A good idea doesn't always make a good law.

Such is the case with a bill currently being considered by the Honolulu City Council. Bill 64, CD1 would require a motorist passing a bicyclist on a shared roadway to keep a safe distance — at least 3 feet. This seems like a reasonable precaution; motorists and bicyclists should, in fact, safely share the road.

But the bill raises some practical issues. Enforcing the 3-foot-distance standard, particularly on some of our more narrow and congested roadways, will no doubt be extremely difficult. In other states with similar laws, law enforcement officials have acknowledged this problem — not a good sign.

And even with a recent amendment that attempts to make the law more evenhanded — a motorist would not be cited, for example, if a cyclist was not complying with safety rules of the road — it's not clear the bill is necessary. Under Hawai'i law, there are already some straightforward rules for operators of motor vehicles and bicycles sharing the road. That law currently requires a passing vehicle to maintain a safe distance.

A better answer would be to enforce the rules on the books more vigorously, and to make a stronger effort to educate drivers and riders alike about their shared responsibilities.

Bicycle safety should also be emphasized more in the driver's license exam, which now gives only cursory attention to a driver's role in operating safely around cyclists.

As cycling becomes more popular, so will the need for safety. The recently passed Complete Streets law and the city's draft bike plan are ambitious and worthy efforts to integrate bicyclists into the state's transportation network. The plans call for more bike paths, lanes and routes, which could go a long way toward that goal. But those initiatives are expensive, long-term solutions.

For now, the best answer the most sensible one, for drivers and cyclists alike: Be careful and attentive, and follow the rules of the road.