Politics & Government
Chicago Approves Crackdown on Dooring, Rule-Breaking Bicyclists
The new measure more than doubles fines for bikers who break traffic laws, as well as doubles the fine for drivers who hit cyclers when opening their car door.
City Council approved a measure Wednesday to raise fines for cyclists disobeying traffic laws and double the fines for motorists who cause accidents by opening vehicle doors into the path of cyclists, known as “dooring.”
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced the proposal in May, with Patch commenters saying they were in favor of stricter regulations on unruly bike riders. The 2013 Bicycle Safety Ordinance includes a provision to raise fines for cyclists who disobey traffic laws from $25 to a range of $50-$200, depending on the violation.
"If they are sharing the roadway with vehicles, cyclists need to obey all traffic laws, including yielding to pedestrians, stopping at traffic signals and indicating when they are making turns," Emanuel said. "When the traffic laws are obeyed, everyone is safer. By increasing the fines for failing to obey the law, cyclists will behave more responsibly, increasing safety and encouraging others to ride bikes."
The ordinance also includes provisions that bring the Chicago Municipal Code up to date to match the current bicycle safety laws of the State of Illinois.
Last month, Mayor Emanuel launched an awareness campaign for taxi passengers, reminding them to look before opening passenger doors for their safety, and the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. He announced that stickers will be placed on the rear passenger windows of all 7,000 Chicago taxicabs that say "Look! Before Opening Your Door."
"Taxicab drivers need to be aware of cyclists traveling near their vehicles, but their customers must also take the time to look before opening doors into traffic," Mayor Emanuel said. "These stickers will remind taxi customers to be more conscious of their surroundings before they exit the vehicle."
There were more than 250 dooring accidents in Chicago last year. The red, transparent "Look!" window stickers were designed by MINIMAL design studios, whose employee Neill Townshend was involved in a fatal "dooring" accident last year on the Near North Side as he rode his bike to work.
The issue gained traction again in March when a local woman received an $800,000 settlement after being doored by a sport utility vehicle while riding her bike down Southport Avenue.
The victim suffered from a broken bone and permanent nerve damage to her left arm, according to court documents. Despite treatment and care from a team of doctors, she continues to experience pain in her elbow, limitations in arm movement, and decreased strength in her hand.
"We're glad to see these anti-dooring initiatives because, with more and more people riding bikes in Chicago, it is imperative that motorists look for oncoming cyclists before opening car doors," said Ron Burke, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance. "Too often we see people on foot, on bikes and driving cars traveling recklessly, which is why we support increased traffic fines as an important way to improve safety along with better education and infrastructure."
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