Tag Archives: bicycle safety laws

The Austin Police Department announced that it would begin to target motorists that fail to provide a cushion when passing cyclists on the street as part of its bicycle safety initiative. Police will be targeting both motorists and cyclists that break the law, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said, according to KTCB-TV in Austin. “This is your warning. Starting on the 8th [of May] we will have undercover officers…if you are stopped by a member of the APD under this initiative for failure to obey the passing rule, you will be cited,” Acevedo told reporters. The law in Austin requires motorists to leave a three to six foot cushion while passing cyclists. If there is no room, the motorist must wait. “We are going to see some new strides in enforcing it consistent with other measures that have been taken in other cities, as everyone recognizes that we really need…
Read More »

Legislators and officials from various federal agencies met in Florida for the Southeastern Bike Safety Summit at the Tampa Convention Center. Some of the most powerful figures in the transportation agencies put their minds together to think of new ways to make the roads safer for cyclists as well as motorists and pedestrians. The Tampa summit is the first of two conventions, with the second one held in Minneapolis on April 29. “This year we decided we really needed to step up our safety agenda when it comes to cycling,” said US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Over the last several years the Federal Highway Administration has invested $3.9 billion in bicycle and pedestrian projects nationwide–$324 million coming to Florida.” LaHood hopes the new bicycle safety campaign will be as effective as the “Click It or Ticket” campaign launched in the 1980s and yielded successful results. 86 percent of drivers now…
Read More »