Senate passes bill requiring more room for bicyclists

LANSING — Three bills that were introduced in the wake of an accident that resulted in the death of five bicyclists passed the Michigan Senate on Thursday.

The bills would require vehicle drivers to give bicyclists at least five feet of space when they're passing them on the road. Another bill would require three hours of training in drivers' education classes dealing with bicycle and motorcycle safety.

The bills were introduced after the tragic accident in which a truck driver hit nine bicyclists, killing five of them, on June 7 near Kalamazoo. The driver, Charles Pickett Jr., has been charged with five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment. His preliminary examination is scheduled for Nov. 7.

The bicyclists killed in the accident were: Debra A. Bradley, 53, of Augusta; Melissa A. Fevig-Hughes, 42, of Augusta; Fred Anton (Tony) Nelson, 73, of Kalamazoo; Lorenz J. (Larry) Paulik, 74, of Kalamazoo; and Suzanne J. Sippel, 56, of Augusta.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/10/20/senate-passes-bill-requiring-more-room-bicyclists/92468464/