Safe Passing Law
HPR, and other Texas roads, would be safer for cycling if motorists would slow down and pass cyclists with a safe margin. Florida and Utah have such a law; California is considering one. Last session, the Texas Senate failed to pass a Safe Passing bill by only four votes. This session, we're making another run at it.
Safe passing requires motorists to slow to 45 mph and give three feet of clearance. If there's some oncoming traffic that makes it unsafe for the motorist to pass, then they just put on the brake until it becomes safe. It's sad that you need to spell out a common sense law like that, but I guess good laws really only enforce common sense.
I have an idea. Let's pass a law requiring cyclists to come to a complete stop when they reach a stop sign or red light, then wait for the light to turn green or at least look both ways before proceeding. It's sad that you have to spell out a common sense law like that, but I guess good laws really only enforce common sense.
Hi Henry: you've already got the law you want.
Then somebody should explain it to the 6 cyclists who came flying off Crumley Ranch Road, turning right onto HPR, directly in front of me the other day. They seemed to think the stop sign did not apply to them.
Cyclists would get a lot more respect from motorists if they would stop exempting themselves from traffic laws they find inconvenient.
Happy Holidays, all. I hate those law-breakers on the roads too. I see people breaking traffic laws constantly. I think motorists as a group would get a lot more respect if they would actually stop at stop signs (instead of rolling through like 99% of them do) and obey the Basic Speed Law and otherwise not drive like maniacs. Remember, we as car drivers are all ambassadors and our behavior as motorists has an impact on what people think of us!
The problem with passing cyclists safely and LEGALLY on Hamilton is a motorist must slow down behind the cyclist and cruise along at their speed, until the lanes are marked for legal passing and the motorist has a good distance of sight in front of them. Now how many stretches of Hamilton does that sound like to you?
Reality in doing this means motorists can either creep along and slow down traffic and bare with being honked at, while they wait for the road to allow legal passing. Otherwise, they too are breaking the law. How many people would like to be in a 15 car bumper to bumper traffic while a cyclist up ahead chugs on by?
Maybe cyclists should choose better roads that are safer for them to ride on, that perhaps has a shoulder or bike lane. I too am a cyclist, but I'll take a shoulder over trying to fight a car for a lane. I think they win every time.
The problem with passing cyclists safely and LEGALLY on Hamilton is a motorist must slow down behind the cyclist and cruise along at their speed, until the lanes are marked for legal passing and the motorist has a good distance of sight in front of them. Now how many stretches of Hamilton does that sound like to you?
Reality in doing this means motorists can either creep along and slow down traffic and bare with being honked at, while they wait for the road to allow legal passing. Otherwise, they too are breaking the law. How many people would like to be in a 15 car bumper to bumper traffic while a cyclist up ahead chugs on by?
Maybe cyclists should choose better roads that are safer for them to ride on, that perhaps has a shoulder or bike lane. I too am a cyclist, but I'll take a shoulder over trying to fight a car for a lane. I think they win every time.
Thanks for the comment, crazywin. Look, common sense trumps all: If you're in a car behind a cyclist going 15 mph, pass him. Those double yellow lines are great indicators for unsafe passing -- when we're all going highway speed. If you're behind a car going 50, it's going to take 15 seconds or for you to get around him and back into your lane, and the double yellow lines tell you when you can't do that safely. But when you're behind a bike, it will take only a couple of seconds to pass him. If you don't see a car coming, it's safe to do that almost anywhere along HPR. So do the safe, common sense thing.