AN ACT CONCERNING BICYCLE ACCESS AND SAFETY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 14-232 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2008):

(a) Except as provided in sections 14-233 and 14-234, (1) the driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the highway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; and (2) the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle. For the purposes of this subsection, "safe distance" means not less than three feet when the driver of a vehicle overtakes and passes a person riding a bicycle.

(b) No vehicle shall be driven to the left side of the center of the highway in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless the left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction or any vehicle overtaken.

(c) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.

Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 13b-79p of the 2008 supplement to the general statutes is amended by adding subdivision (22) as follows (Effective October 1, 2008):

(NEW) (22) Improving bicycle and pedestrian access throughout the state transportation system.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) The Commissioner of Transportation shall, within available appropriations and in consultation with groups advocating on behalf of bicyclists, develop and implement a state-wide "Share the Road" public awareness campaign to educate the public concerning the rights and responsibilities of both motorists and bicyclists as they jointly use the highways of this state.