A good day for pedestrians, cyclists and equines in Houston

[marmar]

Houston officials put some distance between drivers and other vulnerable road users — at least in the rulebook.

The City Council on Wednesday approved a safe passing ordinance requiring drivers to give cyclists, pedestrians, equestrians and other non-vehicular road users three feet of space at all times. Commercial trucks will have to give the vulnerable users six feet of space if the ordinance passes.

“This is about awareness by everyone that the road is for everybody,” said Councilman Ed Gonzalez, a supporter of the ordinance.

Houston was the only major city in Texas that does not have a safe passing law, though officials have aggressively encouraged cycling in the region. The new law covers anyone not in an automobile or truck, including tow truck drivers. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://blog.chron.com/thehighwayman/2013/05/safe-passing-ordinance-coming-to-houston-council-wednesday/

[kestrel91316]

1. We could use a law like that in CA. I can't count the times that some jackass

(usually in a newish, expensive black import) feels compelled to pass me on Ventura Blvd in MY OWN LANE, coming within 18 inches of my bike, angrily honking his horn (yeah, they are almost always male) and screaming at me. And I don't even ride on the street during rush hour- just on weekends.

[happyslug]

2. Such a bill passed the California legislature, but then Governor Brown Vetoed it.

http://www.calbike.org/advocacy/safe-passing/

On Governor Brown's veto:
http://www.calbike.org/governor-vetoes-sb-1464-citing-new-concerns-about-liability/

Brown's veto message:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_1451-1500/sb_1464_vt_20120928.html