Will cyclists be safer on roadways around Northeast Ohio? That's the question cycling advocates are asking now that a new safe-passing law has gone into effect.
The law requires motorists to pass bicyclists on the road with no less than a 3-foot cushion, effective March 21, 90 days following the assembly's approval.
The new law also provides that any vehicle -- bicycles, motorcycles, cars and trucks alike -- can proceed through an intersection after coming to a full stop and yielding right-of-way, in the event that a detector in the pavement does not trigger the traffic signal from red to green.
MORE: 'Give bikes 3 feet': New safe-passing law set to enact Tuesday for Ohio cyclists (Pat LaFleur, WCPO.com)
Just how bike-friendly are we?
In its 2016 ranking of "50 Best Bike Cities," Bicycling.com puts Cleveland at number 41. Other Ohio cities making the list include Cincinnati (number 36) and Columbus (number 39).
RELATED: See the full list of "The The 50 Best Bike Cities"
The League of American Cyclists tracks bike-friendliness by state and places Ohio at #16, with 17 bike-friendly communities. Cleveland Heights is listed at #1; Shaker Heights is #3 and Akron is #8. 
Ohio is 40th state to enact some sort of safe-passing law, and the 28th to mandate a specific distance between the cyclist and passing motorist, according to data compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some states require up to 6-foot cushions.
TAKE OUR POLL!
How bike-friendly do you think Northeast Ohio is? @CenturyCycles @clebikerack @LEWBikeClub @akronbikerides https://t.co/u17OpE96o5
— News 5 Cleveland (@WEWS) March 21, 2017
