INSIDE THIS ISSUE
NOVEMBER 2013
It’s the Law TCSD Events TCSD Contacts Board Members
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TRIATHLON CLUB OF SAN DIEGO
THE
Wednesday, November 13th Featuring Luke McKenzie and commercial free viewing of 2013 IM World Championship Schedule: 6pm Food/Sponsors/Raffle 6:30pm Interview with Luke 7pm IM viewing Location: La Paloma Theater 471 S Coast Highway 101 Encinitas, CA 92024 Cost: $10 in advance/ $15 at the door Tickets at TCSD’s online store
Refer to the Club’s website for complete/updated information.
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Tie-Dyed Tri Guy 15 Question of the Month 17 Coach’s Corner: Free Speed 18
TriNews
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IT’S THE LAW:
NOVEMBER CLUB MEETING
Weekly Workout Calendar New Members TCSD On The Podium Conversation with:
By Richard Duquette
FEET for SAFETY ACT: “Proving a Violation”
n an effort to increase Safety on California roadways, Governor Brown recently signed into law AB1371, effective September 16, 2014. The new law requires a three-foot buffer by motorists passing a bicyclist. It will be codified in California Vehicle Code Section 21760(b). If a motorist cannot pass with three feet clearance, he must slow down to a reasonable and prudent speed before passing. In other words, no tailgating or reckless passing is allowed. This is critical as 40% of all fatal crashes between a bicyclist and a motorist are caused by collisions from behind. So what does this mean when riding the streets? Let’s walk through a few scenarios that allow you to enforce the law. Assuming you’re riding single file and no bicycle lane exists. In theory, any bus or vehicle that “buzzes” you or fails to decelerate before safely passing can be cited. This clarification in the law is helpful because motorists often misjudge distance between their vehicle mirrors or a bicyclist’s speed when passing the bicyclist. Instead of allowing to pass at a “safe distance
without interfering with the over taken bicyclist” under CVC 21750, the new statute adds objectivity, a yard stick if you will, to the distance. Bicyclists know how frightening it can be to be nearly side-swiped (or buzzed) by a passing bus or a large vehicle. Bus violations can be proven by recording the license plate, bus number, route and time. Newer busses have windshield and side-mounted digital cameras as well as Zonar GPS data systems and black box electronics that record driving patterns. If you are “buzzed” by a bus or if you witness a clear violation and have a witness to corroborate your story, write North County Transit or First Transit and demand the violation be placed in the dricontinued on page 16