A new Austin city ordinance aimed at keeping cyclists safe goes into effect Monday. The City Council recently passed an ordinance that requires motorists to give a three foot clearance when passing a bicyclist, runner, pedestrian or someone in a wheelchair.
"We are so excited about the new three-foot clearance ordinance," said Robin Stallings, executive director of Bike Texas. "Hopefully it will save lives in Austin, and it will generate awareness with sharing the road with everybody."
State law requires motorists to pass other vehicles “at a safe distance”, and cycling and safety advocates argue that frequently motorists are not cited for hitting a cyclist or pedestrian. However, the overall purpose of the ordinance is prevention.
"It’s more important that we save lives than how many tickets get written," said Stallings.
Peyton Murray, an avid cyclist who has had his share of accidents, does not support the new law and questions how it will be enforced.
"I've been hit by a car on a road bike," said Murray. "A car ran a four-way stop and hit me as I was going through with right of way."
"Something like this sounds good on paper, it sound good in theory, but I don’t know if it is really enforceable and who knows what three-feet is," he said.
The ordinance also requires commercial vehicles to provide a 6-foot passing cushion.
Police say they plan to enforce the law.
