NEW YORK – Following the tragic death of Merrill Cassell -- who was struck by a bus while bicycling-- the New York State Assembly has unanimously approved a Bill requiring motorists to pass cyclists at a "safe distance".
The Assembly approval came three days after the State Senate approved the bill which was signed by New York State Governor David Paterson.
The law, to be called "Merrill's Law", is named in honour of Cassell, a former senior UN official, who was killed last November when he was sideswiped by a bus. The driver didn't receive a summons and was back driving the next day.
David Wilson, President of the Bike Walk Alliance, said: "This law gives us a right to the road, and will make riding safer for us all".
The Bill emerged from the tragedy, and the Bike Walk Alliance, along with Westchester Cycle Club and the New York Bicycle Coalition, worked with State legislators to make it happen.
New York is the latest of the 24 States in the US that require motorists pass "at a safe distance" or by three feet of bicycles.
The State Assembly balked at the three-foot requirement, but after a statewide lobbying campaign, agreed to the "safe distance" terminology, which is in force in most bike-friendly states as Oregon and Washington.
Cassell, was living in Hartsdale, a suburb of New York, following his retirement as Director of Budget at the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
He was both a long distance runner, having participated in several New York city marathons, and an ardent bicyclist who took part in nation-wide bicycle tours. |
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