VIDEO: Bicyclist confronts CHP officer in SUV after close encounter
LA VERNE, Calif. -- An avid bicyclist hopes to raise awareness about the vulnerability of bicyclists after a close encounter with a California Highway Patrol officer's vehicle.
Video shows Kenneth Adams angrily confronting an officer, who he alleges narrowly missed him and a friend twice Saturday morning as he drove past on Glendora Mountain Road near Glendora. The road is narrow, but popular with bicyclists and motorcyclists.
Adams says the officer left less than 2 feet of space between his SUV and the bicyclists.
"A 2-ton vehicle passes you going significantly faster than you are and misses you with 1 foot to spare, it's terrifying," Adams said.
"There was no reason for him to do that. He had plenty of space to move over and pass us safely, yet he chose to pass us extremely closely," Adams said.
In the video, Adams flags the officer down, who responds that he refuses to drive on the wrong side of the road in order to make the legally required 3 feet of space for bicyclists.
"I can not violate a law to follow a law," the officer says.
The CHP has been in contact with Adams about the incident.
"We will continue to work together to ensure everyone is educated on the rules of the road," CHP said in a statement. "Safety is our top priority and particularly with the 3 foot law. There is still some confusion about how it applies in various circumstances."
