HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9361INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 9361
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 15, 2011
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• SUBJECT: PROPOSED SAFE PASSING ORDINANCE
The purpose of this report is to summarize the proposed Safe Passing Ordinance, which furthers
the City's goals of (1) promoting Fort Worth as a Bicycle Friendly Community, and (2) continuing
to ensure that the city's streets and neighborhoods are pedestrian friendly.
On February 9, 2010, the City Council unanimously adopted the Bike Fort Worth plan, which
recommends adoption of a citywide safe passing ordinance. Bicyclists traveling on Fort Worth's
roadways face risks associated with motorists passing too closely, even when cyclists are riding
as far to the right as practicable. This practice is known as being "buzzed," and is both an
unnecessary risk and a factor in many bicycle crashes. Motorists passing too close do not allow
the vulnerable road users to move further into the travel lane so as to avoid hazards such as
potholes and debris.
jAccidents can occur when vehicles do not provide
enough passing clearance for vulnerable road users.
The Planning and Development Department, in cooperation with the Transportation and Public
Works, Police and Law Departments, have developed a Safe Passing Ordinance that creates a
minimum passing distance for vulnerable roadway users. Examples of these users include
pedestrians, cyclists, physically disabled persons, firefighters and peace officers, and persons on
horseback. Although all types of road users are at risk of being injured or killed in a road traffic
crash, there are notable differences in fatality rates between different road user groups. In
particular, the vulnerable road users are at greater risk than vehicle occupants and usually bear
the greatest burden of injury.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9361
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 15, 2011
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Page 2 of 3
WX SUBJECT: PROPOSED SAFE PASSING ORDINANCE
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This standard safe passing distance will help protect vulnerable road users and will be a valuable
tool for educational programs and safety awareness campaigns. Exceptions to the standard
passing distance will be allowed to accommodate the reasonable flow of traffic. Regulations
contained in this ordinance include:
(1) Establishing a standard safe passing distance of 3 ft (6 ft for Commercial Vehicles) that
only applies when road conditions allow;
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9361
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 15, 2011
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Page 3 of 3
a SUBJECT: PROPOSED SAFE PASSING ORDINANCE
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(2) Prohibiting harassment and intimidation of vulnerable road users;
(3) Providing a defense to prosecution for the motorist if the vulnerable road user was
acting in violation of any applicable traffic laws;
(4) An occupant of a motor vehicle may not maneuver the vehicle in a manner that is
reckless and which causes a collision with any vulnerable road user on any roadway or
intersection; or caused by opening a car door into a vulnerable road user or the user's
animal or equipment.
Other Texas cities that have adopted similar ordinances are San Antonio, Austin and El Paso.
This ordinance was modeled after legislation passed by the Texas legislature in 2009.
This ordinance is scheduled to be considered by the City Council on March 1, 2011.
Should you have any questions, please contact Randle Harwood, Planning and Development
Director, at 817 - 392 -6101.
w-T.M. Higgins ,
Interim City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS