Four years ago I remember almost being hit by three motorists on one of my rides.  I also remember how angry I felt.  It was that anger, that frustration, that feeling that I could have been killed that moved me to do something to change things and make riding a bicycle safer, not only for myself, but maybe for others as well.  That was when I decided to place the “3 Feet Please” message on the back of a jersey to help remind motorists that they need to give cyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing from the rear. 

Over these four years I have been able to place more than 5000 jerseys in the hands of cyclists around the world.  They wear the jerseys when riding and report back to me that “more motorists are giving them more space more often.”  In other words, it works and in doing so it has saved lives.

In addition to spreading the message and educating motorists, the “3 Feet Please” campaign has helped several cities and states move forward in passing legislation to make the “at least 3 feet clearance rule” the law.  We now have 19 states that offer this protection to cyclists while several more states consider it.

But the time has come for me to pass this campaign on to someone else who can take it to the next level.  So, I am actively searching for that person or organization that is passionate about saving cyclists’ lives, and possesses the resources and skills required to carry on the work.  I welcome opportunities to discuss the transfer of my trademark rights and products.

My remaining stock of jerseys will be sold and not replenished.  The continued sale of jerseys will be the responsibility of the new trademark owner.

I have tremendously enjoyed my work over the past four years.  And I know there is so much more that can and must be done to help make riding a bicycle safer in America and around the world.  I hope to find the right person, persons or organization to carry the “3 Feet Please” torch.

If you are interested in talking with me about this great opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact me at 1.800.761.0907 or joe@3feetplease.com.

If you want to purchase one of the remaining “3 Feet Please” or “1 Metre Please” jerseys, please go to www.3FeetPlease.com and place your order.  If you insert, “GIFT” in the coupon space when checking out, you will save $5.00.

Thank you one and all for all your help over the past four years…we made a difference.

Be Predictable.  Be Visible.  Enjoy the Ride.

Joe

Dear Governor Brown:

On your desk sits SB910.  And it is my hope that you will make it a law for California’s thousands of cyclists and their families.  Here’s why you should make this happen.

Nineteen other states have seen the wisdom of adopting 3 foot clearance laws.  Not one of them did it so law enforcement could write more tickets.  All of them did it to give their respective cycling communities a valuable tool, based in law, to educate motorists on how to safely pass a cyclist from the rear.  Thankfully, most motorists are very respectful and give cyclists more than 3 feet when passing.  But, there are a good number of motorists who need help in understanding how to pass a cyclist safely.  Indeed, they welcome the help because they want to do the right thing and not hurt anyone.  And the best thing we can do to help those motorists is to make the references within their understanding as concrete as possible—at least 3 feet.  The clearer we can make the standards of behavior for motorists the better and the safer our roads will become for all travelers.

Governor, this is one of those moments when you have to rise above the noise and focus on doing what is right for California.  For your state’s cyclists.  And for all road users.  Adopting this law will not cause major gridlock and it most certainly won’t bring more rear end collisions.  There is no evidence whatsoever of any of this happening in any of the other 19 states.  By adopting this law, you will be making your roads safer for those who choose to get around on two wheels.  And in doing so, you will also encourage those who have avoided riding a bike because they fear getting hit from behind to give the sport a try.  And that will make riding a bicycle in California even safer when the numbers grow and motorists become all the more familiar with riders on the roads.  The research is strong on this.  And the opportunity is great.

The bottom line is this Governor Brown: ask yourself, “Will a law requiring motorists to give cyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing from the rear save lives?”  Governor, the answer is yes.  A million times yes. 

Governor, you may be wondering why I am offering my thoughts on your state’s affairs.  Four years ago I was nearly killed when a car buzzed me in Tallahassee, Florida.  Right then and there I decided to act.  I decided to put the message “3 Feet Please” on the back of my cycling jersey and I noticed more cars were giving me more space more often when I was wearing the jersey.  Long story short, I have more than 5000 jerseys out there on cyclists’ backs getting the polite, clear and bold message out to motorists.  I use all the proceeds to buy media like decals etc., to push the message even further.  Cities and counties around the nation are placing them on their government vehicles.  The “3 Feet Please” campaign has become an international grassroots initiative to educate motorists and save lives.  And the great news is…it’s working.  

Please, Governor Brown, make this happen and I assure you, not only will lives be saved, but lives will be enriched as will your state.    

This is the right time to do the right thing for the right people.

Thank you Governor. 

