As a cyclist, you may often feel that drivers are far too close to you on the road. You may be riding on the right-hand shoulder, for example, when drivers start passing just a foot or two away from your bike. It feels like any one of them could strike you at any moment, and it seems quite dangerous.
New laws in Massachusetts have aimed to reduce this danger. In 2023, a law was passed saying that drivers need to give cyclists four feet of space. They are not allowed to legally pass without doing so.
Moreover, this does not just apply to cyclists. It also applies to pedestrians, such as people who are out for a walk or a jog, along with those riding scooters and roadside workers.
Why don’t drivers follow this law?
If people have been passing you with less than four feet of space, it becomes apparent very quickly that not everyone is following this new law.
Often, the reason is that the driver is in too much of a hurry to wait until they can pass safely. If you are on a small two-lane road, for example, a driver may not be able to give you 4 feet of space if there is oncoming traffic.
What they should do is simply reduce their speed and follow your bike until the oncoming lane is clear. They can then use part of that lane to give you an extra buffer of space as they go around. But in reality, drivers will often try to push their way through with too little space, risking a serious accident.
Seeking financial compensation
If one of these drivers strikes you while you are on your bike, not only have they violated the law, but they may cause significant injuries. You need to know what rights you have to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more.
