news
It also penalizes those who harass, taunt or toss objects at cyclists. And it requires bicyclists to ride in the right-hand lane with no more than two abreast.
Fines range from $100 for a first offense to $2,500 and seven days in jail for the third offense.
Tupelo and Lee County also passed similar ordinances. Tupelo's took effect earlier this year; Lee County's becomes active the same day as the state's.
To remind motorists, both the city and county have erected yellow signs with the image of a vehicle and bicyclist separated by an arrow representing a 3-foot width.
"It's for the safety of the cyclists and the motorists," said District 1 Supervisor Phil Mogan.
The signs were bought by the John Paul Frerer Memorial Fund, named after the Tupelo teen who was struck and killed while cycling in August 2009.
Frerer's parents and sister watched as the first of 20 such signs went up Monday morning in Lee County.
"My incentive has been John Paul," said his mother, Liria Frerer. "I want his friends and other cyclists to be safe on the road, and I want to create awareness about the 3-foot rule."
The city already has erected several signs of its own and was recognized by the Mississippi Municipal League this week for leading the effort to enact the 3-foot rule.
Tupelo won MML's 2010 Municipal Excellence Award for Public Safety for becoming the first Mississippi city to establish the ordinance.
"We try to do our part, too," said Kathleen Agnew, an avid cyclist and friend of the Frerers. "We wear light clothes and follow the rules of the road. We're trying to change the culture from within the cycling community."
Contact Emily Le Coz at (662) 678-1588 or emily.lecoz@djournal.com.
I'll be on the lookout for jbos because apparently he/she will be in a big hurry on the road.
it's really amazing how your perspective changes on this issue when you trade places, OR, the "others" ends up being someone that you love.