The driver of this truck started screaming at me as soon as I pulled up to him at the red light moments after he buzzed me. His first words were YOU F*@(ING KNOW YOU HAD 3 FEET AND YOU COULD HAVE MOVED OVER.
I tried to tell him that it's not my responsibility to move over and that he could have waited for one oncoming car to pass us so HE could moved over but he wasn't interested in anything I had to say.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojqi5qgeDbw
Brookfield Police were contacted and the officer says she contacted the driver and he thought he had given enough room. She said he apologized to me and she was sure he wouldn't do it again. I'm not sure he was sincere in his apology given his tone at the red light, but the bigger concern is that the officer told him that what might have alarmed me is the trailer coming close to me at the end of the pass. She seemed under the impression that his truck might not have violated the 3 foot rule, just his trailer. That is very concerning to me.
The fact is that the lane I was using is likely 11 feet wide, (I'll attempt to confirm that soon), which means since I was on the white line, and my handlebars are 18 inches wide, his mirrors would have to be no less than 3 feet 10 inches, away from the white line to comply with the 3 foot rule since. If his mirrors are 8 inches from the side of his truck, that would mean the side of his truck would have to be a minimum of 4 1/2 feet away from the white line to be the minimum distance away from me. That means he would have to vacate at least one third of the lane to be legal.
It appears pretty clear to me that neither his truck or his trailer was at any time that far out of his lane if at all.
I might have to follow up with Brookfield police to make sure they understand what 3 feet actually means when applied to real life situations.
I'll keep you posted