Joseph Mizereck

Founder

The “3 Feet Please” Campaign

916 Shadowlawn Drive

Tallahassee, Florida 32312

1.800.761.0907

joe@3feetplease.com

www.3Feetplease.com

“Focused on saving lives.”

First, the bad news: Bike Victoria and a couple other Austalian bike clubs think that a move to enact a one metre law would be a backward step for cycling in Australia. I have heard all the arguments before, but in the end it all comes down to this: saving lives. Will a law that gives motorists a clear understanding, a clear frame of reference on the amount of space they need to give cyclists when passing from the rear save lives? The answer is yes. Thankfully, most motorists already give cyclists more than enough space when passing us from the rear. They are responsible and respectful when they come upon cyclists. Then there are those who want to do right, but aren’t sure what that means. These motorists welcome knowing that they need to give at least a yard-stick’s worth of space to safely pass the cyclist. And for those scofflaws who could care less, a one metre clearance law isn’t going to make any difeerence in the way they think or act…these are the ones we pray are caught before they cross our paths.

Look, saving cyclists’ lives isn’t about what the police do or don’t do. It’s about what cyclists and motorists do and don’t do. First and foremost, cyclists have to be visible and predictable…two keys to our survival. Second, motorists need to respect our rights to be on the roads and treat us as equals. Third, motorists need to understand how to negotiate their vehicles around us and the clearer we can make this understanding for motorists the better…for them and for us. And that my friends is how we save lives: by taking steps to set clear standards of behavior for motorists to follow and educating motorists on those standards. This is where the adoption of a “1 Metre Clearance Law” would be a leap forward for cyclists and motorists in Australia.  The greatest value of the law is found in its use as a tool to educate motorists about what is and is not a safe passing distance.

One of the tricks of good debaters is to toss in distractions e.g how the police will or won’t respond. This is noise. We need to push aside all the meaningless noise and focus on what we can do to help motorists become better motorists, while we help cyclists become better cyclists. The lack of evidence showing that the “3 Foot” or “1 Metre” laws actually make a difference should not preclude us from using our common sense…and this ladies and gentlemen is a no-brainer: Helping motorists become better motorists by giving them a clear understanding of what they need to do when passing a cyclist from the rear will save lives…period.

The good news is this effort may not even need Bike Victoria and the other naysayers because the voices lawmakers are going to hear loud and clear are the moms and dads, the brothers and sisters, the husbands and wives and the many many friends of those cyclists who have died on Australia’s roads. Moms like Shirley Nickell whose son was hit and killed in November 2010 and  Frances Strudwick whose husband was killed while riding his bicycle.  Frances wants Western Australia to become the first State to introduce the “1 Metre Please” law. Cycling WA has backed the push, with chief executive Garry Chandler saying he would support anything that would help keep cyclists safe on the roads. Frances said her husband, a dedicated cyclist since childhood, was extremely careful on roads. “Leaving a metre around cyclists, that needs to be legislated,” she said. “I don’t understand why there is any question about it.” And I agree.

Do the right thing Bicycle Victoria, Bicycle NSW and Bicycle Queensland and make this happen for Australia’s cyclists, their families and friends…start saving lives.

Don’t be distracted from this goal.

Good luck,

Joe Mizereck

Founder, The “3 Feet Please” and “1 Metre Please” Campaigns

A friend of mine, Bill Edmunds sent me a link to Dave Moulton’s blog where Dave has posted the “3 Feet Please” decal and discussed the idea that maybe it would be better to take the word “Please” out of the campaign message.  I have heard this before and I get it.  But, before I explain, let me share Dave’s comments with you and my response.

Dave: “The State of Tennessee is among the latest to bring in a 3 foot passing law for motor vehicles passing cyclists. 

They have also gone one step further and brought in a “Due care” law.  (note from Joe, I really like this.)

This means a driver won’t be able to hit a cyclist or pedestrian and go, “Whoops, sorry I didn’t see them.” Penalties if someone dies include a $500 fine, just under a year in jail, and driver’s license suspended for a year.

Many will say this does not go far enough for the loss a human life, but it is a good start; more than some other states are doing.

One commenter on my last post suggested the “3 foot passing sign” should be added to the “Share the road” signs; I think that is an excellent idea, actually I think it should replace the Share the road sign.

“Share the road” is so wimpy, it is like asking “Pretty please, let me ride my bicycle on your road.” I notice too that the 3 ft. passing signs also say “Please,” in most cases….. Why? I agree it is nice to be polite, but we don’t have “Please” on speed limit signs.

