Biking safety measure deferred
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writer
City Council members have sent a bicycle safety bill back to the repair shop for retooling.
Action was deferred yesterday on Bill 64-09. It would require motorists to maintain a distance of at least 3 feet while overtaking a bicyclist. It also would make it illegal for a motorist or passengers of a motor vehicle from throwing or "intentionally projecting" an object at a bicyclist.
Honolulu Police Maj. Thomas Nitta said the department appreciates the intent of the bill but that sufficient measures are on the books.
Further, he said, "we probably would have a difficult time enforcing such an ordinance."
City Deputy Prosecutor Lori Nishimura said someone making a complaint would not only have to be able to provide a license, but also identify the driver of the offending vehicle.
"If it's not going to be enforced, I'm not sure how effective it's going to be," she said.
Several members of the bicycling community testified in favor of the measure.
Manoa resident Raymond Tabata, 65, said he often bikes to his job Downtown. "I take every precaution I can so drivers can see me," he said, pointing to his fluorescent yellow shirt.
Despite that, he said, "Every so often a driver will come a little too close (for) comfort, like within inches of my handle bar."
Tabata said he also supports amending the bill to include requiring that cyclists comply with applicable traffic laws.
Mitchell Nakagawa, executive director of the Hawai'i Bicycling League, pointed out that 15 states and a number of municipalities have 3-foot rules.
Councilman Charles Djou said the existing law requiring cars to pass "within a safe distance" is too vague.
"As long as you didn't hit them, you've passed at a safe distance," Djou said. "I don't think that's right."
Even if police were not able to enforce a 3-foot law, passage of the bill alone would improve bicycle safety, Djou said.
"Telling the public that when you pass a bicyclist you should try to give the bicyclist 3 feet, that alone I believe would reduce the amount of accidents and near misses we have."
