Proposed Law for Cyclist and Drivers would require 3 feet space

A proposed law titled ‘Carrie Ray’s 3-Foot Passing Law to Protect Bicyclists’ was revealed yesterday afternoon by Monroe County Legislators Rachel Barnhart (D-21) and Jackie Smith (R-2). In their new proposal, it requires a three feet minimum distance from bicyclists and vehicles. The bill is named after Carrie Ray, a teacher and cyclist who was hit and killed by a pickup truck driver on October 5, 2019. Roughly 46 cyclists were killed in crashes in New York state in 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

In a statement made by Rachel Barnhart, she stated “The main benefit of this law is that drivers will know what safe passing means when it comes to bicyclists. They’ll know the minimum standard is three feet. It is crucial that we raise awareness about the rights of other people on the road besides vehicle drivers.” If the bill is passed through legislation, a public hearing will be scheduled in May for a final vote on the bill.

Source: 13 Wham