The wheels came off a bill aimed at making roads safer for cyclists Thursday, when lawmakers worried about driver safety added an amendment that would prohibit bikes from traveling two abreast in some cases.
The change takes away a privilege cyclists have enjoyed for four years and will leave them “staring at the posterior of the guy in front of you . . . in some of the most beautiful places in Colorado,” lamented frustrated bill sponsor Rep. Mike Merrifield.
On lanes that are 12 feet wide or less and where there is a double yellow line, cyclists would not be allowed to ride side-by-side under the amendment offered by freshman Rep. Randy Baumgardner, R-Sulphur Springs.
“The thing is safety, not only for bicyclists but also for the motoring public,” Baumgardner said.
While cycling deaths and injuries are dropping across the country, they’ve increased in Colorado in the past two years, lawmakers said.
Senate Bill 148 kept many of its other provisions intact.
Drivers would have to give cyclists at least a 3-foot berth when passing.
Cyclists could ride farther from the shoulder than now allowed.
And vehicles could cross a double yellow line when passing a bike.
That last detail irked Rep. Marsha Looper, R-Calhan.
“This bill is actually an accident waiting to happen,” Looper said. “A double yellow says you should not be passing. Period.”
Her amendment to remove that provision failed.
Eleven other states have passed similar legislation. The bipartisan bill passed its first floor vote in the House but must come back for final approval.
Several lawmakers expressed concern about the legislation, which ran into resistance on both sides of the aisle.
Merrifield, an avid cyclist and Manitou Springs Democrat, said he doesn’t understand it.
“Too many people haven’t spent enough time on a bicycle,” Merrifield said. “It’s just a primal fear or distrust of cyclists. It’s very disappointing.”
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com
