Chicago
Mayor Rahm Emanuel plans to present a proposed ordinance to the City
Council today which would increase the fines for a number of traffic
violations both committed by and affecting bicyclists. The proposal
addresses three specific issues. First, the ordinance proposes
increasing the fine for bicyclists who violate traffic laws from $25 to
$50-$200 depending upon the type and severity of violation. Second,
under the proposed ordinance, the fine for a motorist who opens a
vehicle door in a bicyclist's path, known as "dooring" a bicyclist,
would increase from $500 to $1,000. Third, the fine for leaving a
vehicle door open in traffic would double from $150 to $300.
Mayor Emanuel justified the proposed increased fines for bicyclists with the following explanation:
If
they are sharing the roadway with vehicles, cyclists must obey all
traffic laws, including yielding to pedestrians, stopping at traffic
signals and indicating when they are making turns. 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."
Mayor
Emanuel also announced today that he has launched a sticker campaign to
remind Chicago's taxi passengers to look for bicyclists before opening
their vehicle doors. Stickers designed by MINIMAL design studios
stating "Look! Before Opening Your Door" will be placed in the rear
passenger windows of all of Chicago's taxicabs. MINIMAL became involved
in the campaign after one of its employees was killed just last fall
when he was hit by a semi-trailer after he swerved on his bicycle to
avoid an open car door on his way to work.
Mayor
Emanuel campaigned for office on a promise to make Chicago a more
bicycle-friendly city. Since taking office in 2011, Mayor Emanuel has
dedicated millions of dollars to installing more than 200 miles of
on-street bike ways in the city. As a result, bicycling traffic has
increased at a rapid rate while motorists and bicyclists are still
adjusting to sharing the roadway with one another.
Ron
Burke, the executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance,
addressed this tension and his support of Mayor Emanuel's proposal,
stating the following:
It's not so much bikes vs. cars vs. pedestrians. Unfortunately, there's a percentage of the population that travels recklessly -- whether it's on foot, on bike or driving a car. The Active Transportation Alliance supports increased traffic fines as an important way to improve safety.
The
Illinois Bicycle Attorneys at Keating Law Offices strongly support
Mayor Emanuel's proposal based upon their belief that increasing safety
for bicyclists requires a conscious effort on the part of both motorists
and bicyclists. Affording bicyclists the same protections as motorists
also requires subjecting bicyclists to the same responsibilities as
motorists.
In
2012, there were approximately 1,675 bicycle accidents in Chicago,
including 250 accidents where bicyclists were "doored" by motorists.
The attorneys at Keating Law Offices have negotiated favorable
settlements for a number of bicyclists injured in the Chicagoland area,
including several who have been "doored" by motorists. Doorings have become nothing short of a vehicular plague on Chicago's bicyclists. The fear of a large traffic ticket will ideally act as a deterrent to motorists swinging their door into traffic without looking first.
The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices are proud to represent and advocate on behalf of Chicago area bicyclists after a collision occurs. Part of our advocacy is promoting policies that protect bicyclists. That is why we fully support legislation aimed at preventing many of these tragic accidents before they occur, even if it might also mean more traffic tickets for bicyclists. We anxiously await the City Council's decision regarding Mayor Emanuel's proposal.
