Vetoed State Bike Safety Law Passes in Austin

Posted by: Nate Berg

26 October 2009 - 6:00am

The Austin City Council has approved a bill that requires motorists to keep a three-foot distance from bicyclists on the road. The same bill was vetoed by Texas Governor Rick Perry four months ago.

Violations of the ordinance would result in a fine of up to $500.

"The ordinance would be the first of its kind in a major Texas city. Stallings said BikeTexas is working with other cities, but refused to disclose which ones. Stallings did say, however, that he has had cities with fewer than 25,000 people and some with larger populations than Austin contact BikeTexas about creating ordinances.

'I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't 20 cities that have a safe-passing bill soon,' [Robin Stallings, the executive director of BikeTexas] said."

Full Story: Vetoed bicycle bill is now law — in Austin

Source: The Houston Chronicle, October 23, 2009