If something is a law it is not an option. The words “Share” and “Please” imply that one can say “No.” Drop the “Please,” and the sign will say “Cyclists have a right to be here, give them at least three feet when you pass because it is a law.”

 I really believe that instead of being aggressive and irritating people, it’s important to make a respectful human connection.  In California, there is a similar campaign to mine that says “Give me 3.”  I don’t believe that kind of in your face request will get the same kind of response as a cyclist saying “Please”.  

I want to thank you for bringing this issue up, Dave.  My goal is very simple: to save cyclists’ lives.  Being in the minority on our roads, roads many motorists don’t even believe we belong on, I have to think we can get more accomplished using a bit of honey.

You: So, what say you?  Give or Please?  Which word do you want on your back for the motorist to see and respond to before they pass you from the rear?  Let me know at: joe@3feetplease.com

Be safe…please.

http://www.13wmaz.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1017651467001

“As of July 1, it will be illegal to drive within 3 feet of bicyclists on Georgia roadways.

The law is meant to prevent what cyclists call buzzing. Bill Staudt, owner to The Bike Store in Macon and Warner Robins, said it happens all too often. 

 ”Some of these bigger vehicles that have the mirrors sticking out on them,” said Staudt, ”they have been known to clip cyclists in the back.”  

One of those cyclists is Warner Robins Air Force Base reservist Angela Michael. She was riding down Houston Lake Road in Kathleen on February 6, when a distracted driver in a Ford F150 knocked her off her bike.

“I got damage to my spine,” said Michael, “severe head injury, my arm is still bandaged up.”  

Michael now wears a bright yellow cyclist’s jersey that says “3 feet please” on the back and “It’s the law” on the front. She said a friend got it for her when she made it her mission to share her story so that people can learn to share he road.

“I’m hoping maybe if they don’t wanna pay attention to the law, they’ll pay attention to the human element that people are getting seriously hurt and in some cases dying simply because we’re distracted and not giving that safe passing distance.”

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed the “3 Feet Please” bill making Nevada our 19th state to adopt this law to protect cyclists.  It’s time to celebrate a victory for cyclists…a victory that will ultimately save cyclists’ lives.  But, in order for this to happen, Nevada has to be thinking about ways to help motorists learn about this law.

Yes, this is great news for Nevada cyclists and their loved ones…It will become even greater news once motorists know the law exists and they learn what is expected of them.  This education of motorists is sorely lacking in many of the states that have adopted the law.  This need not be the case in Nevada. 

Enjoy a few days of celebration then get ready for the next step.

Well done Nevada…and let me know if I can help you with the next step.

Joe Mizereck 

Congratulations to everyone who played a role in Georgia becoming our 18th state to wisely adopt a 3 foot clearance law.  You are to be commended for all that it took to make this happen.  But, more importantly, your efforts are appreciated because in time having this law in place will save cyclists’ lives…and that will be the great news.

Adopting the law is the first BIG step.  Celebrate your victory.  And get ready to take the next  step, which is going to take as much if not more energy and commitment.  This next step is to build public awareness of the law.  Here, is where you will need to leverage the law’s greatest value as a tool in educating motorists on how to safely negotiate their vehicles around cyclists from the rear.  Sadly, most of the other 17 states have done a horrible job with that second step somehow believing that merely adopting the law would get the job done.  That’s not how it works.  And Georgia can certainly, and will hopefully, do things differently.

Again, congratulations… and special thanks to Governor Deal for looking out for your state’s cyclists. Well done.

Joe Mizereck

If you want to learn how to get things done in the legislature, just take a look at what Kansas did to get their 3’ passing legislation passed and signed by their Governor.  When it seemed there was no life left after an earlier close thumbs down vote, advocates mobilzed the troops and made it happen.  And on July 1, 2011, Kansas cyclists will have a law requiring motorists to give them at least 3 feet clearance when passing from the rear.

Folks who played pivotal roles were Heath Glenn of the KAW Bicycle Cklub, Alan Apel who got the ball rolling and kept kicking it, Bill Lucero, their lobbyist who kept things moving in the Statehouse and Rebecca Martin who helped Heath push the information to the masses.  And the countless cyclists who contacted their representatives and made it what they expected…this turned the tide in favor of the cyclists and brought about this successful conclusion to an excellent battle.

So, I say well done Kansas…now, the challenge will be to use this law as a tool to educate motorists.  Here is where nearly all the states that have adopted the law have dropped the ball…the fail to take the next, critical step—-building awareness of the law.

