To pass a bicyclist, bill calls for 3-foot clearance

A lawmaker who commutes daily by bicycle when he's not in Olympia is pushing for legislation that would require motorists to keep at least 3 feet away from bicyclists and pedestrians they are passing.

The current law states that drivers must pass at a "safe distance." But bill sponsor Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, says it should not be up to each driver to decide what distance is safe.

"I think that a lot of them think that if they haven't hit your handle bars then it's all good," he said during a House Transportation Committee hearing for the bill recently.

Brian Faller of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, a statewide bicycle-advocacy organization, said he supports the legislation, House Bill 1491. He said the law is more of an "educational tool, and less of an enforcement tool."

Owen Linch, of the Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28, testified against the bill. "We believe this is an enforcement problem, not a legislative problem," he said.

Linch said the 3-foot recommendation is already listed in the Washington state drivers guide, so putting it into law isn't necessary. He added that the bill would shift the safety responsibility to the motorist. Instead, he contended, there should be equal responsibility between parties involved.

The bill also would make it legal for drivers to move to the left side of the center of the roadway when passing a cyclist.

The Washington State Patrol hasn't taken a position on the bill.

"We're for any measure that increases safety, so if prescribing a 3-foot passing distance increases motor safety we're in support of that," said Jeff DeVere, State Patrol spokesman. "It's our hope that if nothing else comes out of this bill, that people pay attention to giving bicyclists as much room as possible when passing."

House Transportation Committee Chairwoman Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, said she expects to pass the bill out of her committee.

Chantal Anderson: 360-236-8266 or canderson@seattletimes.com