House committee advances bills on motorists passing cyclists

SALT LAKE CITY — The House Transportation Committee gave unanimous favorable recommendations to a pair of bills dealing with motorists passing cyclists.

HB294, sponsored by Rep. Johnny Anderson, R-Taylorsville, would allow motorists to cross double yellow lines to pass bicycles or mopeds traveling slower than other traffic.

"Rather than trying to stay to the right, too close to the cyclist, potentially causing an accident, if you don't seen anyone coming toward you for 100 feet, you can cross double yellow line," Anderson said.

HB297, also sponsored by Anderson, would make it legal for motorists to cross into the turn lane on three-lane roads to pass bicycles and mopeds.

"This is dealing with a three-way road, where you have a two-way turn lane going down the middle," he said. "This would allow the motorist to go into that lane when passing a moped or bicycle.”

— Mary Mellor