Maryland Groups Build Awareness For Bike Safety

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Keeping the roads safe. Bike safety has been getting a lot of attention in recent months.

As Mike Schuh reports, with the bike season upon us, there is a new effort to educate those behind the wheel.

The Christmastime death of Tom Palermo changed everything. Protest rides shut down traffic.

His accused killer kicked out of her post at the top of the Episcopal church. The church--reassessing how it picks its leaders.

What happened there galvanized a community, politicians and the public.

Just last week, the city announced a bike partnership to promote and protect cyclists. The city says it needs to grow.

That all lead up to this -- talking to drivers one-on-one about staying three feet away from cyclists.

"Maryland has a law that a lot of drivers are unaware of where when you're passing a cyclist you need to give them safe space, three feet of space," Brian Copp, of Bike Maryland.

It's advice already followed by this commuter.

"When I see people on bicycles, motorcycles, I keep my distance," Rarcell Roseborough said. "I have kids. They ride rides."

Palermo's death is something which cycling advocates say will affect Maryland drivers and cyclists for years to come.

"I think everybody realized after Mr. Palermo's passing that there needs to be better education for drivers." Copp said.  "He was in what should have been a perfectly safe space, but unfortunately there are drivers out there who are not doing their jobs."

Bike Maryland is planning more events in the future.