This will sound like piling on the California Bicycle Coalition, but so be it.
They and the city of Los Angeles are sponsoring a bill (S.B. 910) that specifies the distance motorists must keep from bicyclists, that they must slow down when approaching. It imposes fines, and if a violation of the law led to an accident caused by the motorists it would be treated as a misdemeanor.
Sounds fine. Who can object? Maybe the California Automobile Association? Who knows?
Here’s the problem: it’s unenforceable.
When was the last time you or you observed a car being driven with its windshield wipers on and its headlights off? When did you ever hear of anyone being cited for not have their headlights on? When was the last time you saw someone driving talking on a cell phone?
Yesterday I saw some young may riding on a bicycle at about +15 mph, no hands, texting on Marsh Street approaching Broad at dusk! Where was the law enforcement?
You can’t legislate common sense and courtesy, and the police generally have more pressing issues to contend with. (Like protecting SLO’s binding arbitration?)
There… . that’s off my chest.
