By Cynthia Lee
Originally published in UCLA Today

Mounted on the back of BruinBuses and on Daily Bruin newspaper racks around campus are posters for the campaign, “Give Cyclists 3 feet…Drive Bike-Friendly.” The posters remind drivers that bicyclists have equal rights on the road and need a three-foot minimum safe passing distance. According to UCLA Transportation, more than 2,000 cyclists commute to campus everyday.

UCLA’s ‘Drive Bike-Friendly’ safety campaign is aligned with the efforts of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who last summer joined cyclists and city officials to unveil the “Give Me 3” poster. Last year, the mayor fell off his bike and broke his elbow on Venice Boulevard when a taxicab making a turn suddenly pulled in front of him.

The bicycle coalition has also worked with Mayor Villaraigosa to produce a YouTube public service announcement calling for improved bike safety throughout Los Angeles.

Cycling advocates have joined the mayor in calling for a state law to require that drivers give cyclists three feet when passing. It’s the law in such states as Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois and Oregon. In 2006 similar legislation was introduced but did not pass in the California legislature.

“California law currently requires drivers to give a ‘safe passing’ distance, but drivers may not know what safe means,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “Three feet is a safe passing distance and will help keep bicyclists out of the door zone.”

Published: Wednesday, March 02, 2011

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