Device detects motorists buzzing cyclists

“An avid cyclist from Ashwaubenon is spearheading an effort to educate motorists on the laws about passing bicycles on the road.

He showed us the new technology he hopes local police will use to help drivers and bikers share the road safely.

Peter Flucke has pedaled tens of thousands of miles across the U.S., in cities big and small and knows the drill — wear bright colors, follow the same laws as motorists and always be alert.

But the concern comes not knowing what drivers will do.

“One of the things bicyclists are most afraid of when they’re riding on the road is getting hit from behind,” says Flucke, president of WE BIKE Etc.

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Read the full article here: http://www.wbay.com/content/news/Ultrasonic-device-detects-motorists-too-close-to-cyclists-419654903.html

Ohio’s new bike passing law goes into effect March 21

“Starting Tuesday, a new statewide law will require motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet of clearance while passing.

HB 154, which passed in December, makes Ohio one of more than half of the states to put in place a three-foot passing law and brings together municipal efforts to legislate the safety of bicyclists. It updates a previous state law requiring drivers to pass bicyclists at a safe distance.

Across Ohio, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, as well as Bay Village, already have enacted three-foot bike passing laws.

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Read the full article here: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/03/ohios_new_bike_passing_law_goe.html

THREE FEET OF CELEBRATION

“It has taken years of hard work, and collaboration statewide to bring those sentences from dream to reality as Ohio’s 3 Foot Passing Law for Bicycles.  The last 2 days have seen the Bike Cleveland headquarters abuzz with activity.  In-person interviews with multiple news organizations, phone interviews, quote requests, and email inquiries piled up.  We were happy to indulge as many of the requests as we could, because raising the awareness of such a safety stride for Ohio cyclists is the next step in accomplishing our mission.

Our first interview began midday with Fox8 News.  We had all 3 staffers on hand to discuss the law, the C3FT device, and to capture riding footage while the weather was clear here in Cleveland.

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Read the full article here: http://www.bikecleveland.org/bike-cle/news/three-feet-of-celebration/2017/03/

New law enforces 3-foot cushion for bikers on Ohio roads

“CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) – Sharing the road with cyclists is a concept many people continue to get used to.

“A lot of times cyclists get pushed up against the curb or passed well within 3-feet,” said Jacob VanSickle, Bike Cleveland executive director.

A new law, which takes effect Tuesday, aims to enforce a 3-foot barrier by creating the penalty of a minor misdemeanor for drivers caught too close to bikers. Ohio will become one of 27 states to enforce this type of law.

“You can feel the wind of the car going by you, almost hitting your handlebars. It can be a harrowing experience,” said VanSickle.

About 50 people gathered in Public Square for a ride Monday evening, celebrating the new law they advocated for. Starting Tuesday, drivers spotted within 3-feet of a cyclist face a $150 fine.

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Read the full article here: http://www.cleveland19.com/story/34958024/new-law-enforces-3-foot-cushion-for-bikers-on-ohio-roads

New Ohio law requires 3-foot buffer for cyclists on roads

“A new Ohio law, set to take effect Tuesday, will require motorists passing bicyclists to leave a three-foot buffer.

Ohio joins 27 other states that already have three-foot buffer laws. Previously, Ohio law simply required a safe passing distance. The new law defines that safe distance as at least three feet. Violators could face a minor misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $150 fine.

Bike Cleveland has advocated for the law, which passed in 2016 on the fourth attempt, according to the group’s Executive Director, Jacob Van Sickle. It planned a celebration ride Monday at 7 p.m. starting at Public Square.

“For us, it’s really about ensuring the safety of bicyclists on the roadway but also defining what a safe passing distance is for the general public, at least three feet,” Van Sickle said. ”A big piece of the law is public awareness and communicating to people.”

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Read the full article here: http://fox8.com/2017/03/20/new-ohio-law-requires-3-foot-buffer-for-cyclists-on-roads/

Houston Police Launch Enforcement & Information Campaign To Protect Bicyclists

Officers will use a device to make sure vehicles keep a minimum safe distance when they pass a cyclist.

“Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Police Chief Art Acevedo announced Friday afternoon a campaign to protect bicyclists from vehicles on the city’s streets.

It’s based on a law the City Council passed back in 2013 called the Safe Passing/Vulnerable Road User Ordinance. It requires that vehicles must be at least three feet away from bicyclists at all times. Also, passing trucks be at a minimum distance of six feet.

“We will be writing tickets,” Acevedo said. “And hopefully, get people to voluntarily comply with the law.”

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the law by displaying electronic public safety messages and distributing brochures.

Additionally, HPD officers will now enforce the ordinance with a new C3FT device that measures the distance at which a vehicle a passes a bicyclist.

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Read the full article here: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2017/03/10/191333/houston-police-launch-enforcement-information-campaign-to-protect-bicyclists/

Canberra drivers flout ‘metre matters’ cycling rule

“ACT drivers will continue to ignore the “metre matters” cycling rule until it is properly enforced by police, cyclists say.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show just two drivers have been ticketed for breaching the law since its introduction on November 1 2015. A further three drivers have been cautioned.

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Read the full article here: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-drivers-flout-metre-matters-cycling-rule-20170215-gudg7q.html

Device Makes Sure Drivers Give Cyclists Their Space

“…

Austin Police created its bicycle safety enforcement program in 2013, and new devices will help them enforce the rules of the road.

A grant from the Bike Austin Education Fund covered the cost of two Codaxus devices, which are mounted to bicycles and use ultrasonic radar to measure distance. These devices are accurate down to the inch.

Cars must stay three feet away; trucks and buses must be six feet from a cyclist.

“You want to have this large vehicle pass you with plenty of room, so you are not maybe sucked in by their wind or you have the option to maneuver around obstacles that might be in the road,” said Austin Police Officer Rheannon Cunningham.

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Read the full article here: http://www.twcnews.com/tx/austin/news/2016/11/21/device-makes-sure-drivers-give-cyclists-their-space.html

Make sure you give bicyclists space, APD is watching

“AUSTIN (KXAN) — A typical day for Senior Police Officer Rheannon Cunningham usually requires spending a few hours of her work day either talking about bicycle safety or even getting on a bike herself, which she doesn’t mind at all since she’s already an avid cyclist. As the Austin Police Department’s first and only officer dedicated to bicycle safety, Cunningham’s ultimate objective is to make the roads safer for all users, not just bicyclists.

“I’m a cyclist on my own, so I get to combine my passion for bikes with my job to help make the roads safer for everybody,” says Cunningham, who started her new position three months ago. “With our goals for Vision Zero, this is one component to make the roads safer and they assigned me to it as a full time position.”

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Read the full article here: http://kxan.com/2016/10/14/make-sure-you-give-bicyclists-space-apd-is-watching/

 

Overtake Cyclists Safely

“A few days ago, the BBC reported that the West Midlands Police were targeting drivers who didn’t allow enough room when passing cyclists.

The force had analysed 564 cyclist deaths over four years and found that the “vast majority” were down to driver error, which probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to regular cyclists.

While the Highway Code (rule 212) is somewhat vague when it says that motorists should give cyclists (and motorcyclists) “plenty of room” when overtaking, this is widely interpreted as being 1.5m.

There is an obvious difficulty in measuring that gap and a significant problem in providing proof.

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Read the full article here: https://spycycle.uk/index.php/component/content/article?id=532:overtake-cyclists-safely