid cyclist and farmer from the east side of the state, was one of two lead sponsors on that state's 3-foot passing bill, which was later signed by Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter. Brophy later sponsored legislation to prohibit Colorado communities from banning bicycles, a response to a bicycling ban enacted last year by Black Hawk, CO, a tiny historic mining town that in recent years has become a popular gambling center. So now in California we have seen 5 republican Senators vote for SB910, and we have seen one republican Assemblyman vote for the measure - than seen him change his vote - after leaving the room, returning to say he voted on the wrong measure. We have heard three republican Senators testify on the Senate floor, two in favor one opposed. This measure has bipartisan interest. Yet there has been communication to the authors from the Assembly Republican Caucus leadership that their position is opposed to having bicycles on any road. They have indicated they believe the road is for cars. Thus they are advising every republican Assembly-member to vote no on sb910. Well, their Republican vote would be helpful, but is not absolutely needed to pass our bill. |
Stories of the Close Vote, June 27th.
Over the months of work on this bill some exciting stories have not yet been told! The vote in the Assembly Transportation Committee was a cliff-hanger! The vote on out SB910 was 6-4 near the end of the day, the vote was held open for call (committee members can vote at any point during the day of the committee meeting as long as the meeting is still in session), Chair-member Bonnie Lowenthal awaited votes past 5:30 p.m. on two bills, basicly giving our sb910 a chance to pass instead of dying due to lack of votes. We needed 7 yes votes. Lobiest(AAA, So CAl AAA, CBC, CABO, City of Los Angeles) , supporters (Alan Wachtel, John Burton, Bill Burton, Jim Brown), legislators staff (Alan Lowenthal, John Casey, Howard Posner, Janet Dawson) waited in a near empty committee room for final results. A republican assembly member, Achadjian, then returned to vote, he voted yes for our bill, we felt relief of tension thinking of success of passing this day. Then three minutes later Howard Posner tells Senator Alan Lowenthal that Achadjian changed his vote (changed his mind?-that is not allowed after one has voted), he claimed to have voted on the wrong measure, after going backstage, returning sheepishly to request to change his "mistake". He would have been the only Assembly Republican to vote yes, it appears he was encouraged to change his vote. So with some degree of protest Alan Lowenthal said members can't just change their mind after a vote, but still one member had not voted anyway, so at past 5:30 the bill was failing, Assembly member Furutani had not voted yet. Quickly Lobiest, Senate staff members, and interested supporters fanned out around the capitol building, looking for Furutani. He may have left the building, heading away from work, or may have been engaged in other work, yet his staff and all the rest could not find him. I think a personal phone call to him was made, asking him to return to vote, yet no sign of him known past 6:00 p.m. Our bill was not passing, Bonnie Lowenthal kept the meeting open, then from backstage an out of breath Furutani came forward, with a no vote for SB333 and a yes vote for SB910. Needless to say most in attendance had relief of a final 7th yes vote, for the bill to pass. Many went to a nearby pub after that vote! That same day the Teamsters were contacted to try to reach some resolution of their concerns. This is a story that will be place here soon! I need to take a deep breath,,, |
Full Senate vote passes 3-FootPassing Bill!
SB 910 passed the full Senate on Wednesday night! Senator Lowenthal introduced the features of the bill, and Republican Senators Gaines and Cannella spoke in favor of the bill. One Republican Senator spoke against the bill. SB 910 passed the Senate 26-9 on June 1 and was passed to the Assembly June 2. The bill is moving forward to the Assembly, then to the Governor! |
SB 910 passed out of Senate Transportation on a 6 to 3 favorable vote.
SB910 received a 6 favorable to 3 opposed vote from Senate Transportation members. The session was quite a deep investigation into the topic of a 3-Foot-Passing bill on a day when Senators had to evaluate the California Transportation Commission budget, the future of the High Speed Rail Authority, and other transportation bills. Below is a description of the day by CBC director Dave Snyder: May 4, 2011
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SB 910 is scheduled to be heard May 3rd in Transportation Committee.
TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011Transportation And Housing
MEASURES ARE HEARD IN FILE ORDER |
Proposed wording of Three-Foot-Passing Law for passing bicycles.
California Vehicle Code Division 11, Chapter 3, Article 3 (Overtaking and Passing). Overtaking and Passing Bicycles (a) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall pass in compliance with the provisions of this article at a safe distance that does not interfere with the safe operation of the overtaken bicycle, having due regard for the size and speed of the motor vehicle and the bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, and the surface and width of the highway. (b) In no event shall the driver of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway pass at a distance of less than three feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator, except that the driver may pass the overtaken bicycle with due care at a distance of less than three feet at a speed not greater than 15 miles per hour faster than the bicycle, if in compliance with subdivision (a). (c) A person convicted of a violation of this section that is not the proximate cause of bodily injury to any person shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than five days nor more than 90 days or by a fine of not less than one hundred forty-five dollars ($145) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment. (This penalty is identical to California’s penalty for reckless driving without bodily injury.) (d) Any driver of a motor vehicle that strikes a bicyclist from behind or while passing, and is the proximate cause of bodily injury to any person other than the driver, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than five days or by a fine of not less than a minimum fine of $2000, or by both the fine and imprisonment. Striking a cyclist will be considered to be 'gross negligence' if there is no intent to hit the cyclist. (This is proof of Gross Negligence as needed by California District Attorneys.) (e) Commercial vehicles displaying Oversize or Wide Load signs, or legal commercial vehicles of over 104 inches width driven by professional drivers, are exempt of the requirements of this section, unless they strike a bicyclist. Passing Over a Double Yellow Line 21460. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the driver of a motor vehicle may drive to the left of double parallel solid lines to pass a person operating a bicycle proceeding in the same direction, provided that such a movement is safe and that the left side is clearly visible and free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering with the safe operation of the overtaken bicycle or any vehicle or bicycle approaching from the opposite direction. |
District Attorney support for Three-Foot-Passing law
The Three-Foot-Passing legislation has the support of District Attorney Paul Galiegos. He stated the legislation will help legally prove the 'Gross negligence' of drivers who hit cyclists. Paul Galiegos is Humboldt County's nine year incumbent, twice elected, District Attorney. He says he will be talking to other county's District Attorneys to gain their support. |