New bicycle law takes effect Tuesday in California

Running late to work or stuck in traffic, drivers don’t always “share the road.” But now a new bicycle safety law effective Tuesday is expected to change that.

“He was just a wonderful person, amazing, talented. Taken too soon,” said Marcella Garcia-Flores, the sister of Adrian Garcia.

In July, Adrian was hit and killed by a car while riding his bike in Salinas. Police said Adrian was riding against a red light when a car going more than 70 mph, struck him – launching the cyclist more than 150 feet.

To honor Adrian on what would have been his 28th birthday, friends and family gathered at Toro Park on Sunday.

“He was such a positive happy person,” said Garcia-Flores.

The “Three Feet For Safety Act” will require that drivers provide at least three feet between any part of their vehicle and bicyclist when passing.

“The goal is to make our roadway safer for everybody whether it be a bicyclist, vehicle, or even a pedestrian,” said Sgt. Bob Lehman with the California Highway Patrol.

The law states that if a driver is going to pass a bicyclist, they need to either move over three feet or slow down. According to the CHP, accidents involving bike riders are up.

To this day the driver who hit and killed Adrian has never been located by police. His sister continues to beg for the driver to step forward.

“To the person who did it, if this was your brother you would want somebody to step up too,” said Garcia-Flores.

Safety is the goal of this new law. The CHP hopes it will cause people to think twice about speeding past or cutting a little too close when passing bicyclists going down the highways.