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Community Corner

Bike Event in Pacific Palisades Encourages Safe Moves

Participants learn about the latest bicycle legislation Saturday and how to improve road safety.

A group of residents  joined state Sen. Fran Pavley, Assemblywoman Julia Brownley and bike safety group Safe Moves at Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades on Saturday.

“The main purpose of this event today is to help raise community awareness for bike safety,” said Kara Seward, a representative from Pavley’s office.

Safe Moves is a nonprofit organization recognized as the leading authority in the country in educating the public about traffic safety. Participants had the opportunity to ride in a mini city built for children, learn safe riding skills and were encouraged to wear helmets at all times. After finishing the course, participants were given a certificate of completion.

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Attendees also received an update about current legislative efforts aimed at increasing bike safety.

“Her actual bills have not been presented yet but the Senate bill will most likely go through the transportation committee, which [Pavley] is a part of,” Seward said.

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Under the current law, a driver overtaking another vehicle or a bicycle moving in the same direction is required to pass to the left at a safe distance without interfering with the operation of the car  or bicycle, subject to certain limitations and exceptions.

Violating the current provision is an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding $100 for a first conviction and up to a $250 fine for a third and subsequent conviction occurring within one year of two or more prior infractions.  

The amended bill (SB 910) would change this provision as to overtaking a bicycle by requiring the driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle that is moving in the same direction to pass to the left at a safe distance, at a minimum distance of three feet and at a speed not exceeding 15 miles per hour faster than the bicycle. The bill would make a violation of this provision an infraction punishable by a $250 fine.

Furthermore, the bill would make it a misdemeanor or felony if a person operates a motor vehicle in violation of the above requirement and that conduct proximately causes significant injury or death to the bicycle operator, according to the amended proposition. 

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