New York – New Law Requires Motorists to Keep ‘safe distance’ When Passing Bicycles

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    New York – Starting in November, a motorist who passes too close to a bicyclist on the road could be slapped with a ticket.

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    A bill Gov. David Paterson signed into law Sunday requires drivers to keep a “safe distance” while passing someone on a bicycle. Failure to do that will be a traffic infraction.

    That was good news for cyclists like Scarsdale resident James Shipp, 69, who said he was struck in April while riding his bicycle in White Plains.

    “I got hit by a car and the guy said, ‘I didn’t see you,’ ” Shipp said. He was not harmed in the accident.


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    13 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    How does this help if the drivers don’t see them ????

    Butterfly
    Butterfly
    15 years ago

    What about bicycles driving wherever they want? Is that fair? I got hit by yeshiva boys driving on and off the road and the sidewalk both Torah Y’Tmimah and Torah Vadaath!! Do you think they stop to see if I was hurt or to say sorry!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    How about a law for bikers to keep distance while zooming thru cars??
    Do they wanna put us all on bikes n take away out cars?
    That’s really gonna help the economy, car dealers, auti shops, gas stations, insurers, and more,,,,,

    just what we need
    just what we need
    15 years ago

    how is it they didn’t come up with this until now . simply briliant . I’d like to propose a no sneezing law , ever notice when u sneeze your kinda shifts to the side and u lose sight of the road thereby causing great danger to all sorounding vhiecles .

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    How about they keep a safe distance from the cars. After all the roads are for cars not bicyclists. Its just mind boggling how crazy thes people had become. Let them ride in bike lanes only. and there they’ll be safe. Maybe ban cars at all. “Dummies” cars are getting ticketed for driving on bike lanes and cars are getting ticketed for driving on the roads THIS IS CRAZY. how much does this government need to harass their citizens for them to get their minds straight on election day?

    Oyvey
    Oyvey
    15 years ago

    As someone who’s been on both sides, as a cyclist as well as driver, I can say that both sides can be bad (or good). There are some drivers who are reckless with regard to bikers. Note: A driver that fails to signal a turn can kill a cyclist. There are some who will actually force the cyclist off the road or appear to deliberately be attempting to kill the cyclist. This has happened to me on a number of occasions as a cyclist.
    On the other hand there are cyclists who think they own the road or go through red lights with impunity, etc. etc. A cyclist has to remember that a car on the road is like a bear in the woods; keep out of the way Don’t challenge it; it’s bigger than you are and the results may not be pleasant.
    Riding a bike on the sidewalk is illegal and dangerous.
    Riding against traffic is illegal and dangerous as you are increasing the speed at which you and the car are on a collision course.
    Common sense and courtesy are the the way to go.

    mewhoze
    mewhoze
    15 years ago

    i was driving on 1st avenue in manhattan yesterday and it is an embarassment what they have done to that road. i was lucky enough to find a parking space on the left (west ) side of the street and while trying to park i got honked by dozens of drivers coz i was blocking a driving lane as i was pulling in. i couldnt double park there and wait for the light to change coz the cars were honking at that as well.
    i finally get into my space, get out the drivers side door and have to look both ways to make sure there is no bicycle zooming toward me. this whole new system stinks. even going to and from the muni meter the driver now has to step into the bike lane each time. on the right (east) side of the street there is now a BUS ONLY lane so cars cant go there either. insane!!!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Ya ya its going to come a time the cars will have to drive on the sidewalk n the cars will need to ask bicyclist to cross us well the new low is jdriving

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The bikers saftey comes first. Anyone who threatens the saftey of a biker should be penalized. As more heimeshe yidden begin using bikes in lieu of their minivans for local travel to shul, yeshiva, market and mikvah, the more important this becomes and not just for “hipsters” since hopefully we will all be “hipsters” when it comes to riding bikes.

    15 years ago

    blah blah blah! Bloomy got his way once again, and will continue to get his way as long as we don’t kick him out of office. now he has a reason to hire more ticket cops to sit around and be ready to pounce and any car that will come within a couple of feet from a bike

    mewhoze
    mewhoze
    15 years ago

    what happens if the bike comes toward the car? where should the car go?

    JackC
    JackC
    15 years ago

    To #5 . Roads are for ALL vehicles, including bikes. Roads such as the Thruway which is NOT for bikes are clearly marked.

    concerned
    concerned
    15 years ago

    try riding a bike, may improve your health and remove you form spending too juch time worshipping your car