FRANKFORT — A small northeastern Kentucky town once known for horseracing wants the state’s help in attracting another kind of rider — serious bicyclists.

Raceland, in Greenup County, was once known as Chinnville but changed its name because of a horse racing track operated there by Jack Keene, who later headed up the world-famous Keeneland Raceway in Lexington.

Now Don Sammons, Raceland’s chief of police, is trying to attract serious cyclists from the tri-state area of Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky and beyond. Sammons, who is working on a book project about the original horse track, wants to develop a bike trail that includes the site of the original race course.

State Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, is trying to help — she’s sponsoring a bill which would require motor vehicles to give bike riders a minimum of three feet clearance when passing the bicyclists.

Webb, an avid equestrian who also rides motorcycles and occasionally bicycles, told the Interim Joint Transportation Committee Tuesday that “it’s not fun to be buzzed by a vehicle on the road. Some people seem to think that’s a sporting endeavor.”

A similar bill, sponsored by Sen. David Givens, R-Greensburg, passed the Senate last year but failed in the House.

It appeared Tuesday as if the bill may face a difficult time next time around, too, at least if the House leadership doesn’t change.

Committee Chair Rep. Hubie Collins, D-Wittensville, voiced his skepticism about the bill. He said many eastern Kentucky roads aren’t wide enough to allow a bike lane and requiring a three-foot clearance for passing vehicles would force them over the center line on many of the narrow, rural roads.

“I think it’s very dangerous on some of these narrow, rural roads,” Collins said.

Dixie Moore, a Louisville “urban cyclist” who does errands and shopping on her bike, said Arkansas, West Virginia, and Virginia have a similar law and as many narrow, rural roads but haven’t experienced any unusual problems.

Sammons thinks cycle routes and trails can draw tourists to his area, tourists who will spend money.

Mike Sewell, an avid cyclist from Louisville, said he recently joined a 10-person cycle tour in Iowa where the group spent about $6,000.

Prestonsburg Mayor Les Stapleton, a retired Kentucky State Police trooper, said the number of bicyclists in his mountain town has grown rapidly, both among recreational and commuting bikers.

Moore responded to Collins’ concerns about safety on narrow roads by saying there’s already a law which requires slower vehicles to avoid unnecessarily slowing or impeding traffic. Most cyclists, she said, will pull over to the side of the road or into a driveway to allow vehicles behind them to pass.

Webb and Stapleton said the law will encourage education of both cyclists and motorists to accommodate and respect the other – which will make roadways safer for both.

And under current laws, Sammons told the committee, Kentucky is rated 49^th out of 50 states as being “bicycle friendly” and enforcement of laws to protect cyclists.

They picked up support from two Republican members of the committee, Diane St. Onge of Lakeside Park and Jerry Miller of Louisville, who is a cyclist too.

Webb said she plans to introduce the bill again in the 2017 General Assembly.

Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.