In conjunction with Bike To Work Month, Cascade’s education arm has launched a new campaign to spread the word about “Giving Cyclists Three Feet of Space”. I’d seen a few posters and bumper stickers around town, but it was on my bike commute to last weekend’s CTS ride that I saw the first billboard on South Dearborne, a major cycling artery into downtown Seattle.
The campaign is funded jointly by federal transportation grants and a generous donation from Group Health (the title sponsor of Cascade’s STP ride), in an effort to encourage motorists to modify their driving behavior when approaching cyclists. The Washington State driver’s manual mandates allowing at least three feet of space when passing a bicycle.
While not ready to run off and have three feet tattooed on my knuckles, the launch of the new campaign was the kick in the …er, tires… that I needed to finally put in the paperwork for our “Share the Road” plates.