Congrats Kansas.

I was asked to watch this YouTube video and share my thoughts.  And I’m glad I did because what Mikael-Colville Andersen is saying could result in people losing their lives.

Facts: USA in 2008, 714 cyclists killed.  Of those killed 653 (91%) were not wearing a helmet and 58 (8%) were. 

I run into people like Mikael-Colville Andersen every now and then.  They’re called Purists and all their “shoulds” add up to one big fantasy.  Sure, people should be able to go out and ride their bicycles and never fall or get hit and injure their heads, but I know, you know and the world knows that’s not reality.  It can be dangerous out there on the roads especially if there are cars sharing the roads with us.  He can’t brush that aside.  That’s real.   If you are riding in a part of the world where you have separate facilities, away from traffic… I would say, the risk of a head injury is certainly not as great.  But to do so in traffic, is taking a significant risk by not wearing a helmet.

For the most part, motorists get things right and they do a pretty good job of sharing the roads.  The data is strong here.  Cycling is very safe.  But, accidents happen for all kinds of reasons.  That’s reality.  And when they do, you stand a far better chance of surviving if you are wearing a helmet…in fact, an 85 percent better chance of riding again.  To dismiss these realities and encourage people to go out there aqnd ride unprotected is just foolish and yes, terribly irresponsible.

I must say that it’s people like Mr. Andersen who pose one of the greatest threats to safe cycling because people will think he’s right, when in fact he is dead wrong.

Please, Mr. Andersen, wake up…before you cause people to hurt themselves.

From the Timesgazette.com of Hillsboro, Ohio:  “”A concerned Greenfield resident addressed Greenfield City Council this week regarding legislation that would require motorists to maintain a three-foot distance when passing bicyclists on the roadways.

Cody Hurley said he wants to raise awareness within the city and said the legislation would give law enforcement a measurable tool to determine safety.

During the meeting, Hurley read information from the 3-Feet Please campaign, which seeks to prevent injuries and deaths among cyclists.

According to the Bikes in the Heights website, the three-foot legislation was introduced to Ohio legislatures in September. Currently in the state, cyclists are required to ride on the right side of the road, but there are no cyclist-specific laws, the website says.

Hurley said only 16 states have passed a three-foot law and most recently, the city of Austin, Texas got on board.

Greenfield City Council President Betty Jackman said council will meet with law director Brian Zets and put the issue into committee for discussion on what can be done locally.

“We won’t just let this die,” Jackman said.”“

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I want to commend Cody Hurley for standing before Greenfield’s city leaders and asking them to help him save cyclists’ lives.  This is how good things happen.  And I can assure you, what Cody is asking the City of Greenfield to do is a good thing because an ordinance requiring motorists to give cyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing from the rear will make riding a bicycle in Greenfield safer.  It will give the cycling community a tool to help educate motorists (it’s not about enforcement and giving tickets) on the best way they can safely negotiate their vehicle around a cyclist when approaching the cyclist from the rear.  The ordinance provides a clear and understood reference on what is a safe passing distance and reminder that if you can’t give at least 3 feet clearance, then please wait until you can to pass.

The good news is most motorists are very respectful and courteous and they give cyclists at least 3 feet and oftentimes even more space when passing.  These folks don’t need to be reminded.  They know that cyclist in front of them is a human being, a person, maybe their doctor, their child’s teacher, someone they know and love.  They don’t want to hit and hurt that person.  So they don’t try to squeeze by and take any chances.  They give space.  The bad news is there are some motorists who don’t make those connections.  They don’t see that person.  They see something that stands between them and where they are headed and see that thing as an inconvenience.  This is sad, but true and the fear of every cyclist out there—the careless motorist.

Yes, there are careless cyclists out there too.  And we need to make sure that we hold these scofflaw cyclists accountable as well.  But, a careless cyclist running into a car isn’t going to do much damage to the car or the motorist.  A careless motorist hitting a cyclist can change lives—-theirs, ours and our families. Their unyielding, sometimes malevolent, carelessness to the safety of cyclists is why we need 3 foot laws and ordinances.  And this is why the city leaders of Greenfield should join Cody in helping to build awareness in your community about the importance, the need to give cyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing from the rear.

Make it happen Greenfield.  Adopt a 3 foot clearance ordinance.  Make cycling safer in your community and most importantly…save lives.  That will be the great news.

Well done Cody Hurley.