News : Vinton cyclist\'s video leads to new bill regarding passing bicycles

The case of a Benton County driver who passed near a bicycle in a no passing zone last year which was dismissed by a magistrate has helped inspire the introduction of a new bill in the Iowa Legislature.

State Senator Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, has introduced SF 2076, called “Change Lanes to Pass Bicycles.” As its name implies, it requires vehicle drivers who pass bicycles to use the opposite lane of traffic, or an adjacent lane, as they do when passing other cars.

Cycling enthusiast Matt Phippen of Vinton recorded the video of a truck passing close to him on a two-lane county road last year. A deputy who saw the video cited the driver, but the magistrate dismissed the citation.

Phippen was concerned by the result of that case.

“I thought the video of him passing me that close on a double yellow was enough,” he said. “The judge explaining that motorist have more rights is unbelievable. We need to spread awareness, before someone else get hit, or worse, killed.”

The new bill, said Phippen, means the state is heading in the right direction.

“This is a huge win for the cycling community. There is already a law, but this bill will redefine it, so more people will be able to understand it and enforce it.”

Phippen’s case had an impact on the new legislation. It was one of the few cases – or perhaps even the only one – in which a cyclist obtained video of an alleged violation.

The Iowa Bicycle Coalition supports the legislation and cites some specific reasons. The organizations says the new law is Easy to teach, enforce, and follow; consistent with law for passing motor vehiclesl and already in the DOT driver’s manual. The Coalition web site says half of all bicycle fatalities in the past 10 years have been from vehicles overtaking the bikes on roadways.