http://www.MyReader.net/misc/Colorado_Cars_vs_Cyclists_3foot_Law.txt -- PROBLEM: A law that took effect in COlorado on August 5, 2009 that requires vehicles to pass at least 3 feet to the left of a cyclist. This effectively makes the narrow roads in Colorado 3 to more than 6 feet narrower, making the problem worse! PROPOSED SOLUTION: 1. repeal the '3 foot law' 2. use federal goverment stimulus $$ to make Colorado's narrow roads safer for cyclist and vehicles by making those roads wider and straighter, and also adding bike lanes. -- -- -- Notes: begining from most recent back to begining -- September 16, 2009 Talked to Maggie of BicycleColo.org ( 303-417-1544 ) BicycleColo.org is working on: - Complete Streets - to be voted upon, 'Complete Streets' would require that any road either created or maintained, be made safe for cyclists. - no state $$ spent yet, only Fed $$ so BicycleColo.org is lobbying to have the state $$ used to make roads better for cyclists - want to prevent counties from preventing bicycle trafficon county roads, instead have the county fix the problem with the road's design so that it can safely accomodate both vehicles and bicycles. We also talked about: - on busier 2 lane roads, the 3 foot law is causing cars to queue behind a cyclists and then rush to get past. The 3 foot law is effectively making roads narrower. - vehicles do understand they can cross a double yellow to pass a cyclist and this has improved safety - a Colorado law like 'Complete Streets' did exist until recently, why not use fed stimulus $$ to fix roads, create jobs = 'Complete Streets' helps everyone. Senate Transportation Committee: CHAIR: Gibbs, Dan Cap: 303-866-4873 E-mail: dan.gibbs.senate@state.co.us V-CHAIR Williams, Suzanne Cap: 303-866-3432 E-mail: suzanne.williams.senate@state.co.us Kopp, Mike Cap: 303-866-2638 E-mail: mike.kopp.senate@state.co.us Renfroe, Scott Cap: 303-866-4451 E-mail: scott.renfroe.senate@state.co.us Romer, Chris Cap: 303-866-4852 E-mail: chris.romer.senate@state.co.us Spence, Nancy Cap: 303-866-4883 E-mail: nancyspence@qwest.net House Transportation Committee: CHAIR: McFadyen, Liane "Buffie" Cap: 303-866-2905 E-mail: mcfadyen2002@hotmail.com Baumgardner, Randy Cap: 303-866-2949 E-mail: randy.baumgardner.house@state.co.us Fischer, Randy Cap: 303-866-2917 E-mail: randyfischer@frii.com King, Steve Cap: 303-866-3068 E-mail: steve.king.house@state.co.us Looper, Marsha Cap: 303-866-2946 E-mail: marshalooper@gmail.com McNulty, Frank Cap: 303-866-2936 Merrifield, Michael Cap: 303-866-2932 E-mail: michael.merrifield.house@state.co.us Primavera, Dianne Cap: 303-866-4667 E-mail: dianne.primavera.house@state.co.us Tyler, Max Cap: 303-866-2951 E-mail: repmaxtyler@gmail.com Vaad, Glenn Cap: 303-866-2943 E-mail: glenn.vaad.house@state.co.us September 15, 2009 - talked to State Rep. Glenn Vaad about the problems caused by the '3 foot law'. Glenn stated that he opposed the bill that contained the '3 foot law' for a number of reasons. He understands that the '3 foot law' effectively makes Colorado's narrow roads 3 to more than 6 feet narrower, and there are efforts underway to fix the problem. September 10, 2009 1. Another Colorado '3 foot law' failure, at least the boy is still alive: http://bit.ly/n6OeJ 2. had a good conversation with Zane Kessler of Senator Bennet's office. Summary = the Fed stimulus $$ for transportation are now allocated and I should talk to Gov. Ritter regarding how that money is used in Colorado. And Zane will keep me in the loop regarding future transportation issues. September 9, 2009 US Senator Mark Udall - 877-768-3255 - talked US Senator Michael Bennet - 303-455-7600 - Left message and email with zane_kessler@bennet.senate.gov US Rep. Ed Perlmutter - 303 274-7944 - talked State Rep. David Balmer - 303-866-2935 State Rep. Glenn Vaad - 303-866-2943 BicycleColo.org - over the past 2 weeks, many phone calls to: 303-417-1544 No one has either answered the phone or returned the one message I left. September 4, 2009 - http://bit.ly/3EkPHs Hopefully a lot of the $2bln of extra stimulus $$ will be spent making CO roads safer for cyclists. August 31, 2009 - called BicycleColo.org ( 303-417-1544 ) they appear to be the state's bicycle advocacy group, however they are only part time, no one answered, so I left a message about wanting the '3 foot law' repealed -- forgot to put in here, some conversations in August they were about replacing the '3 foot law' with better designed, safer roads and that the narrow, limited visibility roads that are causing the problems were designed and built back when Colorado's population was less than 1 million, now it is about 5 million. --Twitter.com Colorado '3 foot law' fail http://bit.ly/SHhzs yearly avg cyclist killed in CO = 9 6 killed since @lancearmstrong 's gift to CO 8/5/09 7:45 PM Aug 29th from TweetDeck --Twitter.com Colorado's 3 foot law' fail http://bit.ly/rXShM 4 dead in 24days I say to prevent more deaths, fix COLO's narrow limited visibility roads 5:05 PM Aug 28th from TweetDeck --Twitter.com yet another Colorado '3 foot