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The city council dropped the proposal. We stopped these changes and kept our current rights on the road. Thank you for staying loud.

February 17, 2015

Proposed Oklahoma City 3 Foot Law Targets Bicyclists

Proposed Oklahoma City 3 Foot Law Targets Bicyclists

🏆 Won — 131 supporters Verified

Final supporters

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Paul P.
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Someone
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Trish w.
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Shelley R.
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Kenneth G.
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Susanne G.
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Shaun C.
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Brian D.
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rev l.
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Someone
+121 more
PK
Started by Pete Kramer 11 years, 7 months ago
Honorable Mayor Cornett and the Oklahoma City Council:


As a bicyclist who rides in Oklahoma City, I am opposed to proposed changes to Oklahoma City Ordinance §32-479.


One change will require bicyclists to stay 3 feet away from other vehicles. The reason given suggests this is needed at intersections however the language of the proposed ordinance does not reflect this, and as written it could be interpreted to require bicyclists to move out of the way of traffic.


This is in conflict with state and city traffic laws §47-11-1208 and §32-491 which place the responsibility for safe passing on the driver of the overtaking vehicle.


An additional proposed change prohibits lane splitting (filtering), which is already banned in state traffic laws §47-11-1103 and §47-11-1205. Passing the revised ordinance is unnecessarily redundant as state laws are enforceable in Oklahoma City under §47-15-101.


To this end, I request three things:


• Please do not enact these conflicting and confusing changes as currently submitted to the City Council.

• Please review existing statutes and ordinances prior to creating enforcement problems for our city police.

• Please reach out to the bicycling community for input on how to correct a perceived problem where none may exist.


Thank you for the efforts to make Oklahoma City a Bicycle Friendly Community.

Updates

January 11, 2015

The momentum is undeniable. This ordinance draft must be reconsidered now.

Reached 100 supporters

January 11, 2015

30 Comments

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Pete Kramer · petition starter
11 years ago Featured

On Jan 13 the proposed ordinance change was revised to clarify the intent of the 3 foot separation by bicyclists to be required when passing a vehicle. This is a minor change which attempts to equalize responsibility between two very unequal vehicles by weight and power. In a collision the bicyclist always looses. Existing ordinances place the burden of care and responsibility on the larger, heavier, more powerful and very much more destructive motor vehicle. Changing them is a fatal mistake. I'm still opposed as introduced and revised.

K
Kenneth Graham
11 years ago Featured

Without a doubt OKC in recent years has become a better place to use a bicycle for transportation (school, work, errands, etc) but this proposed ordinace would be a step backwards in promoting a healthy life style while improving motor vehicle congestion. I suggest Mayor Cornett and City Council members review the book BIKENOMICS for a quick study on the overall benefits of bicycling.

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Brian Decker
11 years ago Featured

I feel the wording of some sections in the proposed changes to the city ordinance put me in danger as a cyclist. I also feel the changes could mean that insurance companies could avoid covering costs resulting from an accident with a motor vehicle.

M
Michael Goad
11 years ago Featured

Responsibility to maintain 3' between bicycles and motor vehicles should be squarely on the motor vehicle drivers. If a mistake is made the cyclist will end up losing in this confrontation. I'm living proof of it and still recovering over 4 months later.

M
Moni Bieser
11 years ago Featured

At this time, with the current 3 foot law, to many motorists come to close to me when I am out riding my bicycle. I don't see, how this new proposal will help any cyclist, that almost gets side swiped by people in cars!

A
Angie Nichols
11 years ago Featured

Very Important. I ride and you wouldn't believe the drivers that yell at us even though we are almost in the ditch.

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Richard Geary
11 years ago

I disagree with the proposed change to the meaning of the three-foot minimum vehicle-distance requirement and whose responsibility it is to maintain it [Oklahoma City proposed code, Tuesday, January 13, City Council meeting]. If an automobile drives beside a bicycle without leaving three feet [as per state law], as I understand it this would be in compliance with the new city code but NOT the state law. The state law places the responsibility where [I believe] it should be: on the motor vehicle driver. The city code [as proposed] seems to state that the [new] responsibility rests with the bicyclist. At best, this presents unnecessary confusion because of the differing state and municipal assignment of responsibility. Also, the bicyclist, if passed by an automobile, runs into increased danger because of the "safe" avoidance of road hazards due to debris which accumulates near the curb or edge of the road; these hazards tend not to approach the same level of importance [from the automobile driver's point of view] that are very real to a safe-riding bicyclist [storm drains, glass, etc.]. In addition, the bicyclist would be unable to maintain the three-foot distance if approached from the rear by a faster automobile. Clearly a distance of less than three-feet would be dangerous, but only the higher-powered automobile's driver could prevent it. The appropriate [I believe] place for the bicyclist is [per state law] "safely" in the right-third of the right-most lane that serves his destination [consistently-applied: slower traffic should "stay to the right"]. Bicycle Traffic Safety Course [More training needed; free instruction available].

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Alice Pattillo
11 years ago

Please help to direct our city to being more bicycle friendly instead of imposing obstacles. Let's move Oklahoma forward not backwards.