Legislation aims to balance traffic concerns with safety

by Brian Leubitz

Capitol Public radio mentions Asm. Bradford’s AB 1371, a bill to improve safety for bicyclists. Bradford has dubbed it “Three feet for safety” but, things are always more complicated.

I travel along Highway 1 in Sonoma County quite frequently. It’s a favorite of cyclists, and for good reason. It’s beautiful. But it’s also a very curvy road, frequently right on top of a sheer cliff. Bicyclists ride next to this cliff, with drivers maneuvering around them. As it stands right now, we have the worst of both worlds. Drivers do dangerous things to get around bikes, but also get far too close to the bikes. Add on the fact that frequently the bikes end up leading a procession of cars when they can’t mix, and you have a  dangerous mix.  What ever happens, we need to ensure that there are clear rules for drivers and riders. That’s what Bradford is attempting to do, with a lean towards the bikers.

“Bicycles have as much right as anyone to use the public streets,” Bradford said. “Everyone needs to share the road, and cyclists deserve legal protection to ensure their safety.”

Some recent high profile traffic accidents involving bicycles have sparked calls for increased protections for cyclists. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa broke his elbow in 2010 in a traffic accident while riding his bike.

Now, Bradford and others have been working on this legislation for a while. Last year, Gov. Brown vetoed SB 910, saying that it went a little too far in favor of the bicyclists, and could cause rear-end accidents if drivers were forced to slow too much. With AB 1371, Bradford is attempting to balance the interests in a way that pleases CalTrans and the Governor. With Gov. Brown, you may not know if he is comfortable with the balance that was struck until you get a decision on the bill. As it stands, the bill is getting some amendments in the Senate, and looks like it will be passed when the Legislature resumes action.

However, even if Gov. Brown signs it, there is still a lot of work to do in terms of education. Drivers and cyclists both need to understand what their rights and responsibilities are as they share the road.

Photo credit: Brian Leubitz, Google+. 2012 Tour of California, on Highway 1 in Sonoma County.