Kansas
Kansas – legislation passed in 2011 (2022 ranking: 30)
Summary: Kansas has a “3 foot” passing law which defines the safe passing distance as “not less than three feet”. Kansas has also addressed a difficult issue in their law that, while arguably lessens that safety of cyclist being passed, allows for passing cyclists on roads where passing might not otherwise be allowed. The issue is that on a two-lane road with “no-passing” lines or signs, especially when going uphill, it is very difficult for vehicles to drive at bike speed – often 10mph or less – while waiting for a passing zone. The Kansas law allows for passing the cyclist “proceeding in the same direction in a no-passing zone with the duty to execute the pass only when it is safe to do so.”
For details, search with the following keywords: “Kansas Chapter 8-1516.”
From FindLaw.com:
https://codes.findlaw.com/ks/chapter-8-automobiles-and-other-vehicles/ks-st-sect-8-1516.html
The League of American Bicyclists - Bicycle Friendly State Report Card:
https://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/BFS_Report_Card_2022_Kansas_0.pdf
Groups to check out:
- Kansas Cyclist: http://www.kansascyclist.com/
Kentucky
Kentucky – legislation passed in 2018 (2022 ranking: 37)
Summary: Kentucky has a “3 foot” passing law which defines the safe passing distance as “a minimum distance of three feet”. The same legislation also specifically applies to electric low-speed scooters. As with many states, Kentucky has a provision for passing a cyclist when less than three feet of passing distance is available. In these situations, the law requires the passing vehicle to “use reasonable caution in passing the bicyclist or electric low-speed scooter…”
For details, search with the following keywords: “Kentucky Revised Statute 189.340”
From Justia.com:
https://law.justia.com/codes/kentucky/2022/chapter-189/section-189-340/
The League of American Bicyclists - Bicycle Friendly State Report Card:
https://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/BFS_Report_Card_2022_Kentucky.pdf
Groups to check out:
- Bicycling for Louisville (local): http://bicyclingforlouisville.org/
Louisiana
Louisiana – legislation passed in 2009 (2022 ranking: 33)
Summary: Louisiana has a “3 foot” passing law which defines the safe passing distance as “a minimum distance of three feet”. The legislation also allows for passing a cyclist in a no-passing zone “only when it is safe to do so.”
For details, search with the following keywords: “Louisiana Title 32:76.1”
From FindLaw.com:
https://codes.findlaw.com/la/revised-statutes/la-rev-stat-tit-32-sect-76-1.html
From Justia.com:
https://law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/2021/revised-statutes/title-32/rs-76-1/
The League of American Bicyclists - Bicycle Friendly State Report Card:
https://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/BFS_Report_Card_2022_Louisiana.pdf
Groups to check out:
- Bike Lafayette (local): http://www.bikelafayette.org/
- BikeEasy (local): http://bikeeasy.org/
