For state Rep. Gene Andersen and his wife, Judy, bicycling is a form of freedom.

Cycling is the freedom to rely on an inexpensive, environmentally friendly method of transportation, the couple says, the freedom to immerse themselves in the environment rather than watching it go by in a blur from behind the windshield of a motor vehicle. Now, with a new bicycle safety law sponsored by Andersen and signed Friday by New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, cycling will also mean the freedom to ride safely and confidently on the state's roadways.

As of Jan. 1, 2009, a new state law will require motorists to allow bicyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing, with an additional foot required for every 10 mph increment above 30 mph. The law will also allow bicyclists to pass stationary cars and trucks on the right side when safe and enable bicyclists to use designated traffic turn lanes. To aid motorists, bicyclists traveling at night will be required to wear at least one item of reflective clothing.

"Hopefully, this will help motorists show the same respect for bikers that they show pedestrians," said Andersen, a Lebanon Democrat. "Just like pedestrians, bicyclists are supposed to be able to feel confident that they're not going to get run over."

New Hampshire becomes the 20th state in the nation to implement the so-called "three-foot rule."

The impetus in the Granite State began last summer when Judy Andersen, an avid cyclist of 30-plus years, read a Valley News story about a similar law being passed in Maine. The Andersens attended a Hanover Bike Committee meeting and proposed the notion of a New Hampshire version of the law.

They were referred by the HBC to the Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire, a Concord-based pedestrian and bicyclist advocacy group.

BWA education and safety director Dave Topham and Andersen rode the idea all the way to the state legislature, lobbying the Department of Transportation, Department of Safety and Department of Motor Vehicles and voicing their support at hearings for the bill at the statehouse. In the end, it passed through the House and Senate without a bump in the road, so to speak.

"The legislative subcommittees were very supportive of it," said Topham, co-founder of Granite State Wheelmen, the largest recreational bicycling club in New England. "John Lynch's wife, Dr. Susan Lynch, recently joined the Granite State Wheelmen, and she and John are both strong advocates of cycling, so the support for this new law really extended all the way up to the governor's office."

To celebrate the occasion - and get about 55 miles worth of exercise - the Andersens hopped on their red Raleigh tandem bike and pedaled all the way from their Allen Street home to Friday's signing at the State House. The couple rode about 24 miles on N.H. Route 4A to Wilmot before taking U.S. Route 4 for 22 miles to Penacook. For the last seven miles or so, the couple rode due south on U.S. Route 3 in the open midday sun and 95-degree heat.

"We started at 7 in the morning," Gene noted. "The stretch on Route 4A was hilly, but it was earlier in the day and we had some cloud cover, so it wasn't too bad. Then on Route 4, we had some tree cover and it was relatively shady, so again the heat wasn't really a problem.

"But traveling down Route 3 with that hot asphalt was difficult. You cold feel the heat coming off the pavement like an oven. We were happy to get to the statehouse."

As self-proclaimed conservationists, the Andersens take satisfaction in limiting their carbon dioxide emissions by using bikes for transportation in lieu of motor vehicles whenever possible. Judy Andersen uses her Burley roadster to get to and from Dartmouth College, where she uses the squash facilities.

"It's so much easier than driving up Route 120 and looking for a place to park in Hanover," she said. "Whenever I take the car, I'm late and wish I had taken the bike."

For health and environmental reasons, the Andersens would like to see an increase in the use of bicycles among children to get to and from school.

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