A new state law will go into effect on January 1 that creates specific rules on how drivers can pass bicyclists, pedestrians, and other nonvehicular road users. The law increases fines for failing to obey the rules.
Background information
SB 5723, passed in the 2019 legislative session, aims to protect vulnerable road users. The law requires drivers on roads with two or more lanes in one direction to move into an adjacent lane while passing vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, scooters, bikes, and tractors without a cab.
On roads with one lane in each direction, drivers must give at least three feet of space to vulnerable road users.
Finally, on one-lane roads without three feet of room, drivers must pull into the oncoming lane to pass a vulnerable user, if that other lane is clear.