US states could make it illegal to harass cyclists

12 comments
By Richard Peace | Monday, Dec 21, 2009 9.45am

Laws forbidding the harassment of cyclists could make it into the statute books if plans in Mississippi and Los Angeles come to fruition – following in the wake of similar legislation passed in other US states and cities in 2009.

Mississippi cyclists have been pushing for such bike-friendly legislation for three years, and next year they anticipate success at last. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, a similar law seems to be making steady progress ahead of a crucial vote in January 2010.      

If passed, the Mississippi bill will give riders protection from harassment by motorists, but it will also set out responsibilities for cyclists, such as using hand signals, having the proper equipment (ie. lights) and not riding more than two abreast.

Rich Adair, former president of the state's Jackson Metro cycling club, said harassment was common. "We're competing for the same space, and cars see us as competition," he said. "We have a problem with cars swerving at us or having items thrown at us."

One criticism of the proposed law is that it would fail to define a legal minimum passing distance – something that is already in force elsewhere in the US  (see below). 

Los Angeles City Council's transportation committee has also been considering a 'bicyclist anti-harassment ordinance', which is likely to be voted on in January 2010.

A good summary of the need for such a law came from council member Bill Rosendahl, who said: "... As more people use bicycles, there has been an increase in the number of clashes between cyclists and automobiles. Bicyclists report that they have been bumped off the road, screamed at by drivers and had objects thrown at them. Occasionally, these situations have resulted in serious verbal altercations and physical assaults."

Across the US, pro-cycling laws have been bolstered in several other states this year. In May, the Colorado Bike Safety Bill was passed, which made harassing cyclists – harassing is defined as 'projecting any missile', and that can be an object or substance – a Class 2 misdemeanour and requires motorists to give cyclists 3ft of clearance when passing.

The legislation says cyclists must ride as far right as they feel is safe, and may pass one another or ride side-by-side if they are not impeding normal traffic movement.

The town of Columbia, Missouri also passed anti-harassment laws in 2009. In addition to the 'missile' offence there are also laws relating to threatening behaviour, sounding a horn or shouting and any other conduct that 'creates a risk of death or serious physical injury' to a cyclist. Harassment here is classed as a Class A misdemeanor.

For those not familiar with US law, misdemeanors are a lesser form of criminal offence (felonies being the more serious). However, Columbia's Class A misdemeanor offence carries a stiff fine or up to a year in jail.

Have you suffered harassment simply because you are a cyclist – whichever side of the Atlantic you are? Would protective laws help, and if so what kind? Let BikeRadar know your views below...

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User Comments

There are 12 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 12 of 12 comments

  • Excellent. It's about time cyclistism joined racism, sexism, fatism and all the others. Persecution is persecution, whoever it involves.

  • I've cycled extensively in Europe and North America. The only time I've experienced this kind of treatment was in the US (and never in Canada, where I've done more riding than in the US).

    It is great that they are making new laws to address this behavior, but I hope that they also spend some effort to educate drivers, because that would probably have more direct effects than the laws will have.

  • Lets not forget that is America, this is the UK. Where killing someone in your car results in a very low sentence and not even a permanent ban from driving. And the road laws we do have are not upheld. If we actually had police on the streets that upheld the law for dangerous driving that would be a start. Not saying other countries are any more considerate, but the consequence are higher and more likely to be imposed. In this country I have never been randomly stopped in a car. In Australia I was stopped lots for spot alcohol checks, everyone sticks to the speed more. And for holidays you get double points on your licence. Basically your on your own so look after yourself.

  • Crikey - driving on holiday is an offence?

  • I think this is a great idea if it can be enforced. I recently cycled around New Zealand and I had almost daily abuse, cars driving at me and items thrown at me. May be they should look at imposing similar laws! JB

  • Ah yes, because they are law abiding citizens aren't they? I'm sure they won't shout any abuse as they speed past, drinking a beer off their tit's on coke.

    When roadies stop jumping red lights, riding in large groups, start using hand signals and having a little more respect for motorists then the motorist will give them a little more respect. Maybe they should look at making it illegal for the roadies to act like bell-ends.

    Bonjour

  • Just yesterday some young men suddenly shouted loudly at me when passing in a car - I'm sure they thought it was a good joke, but pretty dangerous on busy city roads. These things happen here in the UK all the time; never ever in Continental Europe.

    The UK as cycling hell - US-style car culture combined with Italian-style macho driving speeds

  • Yes, I live in Los Angeles, the original capital of car culture, and I have been harassed on my bike many times. I recently experienced a fortunate coincidence, and was harassed with an LAPD officer on hand. However, because what the motorist did (lean out of their car and scream in my ear) is not technically illegal, nothing could be done. I saw the clear need for this type of legislation.

    I wrote a full account, as well as some of my thoughts on what individuals and governments should be doing about this.

    Please here it here. http://bit.ly/5VH1SX

  • @Monsieur La Papadici - I think you'll find that cyclist in large groups are quite legal, especially when only two abreast.

    There is no law preventing 3 (or more) horse riding in single file on the roads, how is a group of cyclist any different, except drivers generally show less care when passing cyclist! What about tractors and trailers they average less speed than a group of cyclists and are harder to pass - never seen a driver hurling abuse or swerving at a tractor driver in a threatening way before - hmm why would that be now?

    We need the same laws protecting cyclist as are already in place in most of Europe, coupled with driver education on the National Cycling Standards in the UK. If drivers were aware that cyclist rights as the same as any other vehicle on the road then maybe we'd all get along better.

  • @Monsieur La Papadici

    I swear to god, did you not read the article? It actually states that part of the various legislation about to be/ already passed, is that is places minimum requirements on the behaviour of and standard of road use of all parties.

    Singling out groups of cyclists en mass is idiotic, as it is to do so any other group of road user. I experience appalling driving by at least one bus driver EVERY day, but I don't go around saying 'fkin bus drivers'? No. Your issue is with the authorities not sufficiently enforcing the laws that govern road use.

    Fool.

    And yes I'm narked.

    Fool.

  • How about we make all learner drivers take a cycling test? Or at least a cyling awareness test if they're physically unable to cycle.

  • Mountain Nic

    Maybe you should try driving a tractor on a busy road sometime the hand gestures received are rarley complementary, no people do not swerve at tractors as odds on they will come off worse

    if you want to add a little exitement to your life try turning right off a busy A road with a tractor with a large overhanging load I have had to sit on the caragway with cars passing on either side

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