KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo Township Board will consider requiring a five foot buffer between cyclists and cars in two weeks, but some trustees are not sold on the idea, which was presented to them for first reading at their regular Monday night meeting.
The City of Kalamazoo, Portage and Oshtemo Township have already adopted the five foot buffer. The state buffer is three feet. It was part of the reaction to Kalamazoo’s bike tragedy last June
The statute requires drivers to swing out at least 5 feet from a bicyclist traveling in the same direction if they can do so safely. If they cannot because of oncoming traffic, then they have to drive along behind the slow moving bike until they can pass safely.
Trustee Steve Leuty concedes it’s difficult to enforce, but he says its real value is in raising motorist awareness. Trustee Nicolette Leigh says she doesn’t think it’s good public policy to enact unenforceable statutes just to make a point.
If their goal is public awareness, than she says they should initiate a public relations campaign, and not enact traffic rules that may have unintended consequences.
Other trustees expressed similar reservations. It will be back for a final vote at the next board meeting in two weeks.
