Maui Bicycling League: New Safe Passing Law Critical to Safety

PC: courtesy Maui Bicycling League.

On June 20, 2018, Governor Ige signed HB2215 into law.  The Safe Passing 3 Foot law requires that motorists provide a minimum of three feet of separation when passing a bicyclist.

Thirty-six states and Washington DC already have a Safe Passing law to help make roads safer for cyclists and all road users. This law directly addresses one of the biggest hazards to cyclists and, according to the League of American Bicyclists, 44% of cyclist fatalities result from being struck from behind or sideswiped.

The law is a direct result of a huge advocacy effort led by the Hawaiʻi Bicycling League, Oʻahu’s oldest and largest cycling organization with an active chapter on Maui. More than 300 individuals and partner organizations submitted written and oral testimony in support.

“The passage of this bill highlights our commitment to ensuring that cyclists are safe on our roads, and that Hawai‘i becomes a more bicycle friendly community. I am happy to sign this bill and make Hawai‘i the 37th state in the nation to make this commitment,” said Gov. Ige during the signing ceremony.

The Safe Passing 3 Foot law amended the existing Hawaiʻi Revised Statues 291c-43, which already required safe passing. The law now specifically states that 3 feet is the minimum safe passing distance when a motorist overtakes or passes a bicyclist.

“We are very excited about this news and grateful for support from our partners, the community, and especially for HBL for leading the tremendous effort” states Saman Dias, Co-Founder and Chair of Maui Bicycling League. “This is a big step towards creating a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly Maui and ensuring that all users feel safe on our roads.”

Dias said, “The passing of HB2215 is a huge milestone for cyclists in Hawaiʻi and we are proud to be part of the initiative to improve the safety, health and sustainability of our state and our island.”