Bicyclists who break traffic laws and drivers who open their doors in the path of bicycles would be hit with steeper fines, under a proposal Mayor Rahm Emanuel plans to introduce to the City Council today.
The current fine for bicyclists who disobey traffic laws is $25. Those would increase to a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $200, depending on the violation. For drivers who “door” a bicyclist, the fine would double to $1,000. Fines for leaving a vehicle door open in traffic also would double to $300.
The proposals come as the mayor invests millions of dollars in creating protected bicycle lanes across the city. Some of those efforts have led to outcries from drivers who complain that many bicycle riders disobey the rules of the road.
“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,” 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.”
Emanuel also announced today that he has launched an awareness campaign for taxi passengers, reminding them to look before opening passenger doors. Stickers will be placed on the rear passenger windows of all 7,000 Chicago taxicabs that say, “Look! Before Opening Your Door,” mayoral aides said.
There were more than 250 dooring accidents in Chicago last year, according to the aides.
Ron Burke, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance, backs the changes, according to the mayoral aides.
article By Hal Dardick; Chicago Tribune reporter, May 8, 2013
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-bicyclists-fines-20130508,0,342758.story?track=rss
Copyright © 2013 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC
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For a fun and informative read - Chicago Bike Laws: CLICK HERE
The current fine for bicyclists who disobey traffic laws is $25. Those would increase to a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $200, depending on the violation. For drivers who “door” a bicyclist, the fine would double to $1,000. Fines for leaving a vehicle door open in traffic also would double to $300.
The proposals come as the mayor invests millions of dollars in creating protected bicycle lanes across the city. Some of those efforts have led to outcries from drivers who complain that many bicycle riders disobey the rules of the road.
“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,” 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.”
Emanuel also announced today that he has launched an awareness campaign for taxi passengers, reminding them to look before opening passenger doors. Stickers will be placed on the rear passenger windows of all 7,000 Chicago taxicabs that say, “Look! Before Opening Your Door,” mayoral aides said.
There were more than 250 dooring accidents in Chicago last year, according to the aides.
Ron Burke, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance, backs the changes, according to the mayoral aides.
article By Hal Dardick; Chicago Tribune reporter, May 8, 2013
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-bicyclists-fines-20130508,0,342758.story?track=rss
Copyright © 2013 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC
# # #
For a fun and informative read - Chicago Bike Laws: CLICK HERE
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