law' failure: http://bit.ly/5MSXR this makes 3 dead cyclists and 5 severely injured in past 2 weeks in CO 6:11 PM Aug 22nd from TweetDeck --Twitter.com Another Colorado '3 foot law' failure: http://bit.ly/19fxwt 10:39 AM Aug 21st from TweetDeck --Twitter.com http://bit.ly/18RXq4 = yet another Colorado 3 foot law failure. Instead why not use fed stimulus $$ to fix the roads(& the prob)+ new jobs? 6:50 AM Aug 17th from web --Twitter.com my efforts to fix the problems with Colorado's "cars must pass 3 ft to left of a cyclist" here: http://www.MyReader.net/misc/ 1:09 PM Aug 7th from TweetDeck -- begin letter to Gov Ritter Aug 7, 2009 -- via: http://www.colorado.gov/apps/oit/governor/citizen/assistanceUtility/shareOpinionGovOffice.jsf August 7, 2009 Dear Gov. Ritter, There is a much better solution to the 3 foot cars and bikes law than forcing cars to pass at least 3 feet to the left of a cyclist. Traffic began complying with the "pass 3 feet to the left of a cyclist law" when it was announced several months ago. The new law is causing problems; (1) effectively narrowing roads by 3 to 6 feet, (2) roads are being closed to cyclists because of the narrowing of roads, (3) motor vehicle traffic tends to queue behind a cyclist and then rush to get past. While roads are designed to provide good visibility and access for maintenance, bike paths have too many curves/turns and in Colorado are at best badly maintained in the summer. Fall/winter/spring = no maintenance. Almost all of Colorado's roads were designed and built before the huge jump in population that began in 1995. Roads designed for a population of up to a million Colorado residents, are now over-run with about 5 million Colorado residents. And bike paths are poorly designed for bicycle traffic, and poorly maintained. Why not get rid of a law that is causing problems and use Federal stimulus money to both create jobs and fix the underlying problem - the design of Colorado's current and future roads? Sincerely, John Bickmore 303-695-6467 www.BicycleCam.com ( in the menu, click on my face for a who am I ) cc Rep. Ed Perlmutter Senator Mark Udall Senator Michael Bennet State Senator David Balmer State Senator Glenn Vaad -- end letter to Gov Ritter Aug 7, 2009 -- begin August 4, 2009 it's been a week, no response from Colorado State Senators; - David Balmer - represents the area in Colorado where I live - Glenn Vaad - ranking member of the the Transportation Committee ( for Colorado ) -- end August 4, 2009 # another Colorado 3 foot law KIA: http://bit.ly/d7ekZ 4:34 PM Aug 3rd from TweetDeck # http://bit.ly/1m4IPm I think getting stimulus $$ to fix Colo's narrow roads is better than trying to force traffic to pass 3+ ft to left 11:14 AM Aug 3rd from TweetDeck Sent to State Senator David Balmer on July 27, 2009 David, I am John Bickmore, former; professional cyclist, chief official of the amateur and professional national championships, and board member of the United States Cycling Federation. A couple months ago, Gov. Ritter and Lance Armstrong announced that a law requiring cars to pass at least three feet to the left of a cyclist would take effect on August 4th. Most traffic immediately began complying with the three foot law. While the law has the good intention of improving cyclist safety, it has instead had the opposite effect. - Safety has decreased because traffic now clumps up behind a cyclist and then rushes to get by. - Jefferson County is considering closing 32nd from 470 to Golden to cyclists, instead of fixing problems with that poorly designed road (1) what do I need to do to prevent Armstrong and Ritter's law from taking effect? (2) there is ( or was, I cannot find it ) a Colorado law stating that road must be built and maintained to accommodate cyclists. For example, changes to Pena Blvd were done to comply with this law. Sincerely, John Bickmore 303-695-6467 www.BicycleCam.com cc Glenn Vaad -- end State Senator David Balmer July 27, 2009 --Twitter.com #Colorado #Cyclist @lancearmstrong congrats on the podium! when free time later, the 3 foot law is causing problems: http://bit.ly/GGUmZ 1:31 PM Jul 25th from web 42-1-102. Definitions. (112) "Vehicle" means any device which is capable of moving itself, or of being moved, from place to place upon wheels or endless tracks. "Vehicle" includes any bicycle, but such term does not include any wheelchair as defined by subsection (113) of this section, or any off-highway vehicle, snowmobile, any farm tractor, or any implement of husbandry designed primarily or exclusively for use and used in agricultural operations or any device moved by muscular power or moved exclusively over stationary rails or tracks or designed to move primarily through the air. -- my thoughts 42-1-102, etc. seems to allow anything other than specifically referenced in 42-1-102 to be upon a road in Colorado w/o license or insurance, worse, what is the definition, execution of; PROPER INSURANCE??? Some of Colorado's statues seem to be quitely self serving. oar maybe i r cofoozed und I ned 2 luk intoo thes. -- end