On June 4th the City of Cleveland passed an ordinance that requires motorists to give cyclists 3-Feet of space on the road, commercial vehicles are required to give 6-feet. Here is a copy of the ordinance.
Thanks to Tom Livingston for putting together this piece about the new bike safety ordinance.
Background of the Ordinances
Beginning April of 2011 Bike Cleveland, utilizing the powerful voice of it’s members, proposed to council a model ordinance, similar to ones that have been passed in cities like Chicago, Cincinatti, and Fort Worth. Check out our proposal. The short of it, we are asked for city an ordinance that:
1. 3-Feet Passing: Requires motorists to maintain a three-foot passing clearance; or must move out of the cyclists lane if possible.
2. Bike Licensing: Eliminate the existing bike licensing ordinance that requires cyclists to be licensed to ride on the streets in the City of Cleveland and use the National Registry.
3. Parking, Driving, or Standing on a bike path or lane: Prohibits driving or parking on any on-street path or lane designed for use solely by bicycles or other non-motorized vehicle.
4. Intersection Safety – States that no turn by a motorist may interfere with a bicycle proceeding straight through an intersection, or a cyclists intending to turn left, to avoid what are known as “right hook” or “left hook” collisions.
A compliment to the city of Cleveland’s Complete and Green Streets Ordinance, these ordinances will help to make our existing streets safer for both motorists and cyclists. This series of ordinances are a cost effective way to make our streets safe for all users immediately. They will help transform Cleveland’s transportation infrastructure into one that accommodates all users, and encourages more people to bike more often. More biking leads to a more healthy, vibrant community.
These ordinances will give law enforcement a measurable tool for defining a safe distance for passing and sharing the road with bicycles. With more people biking there is a need to educate the public on how to best share the road and reduce the chance for serious injury.
Frequently asked questions.
Why are these ordinances needed?
A compliment to the city of Cleveland’s Complete and Green Streets Ordinance, these ordinances will help to make our existing streets safer for both motorists and cyclists. This series of ordinances are a cost effective way to make our streets safe for all users immediately. They will help transform Cleveland’s transportation infrastructure into one that accommodates all users, and encourages more people to bike more often. More biking leads to a more healthy, vibrant community.
These ordinances will give law enforcement a measurable tool for defining a safe distance for passing and sharing the road with bicycles. With more people biking there is a need to educate the public on how to best share the road and reduce the chance for serious injury.
What would the ordinances do?
If passed the vulnerable road user ordinances will:
- Strengthen the existing Rules of the Road by offering an objective measure of a safe passing distance.
- Uphold the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists and motorists by encouraging operator education.
- Support the legal concept of bicycles as vehicles.
- Move Cleveland closer to becoming bicycle-friendly city by supporting a message to safely share the road
Are the ordinances enforceable?
These ordinances would serve, primarily, as an educational tool. It would help outline safe practices for motorists and bicyclists, over being used to punish law breakers. In times of enforcement this law adds clarity for law enforcement officials to the Ohio Revised Code in defining what a “safe distance” for passing is (ORC 4511.27) and what it means for motorists and cyclists to share the road.
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