House passes bill requiring 3-foot safety gap when passing bicyclists

LANSING — Michigan motorists would have to leave at least a three-foot safety gap when passing bicyclists under a bill approved Wednesday by the state House.

“Requiring motorists to maintain a safe distance while passing a bicyclist ensures safety for both the cyclist and motorist,” said Rep. Holly Hughes, R-Montague, who sponsored House Bill 4265.

“The number of bicycle fatalities is on the rise and this legislation is an attempt to reverse that trend.”

The bill, which passed in a 98-10 vote with bipartisan support and would take effect Aug. 1, 2019, now moves to the Senate, which has been considering a similar bill requiring a 5-foot distance.

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Michigan bicycle fatalities doubled from 19 in 2012 to 38 in 2016, and about one quarter of those accidents involved motorists passing cyclists, according to a report from the House Fiscal Agency.

On June 7, 2016, nine bicyclists were hit by a driver near Kalamazoo. Five of the cyclists died.

The bill requires a 3-foot gap when passing cyclists, or, if that is not practical given road conditions, a safe distance at a safe speed.

Motorists who violate the guideline would be guilty of a civil infraction and subject to a fine and the loss of three points on their driving records.

Michigan is one of only 11 states with no law specifying a standard for a vehicle passing a bicycle, the report said.

In 2015, the City of Grand Rapids passed an ordinance requiring a five-foot distance. Other cities have followed suit, while some require a three-foot distance.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.