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Cyclist urges Loomis to install clearer 3‑foot signs after repeated near‑misses
Summary
A longtime cyclist told the council he has recorded about 30 near‑miss incidents in the Loomis Basin and proposed installing signs that specify California’s three‑foot passing requirement; the sheriff confirmed the 3‑foot rule exists but noted enforcement challenges.
A Rockland resident and longtime cyclist urged the Loomis Town Council to install clearer roadway signage to protect bicyclists, presenting video evidence and local incident counts and pressing the town to work with public safety and public‑works staff.
Steve Boswell told the council he has ridden through Loomis for 35 years and has recorded roughly 30 incidents in recent years, about 10 of them on Rockland Road. He proposed replacing some existing “share the road” signs with messages that specify the legal requirement to leave three feet when passing a bicyclist, saying the more precise sign is already being installed on nearby county roads.
A deputy from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the state vehicle code contains a three‑foot passing requirement for motorists overtaking bicyclists but cautioned that the law can be difficult to enforce in practice. The sheriff’s office noted a recent fatality where the required buffer was met during passing but a subsequent lane change by the motorist led to a collision from behind.
Council members asked staff to work with deputy representatives and town engineering to develop a signage proposal for future action. Residents at the meeting called for expedited installation on rural roads that have become more heavily trafficked.
Quote: “My proposal would be to install these in place of some of the existing signage on Rockland Road,” Boswell said during public comment.
Next steps: staff and the sheriff’s office will discuss sign language and potential locations and return with a proposal that aligns with state law and local traffic studies.
