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Authorities didn't cite the driver who hit David Meek on March 6th with violating Tennessee's three-foot law. Today, Governor Phil Bredesen weighed-in on the subject.
For those not familiar with the three-foot law, the provision makes passing a bike without giving a cyclist at least 3 feet of space a Class C misdemeanor.
Lack of enforcement of this law came to light because of the Meek case, and other incidents... like the one this weekend on Birchwood Pike. That's where Ed Rusk says the driver of a Ford Explorer that came in contact with his bike wasn't cited either.
So, we asked Governor Phil Bredesen today, if he'd consider committing money from the Governor's Highway Safety fund to an education and enforcement campaign.
He responded "with all the emphasis on physical fitness and getting outside and exercising, your going to see more people not fewer people riding bicycles places and inevitably they're going to mix with cars on the road, I'll go back and look at that, it really is a good idea."
Bredesen signed the bill into law two-years ago after a drugged driver struck and killed a cyclist riding in Maryville.
The Governor's Highway Safety Fund works with the National Highway Safety Administration to implement road safety programs, including bicycle safety. Programs administered by the Governor's Highway Safety Office are 100% federally funded.
As for the Birchwood Pike case, I'm told the officer has now taken a written statement from Rusk and follow-up investigative work continues.
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