Three feet is equal to the size of a giant teddy bear or the average height of a 3-year-old child. It’s the length of a guitar or a baseball bat. It’s how high coast redwoods can grow in a year.

The new law will give street cyclists more breathing room. Now that kids are back in school, be aware of sidewalk cyclists, too. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

Three feet is also the distance that California motorists must allow bicyclists when overtaking or passing after Sept. 16, when the “Three Feet for Safety Act” by Assemblyman Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) takes effect.

“We need a little wiggle room,” West Hollywood bicyclist Kimberly Winick said.

As a member of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, she said the law is something that bicyclists have been advocating for over the last few years. Winick said it should help motorists and bicyclists cohabitate.

“If cars will give bicyclists a little more deference … then bicycling will become safer and more people will go out and do it,” she said.

Even if a passing car does not collide with a bicyclist, the bow wave created by the vehicle can create problems for bicyclists, particularly with bad road conditions, Winick said. She said some motorists believe that riders should always be near the curb, unaware that bicyclists are sometimes dodging potholes and other road hazards.

Not only will the law help alleviate some public safety issues, it should also give riders some peace of mind, as witnessing a car unsafely tailgating a bicyclist is not completely uncommon in Los Angeles.

“It certainly happens,” Winick added.

She said the buffer zone will also be helpful since some municipalities in Los Angeles County prohibit riding bikes on the sidewalk. According to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, riding on the sidewalk in L.A. is unlawful if a person has a “willful or wanton disregard” for the safety of others.

“On the road, cars and bikes have equal rights. …On the sidewalk, pedestrians absolutely have the right of way,” Winick said.

Colin Bogart, the bicycle coalition’s programs director, said the state does not have a law that pertains to riding on the sidewalk, leaving that task up to each individual city. In West Hollywood, individuals can ride on the sidewalk, but only if there is not a bike lane on that particular street, he said.

Winick said sidewalk riding is not always safer either. She said motorists are generally looking for pedestrians when making turns, and it can be difficult to see bicyclists who are usually moving much more quickly.

“So your risk of getting hit by a car making a right hand turn [is increased],” Winick said.

However, Bogart said sidewalk riding is “tangential” to what the three-foot rule is about. He said the law will help educate people about the rights of bicyclists while addressing the problem of motorists passing bicyclists way too close in some instances.

“Ask any bicyclist and they can relay a story when they were passed too close,” Bogart said.

He noted that motorists can still go within three feet, but only if road conditions make the buffer impossible. In those cases, motorists still must slow down and pass cautiously, Bogart said. Previously, the only guidance to motorists was to pass bicyclists when it is safe to do so, he said.

Bogart said the coalition, with the support of then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, launched a campaign in 2008 or 2009 to enact the three-foot rule. He said it was finally signed into law last year.

“It’s just one more tool, if you will, that will enable a larger populous to get on bikes and ride, whether it be for fun or transportation,” Bogart added.

Winick helps train riders who participate in the AIDS/Life Cycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. She said the training focuses on safety and teaches riders how to be good ambassadors for the bicycling community.

Aside from motorists driving too close, riders must also keep a look out for people opening doors in their path, Winick said. She said motorists should check their mirrors and open their doors gently. In previous interviews, bicycle advocates have advised motorists to physically turn around and look behind them before opening their doors.

Winick encouraged anyone with an interest in riding to get a bicycle, learn how to ride safely, attend CicLAvia events and get in touch with the bicycle coalition. For information, visit www.la-bike.org.