revolutionary idea..maybe
Thread started by
hybrid rida at 05.29.09 - 11:03 am
So on my way into work today, while experiencing the usual number of drivers buzzing me and generally passing way too close I got an idea.
I remember reading on the forums that there is a law that states that drivers must give cyclists 3 feet of space while passing on the left.
My thought was that if there was a way to enforce this and make this be a ticketable offense..say 50 bucks or 100.
Then if there could be a method of rigging up cameras on our bikes that would snap a picture of a car's license plate when it passes you too close so that you could also see how close it passed.
My Idea was that this would work like the red light cameras that give cars tickets...
Any thoughts..does this have merit or is it completely off base
Discuss...
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I remember when this law was being proposed (I actually don't even remember it being passed), lots of people just rolled their eyes because it's virtually unenforceable. Unless they hit you, I mean.
That would probably constitute proof that they passed within less than 3 feet. Or maybe if a cop was watching, what with their infallible expert witness eyes, they could prove that the car passed that close.
With some kind of stereo camera setup, or a laser range finder, it's
theoretically possible to measure the distance of a passing car from your bike, but it would end up being a pretty bulky setup to carry around, and you'd have to prove that everything was well-calibrated, too. I'm not even sure how a regular citizen would go about getting a ticket written based on evidence they collected themselves. If that sort of thing were possible, I'd expect to see a lot of senior citizens hanging out on quiet little streetcorners with their radar guns.
Until we're living inside an Orwellian security camera nightmare (or just London, as the case may be), there's probably not going to be any way to get someone ticketed for passing too close.
nathansnider05.29.09 - 11:41 am
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I think I've seen this done, but I can't remember where... It's probably on a thread somewhere buried.
Either way, when this happens I like to take the lane and usually they'll give me my space then.
imachynna05.29.09 - 11:43 am
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Yeah there is a thread buried somewhere where this ride rigged up cameras on his bike. Apparently it was good enough to give some motorists tickets after the fact.
Good luck finding the thread.
User105.29.09 - 2:54 pm
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It's not the law in CA, even if it should be.
See:
3 feet campaign
A good estimate is that the average adult's arm is between 2 and 3 feet long, so if you can touch the car, it's definitely too close.
danya05.29.09 - 3:00 pm
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LOL. Actually, the site I linked has the video.
danya responding to a
comment by Jazzy Phat Nastee
05.29.09 - 7:06 pm
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Handlebar-mounted cameras work good enough for me.
If they make those "Worlds Wildest Police Pursuit" videos look good, then I'm going to have a field day.
bentstrider05.30.09 - 4:59 am
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Those 3 feet please jerseys look rad. Too bad they're $60! Would be great to see Team MR do a shirt like this next year. This 3 feet please sounds like alot more practical of a campaign to launch here in CA rather than the yielding to stop signs campaign discussed previously.
User1 responding to a
comment by danya
05.30.09 - 6:14 pm
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Jerseys are fucking expensive. Then again, when you're riding multi-thousand dollar bikes, I guess that seems like spare change.
They've got t-shirts too, those are only $15.
danya responding to a
comment by User1
05.30.09 - 6:20 pm
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Small world I was just at that website...
I actually like the idea of a 3 feet law better than the Idaho Stop, although both would increase motorists awareness of cyclists.
alicestrong responding to a
comment by User1
05.30.09 - 7:10 pm
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The other day I saw a woman riding a bike with a reflector that stuck out about 18" to the left on the back of her bike.
That seemed like a pretty great idea for getting a little extra clearance.
JB05.30.09 - 8:16 pm
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