Becca Ruiz, a 20-year-old Texan who cycled through West Marin with a dog in tow on her way to Point Arena on Tuesday, often feels trepidation on the road. “People try to squeeze by me, and it scares the crap outta me,” she said. It’s one of the reasons a state law took effect this week that requires motorists to maintain a three-foot buffer while passing bicyclists—whenever possible. (California joined over 20 other states with its implementation of the three-foot buffer rule.) But the law makes an exception when maintaining such a distance is impossible without crossing double-yellow lines—which will be true on most of West Marin’s two-lane roads. “In Marin, in general, we have a large bicycling population… [T]he entire West Marin area on the weekend is a huge hotspot for bicyclists, often large groups of them,” said Andrew Barclay, the county’s public information officer for the California Highway Patrol. “But on portions of Point Reyes-Petaluma Road, for example, you’ve got no room to provide three feet.” In those cases, the law says, “the driver shall slow to a speed that is reasonable and prudent, and may pass only when doing so would not endanger the safety of the operator of the bicycle.” Whether a motorist abides by that directive will be subject to some interpretation; Mr. Barclay said an officer would seek independent witnesses or other information to assess any claims, just as in other investigations. The fine for violating the new law is $35, or $220 if the violation results in injury to the cyclist. Though the law makes no allowances for crossing double-yellow lines—that’s always illegal—Mr. Barclay hopes people will use caution if they do veer across those markers. “We’re not everywhere all the time, and we understand that people move vehicles over those double yellows to pass. We understand that happens. Is it legal? No. We just ask if someone does that, don’t do it near a blind turn or on top of hills.” He also noted that the law is a “two-way street” for cyclists and motorists: both have long been required to pull over when five cars are backed up behind them. All the existing laws on bikes, Mr. Barclay added, are meant to protect safety; in 2012, there were 146 reported injuries and one fatality involving a bicycle accident in Marin, and 52 of the accidents took place in unincorporated areas. As for how effectively the new law will be enforced, Ms. Ruiz, who plans to bike from Point Arena back to Texas this winter, has moderate hopes. “If you say it’s a law, people will pay more attention,” she said.
New buffer rule little help to rural cyclists
