HB 496. I believe Michael Dresser reported on this bill in the Sun earlier this year. You should check the Sun's archives...

It doesn't look like it passed in Maryland. --MC

Kudos to the states and cities that have passed the laws!!! As a frequent cyclist who is afraid to ride the streets alone due to careless and speeding drivers, I wish we could get something passed to serve as notice to drivers (I am one of those also) to pay more attention and to yield for the cyclists' safety at all times.

Delegate Cardin (who, I believe, chairs the informal "Bicycle Caucus"), again sponsored a bicyclist protection bill in 2009. It was House Bill 496 (cross-filed by lead sponsor Senator Raskin as Senate Bill 428). I am certain a similar bill will be reintroduced in 2010. Here is a link to the 2009 bill page:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0496.htm

I guess it is a good idea people are cycling more. They save money by not using gas or oil and that supposedly helps our environment. But with that comes responsibility. Who is paying for these 3-foot buffers, licensed drivers? Unfortunately, this has not been well thought out. Many of these cyclists do not follow the rules of the road especially during inclement weather. They cannot keep up with traffic creating backups and dangerous situations on the roads. And at times they speed; I don’t know which is worst. They expect the pedestrians to yield to them instead of them yielding to the pedestrian. I was almost hit by a cyclist who ignored a red light which he probably believed was not meant for him. If cyclists want the right-of-way they should pay for it and follow the same rules as any licensed driver. I hate to say this but this could be another revenue source for our strapped, controlling, and fiduciary irresponsible government.

Sounds like a great law to me. Here in Stockholm lots of people use the bike as a means of transportation. But sometimes bike lanes are placed between two car lanes, which is a disaster. As a cyclist you feel you could easily be squeezed between two cars...

"They cannot keep up with traffic creating backups and dangerous situations on the roads."- really? How long does a backup due to a bike actually last? one minute? I think this is a gross exaggeration. And many bicyclists are also licensed drivers and would be willing to assist in paying for these buffers, but what is the cost? Literally, all bicyclists ask is for a car to stay three feet away, how does that cost money to anyone involved? This might impact you for a maximum of five minutes while waiting for an opening to pass. I do not think that is unreasonable, if for no reason other than to avoid the guilty conscience of striking and killing a cyclist. If you do not think you'd feel guilty for striking and killing a cyclist, regardless of who is actually at fault, then I do not think you are human.

And why, as a pedestrian, are you not paying more attention? Yes, cyclists should obey the rules of the road. So should pedestrians and drivers. No one is perfect and EVERYONE in the road and in life in general should pay more attention.

I live in colorado and the buffer law is so dumb it is ridiculous. How are you supposed to give some idiot on a bike three feet of space? Especially if there is traffic coming in the other lane? This law is DANGEROUS. The bikers need to reaize as I do when I ride my own bike on the road that you are resposible for your own safety. Stay as far out of the traffics way as possible and keep your head on a swivel. Also how do you measure the three feet? Are cops now going to say um you were only 30 inches from that biker????lmao