The following is from the Bicycle Colorado website:
Governor Signs Bicycle Safety Bill!
May 12, 2009- Governor Ritter signed the Bicycle Safety Bill into law in Colorado Springs on Monday evening. Now the bill is an official “Act” and will take effect on August 5, 2009. Bicycle Colorado is now working with statewide law enforcement training groups to make sure officers get details on the new law and with the Department of Revenue to update the Colorado Driver’s Manual.
Bill Sponsors Senator Greg Brophy and Representative Michael Merrifield deserve much credit for taking on this much needed bill. Their leadership is making Colorado’s traffic laws into some of the best in the country.
Bicycle Colorado thanks all the citizens around the state who made calls to their Senator and Representative. Many legislators reported receiving hundreds of contacts from people in their district. Thank you for helping keep bicycle safety on our roads a high priority.
SB 148 creates safe and common sense rules for bicycles and motor vehicles on public roads. Here are the highlights.
PASSING
The bill gives motorists more freedom to safely pass a bicyclist by allowing them to cross the centerline when safe to do so. By allowing three feet passing distance, it creates a safer environment on the road.
LANE POSITION
Clarifying language gives bicyclists the ability to ride as far right as is safe. Also on one-way roads with more than one lane, bicyclists may also ride as far left as is safe.
MORE THAN ONE RIDER
The bill clarifies that bicyclists may pass one another or ride side-by-side if they are not impeding the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.
ANTI-HARASSMENT
Language in the bill makes throwing an object towards a bicyclist a class 2 misdemeanor and driving towards a bicyclist in a dangerous manner a careless driving offense.
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