Comments on: HB 1250 Must Be Stopped http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/02/hb-1250-must-be-stopped/ Getting Around on Two Wheels and Two Feet Tue, 22 May 2012 23:22:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Andy Cline http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/02/hb-1250-must-be-stopped/comment-page-1/#comment-5614 Andy Cline Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:30:46 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=2332#comment-5614 Steve... The folks hereabouts are really more concerned with what happens AFTER a bicyclist is hit. Apparently some of our advocates believe the police do not have the tools to cite drivers with anything without this law. The old joke is that if you want to get away with murder in Missouri, just take your target hunting or hit them while they ride a bicycle. Steve… The folks hereabouts are really more concerned with what happens AFTER a bicyclist is hit. Apparently some of our advocates believe the police do not have the tools to cite drivers with anything without this law.

The old joke is that if you want to get away with murder in Missouri, just take your target hunting or hit them while they ride a bicycle.

]]> By: Andy Cline http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/02/hb-1250-must-be-stopped/comment-page-1/#comment-5613 Andy Cline Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:23:50 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=2332#comment-5613 PM... Nail. Head. Hit. PM… Nail. Head. Hit.

]]> By: P.M. Summer http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/02/hb-1250-must-be-stopped/comment-page-1/#comment-5612 P.M. Summer Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:00:29 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=2332#comment-5612 The current Texas law mandates a safe passing distance", which is speed variable. The proposed 3' scares the living daylights out of me. Beyond the grand-standing, I have an idea what's driving this... the fear generated by people obeying the real or implied "Far To the Right" laws, which encourage close passing of cyclists by cars. You might check, but the law usually won't apply to close passes in a bike lane, because that's a separate lane. The current Texas law mandates a safe passing distance”, which is speed variable. The proposed 3′ scares the living daylights out of me.

Beyond the grand-standing, I have an idea what’s driving this… the fear generated by people obeying the real or implied “Far To the Right” laws, which encourage close passing of cyclists by cars. You might check, but the law usually won’t apply to close passes in a bike lane, because that’s a separate lane.

]]> By: Steve A http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/02/hb-1250-must-be-stopped/comment-page-1/#comment-5609 Steve A Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:29:19 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=2332#comment-5609 If the three foot law really offered an objective standard to help law enforcement in case a cyclist is hit, you might inquire as to why there has only been extremely rare prosecution activity under such laws. The record doesn't support that hope. There is one other circumstance when a prosecution is practical. It's the situation as in my very first ever blog post - when a motorist inches past on the right at the encouragement of a through cyclist in order to make a free right turn. If I were involved in such a case, I would volunteer to testify for the motorist, as I hope most would. If the three foot law really offered an objective standard to help law enforcement in case a cyclist is hit, you might inquire as to why there has only been extremely rare prosecution activity under such laws. The record doesn’t support that hope.

There is one other circumstance when a prosecution is practical. It’s the situation as in my very first ever blog post – when a motorist inches past on the right at the encouragement of a through cyclist in order to make a free right turn. If I were involved in such a case, I would volunteer to testify for the motorist, as I hope most would.

]]> By: Andy Cline http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/02/hb-1250-must-be-stopped/comment-page-1/#comment-5608 Andy Cline Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:18:15 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=2332#comment-5608 PM... The proposed law is simply an amendment of the current safe-passing law aimed at drivers. There is no specific inclusion or exclusion of bicyclists. And as for making the "enemies list," well, i hope not. But I suppose that's always a danger when taking a stand and trying to make it stick. PM… The proposed law is simply an amendment of the current safe-passing law aimed at drivers. There is no specific inclusion or exclusion of bicyclists. And as for making the “enemies list,” well, i hope not. But I suppose that’s always a danger when taking a stand and trying to make it stick.

]]>