Car Can Cross Center line to Give Bicyclists Three Feet Space

Wisconsin has a "3 foot law" that requires drivers passing bicyclists from behind to give an absolute minimum of three feet space.  If the driver cannot get that far over to the left because of oncoming traffic or other conditions, the driver should not attempt to pass the bicyclists.  There is no law that says if a driver is frustrated behind the wheel he or she can disregard the 3 foot law.  There is no law that says if bicyclists are not following the law by riding single or double file that a driver can disregard the three foot law and pass them anyway.  Some drivers realize that a few extra seconds or minutes on their drive is not a big deal and they wait patiently behind bicyclists for a safe and open area to pass.  Other drivers put themselves at risk along with bicyclists by doing things like passing without giving three feet, and passing a group of bicyclists in the left lane while traveling up a hill. Some drivers have stated that the reason they pass bicyclists without giving three feet is because they refuse to cross the yellow line and go into the oncoming lane.  Some may chose not to cross the centerline for safety reasons, others may think they cannot legally cross the centerline.  The law in Wisconsin allows crossing the centerline depending on speed.  "The operator of a vehicle may drive on the left side of the center of a roadway on any portion thereof which has been designated a no-passing zone, as described in par. (a), to overtake and pass, with care, any vehicle traveling at a speed less than half of the applicable speed limit at the place of passing."