BLOOMINGTON - A new state law should help motorists and bicyclists share roadways in Illinois more safely.

Since Jan. 1, vehicles are required to give cyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing. Violators face fines up to $500. The law was sponsored by Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Des Plaines, and Sen. Edward Maloney, D-Chicago, who were both struck by vehicles while riding bikes.

Ed Barsotti, executive director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists, said the law is timely as gasoline prices rise toward $4 and people search for answers to obesity and other health issues. About 20 Illinois cyclists are killed each year; IDOT counted 26 in 2006, the last year with complete data.

"Cycling is more than a toy," Barsotti said. "It's a small part of many solutions, whether serving those who don't drive, increasing health, reducing pollution on short trips and reducing dependence on foreign oil. I know people who bike for each of those reasons, not to mention it's fun."

Barsotti stressed the new law merely spells out what earlier traffic laws referred to as a "safe distance" between "vehicles." Previous state law defined bikes as vehicles and gave them the same rights and responsibilities as cars, trucks and other traffic.

"We aren't hearing many naysayers about the 3-feet rule," Barsotti said. "Most people understand that it's common sense. I realize enforcement will be difficult. …Should there be a collision where a motorist hits a cyclist, there'll now be something they can be charged with. …But, the big impact is in education. Now, in drivers' education classes and the Rules of the Road (brochure), we can talk about not squeezing by cyclists. When you see a cyclist, give them 3 feet."

"I don't hold out hope there will be a lot of enforcement for it, but it will get bicyclists a lot of publicity and awareness," agreed Doug Oehler, an avid Twin City bicyclist. A retired executive who works part-time at Vitesse Cycle Shop in Normal, Oehler chaired a special Normal town pedestrian and bicycling committee that asked the Normal City Council to hire a bike and pedestrian route planner.

"If awareness and education work, that's good," he said.

Oehler said he's already noticed motorists giving bicycles "a little more respect." He thinks the 3-foot rule and higher gasoline prices are helping the two-wheelers gain more credibility.

"I've been given more than 3 feet. That's all we can ask," he said, adding bicyclists must do their part, too.

"We have to do our job. Bikers must obey the law," he said.

The new law also lets bicyclists stay in the center lane when going straight where a right turn lane is available. The hope is to prevent crashes caused when a motorist misjudges a cyclist's speed and turns in front of a two-wheeler at an intersection. The law says cyclists also can ride away from curbs to avoid debris and other hazards.

The league is sponsoring radio ads statewide beginning next month to alert motorists to the changes. The brochures also have been given to police departments for officers to hand out as warnings in lieu of writing tickets, if they choose. The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police backed the law that received bipartisan support in both the Illinois House and Senate.

Seven states passed a 3-foot provision before Illinois. Similar bills are pending in several other states.

On behalf of bikes

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety counted 770 bicyclists killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2006, the last year available. Bicyclist deaths are down 23 percent overall since 1975, but up about 23 percent since 2003.

In related action last year, the General Assembly overrode Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto of what was dubbed "Complete Streets" legislation to require pedestrian and bike ways while planning and constructing state roads.

Some cities in Illinois are taking stronger action on behalf of bicyclists.

In March, Chicago aldermen passed an ordinance mirroring the state law mandating at least 3 feet of clearance, but they went further. They disallowed making left or right turns in front of bicyclists, opening a vehicle door into the path of bicyclists (a type of crash called "dooring"), and double parking in marked shared vehicle/bike lanes.

Fines for driving, standing or parking in a bicycle lane also were increased: Each violation carries a minimum $150 fine, increasing to $500 if the violation results in a bicycle crash. More than 6,000 crashes between bicycles and motor vehicles were reported in Chicago between 2001 and 2005, with 30 bicyclists killed.

Closer to home, the Normal City Council recently set aside $50,000 to hire a planner to design safe bike and pedestrian routes, based on the recommendation of Oehler's committee. He hopes Normal officials will eventually designate certain streets as bike routes with marked bike paths, similar to Chicago's.

The routes would offer bicyclists safer ways to access Constitution Trail, said Oehler, who also is a member of the boards of Friends of Constitution Trail and the League of Illinois Bicyclists. Meanwhile, those groups and the Twin City parks and recreation departments are cooperating to print a map of recommended bike/pedestrian routes. Copies should soon be ready at the parks departments, cycle shops and online at www.GoToTrails.com, a new website showcasing area trails.

This year, the league and bike clubs across the state also are pressing the General Assembly to pass a Vulnerable Users Bill aimed at motorists who kill people using alternative forms of transportation, including pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians and unprotected farm equipment operators. Punishment would increase to up to a year in jail, a $12,500 fine, and the suspension or revocation of driving privileges. Supporters point out that current penalties include no jail time or significant fines.

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Bike facts

- One-third of bicyclist deaths occurred at intersections in 2006, the last year available.

- Sixty percent of bicyclist deaths that year occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, and 33 percent occurred on minor roads.

- Nearly three of every four bicyclists were killed in urban areas rather than rural areas, a switch since 1975 when bicyclist deaths occurred equally in both kinds of settings.

- The decline in deaths was greater for women, 49 percent, than for men, 18 percent.

- Get more information at http://www.iihs.org/

- Download a list of bike laws at http://bikelib.org/boubcase/bikelaws.pdf

- The Illinois State Police offers bike safety tips at http://state.il.us/kids/isp/bikes/