All any thoughts? It seems that the change in the bike laws a few years ago inadvertently made bikes less of an equal in one regard. i.e. Bike gets "doored" and the biker gets a ticket. Car or Motorcycle gets "doored" and the parked car door opener gets a ticket.
Attached is Linda's letter. Mike Rewey ------- Forwarded message follows ------- From: Linda Willsey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Michael Rewey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: Bicycle laws Date sent: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 14:24:42 -0500 Mike, I was cited for allegedly failing to exercise due care when passing a parked vehicle. I was about 2 or 2 1/2 feet away from the parked vehicle on a narrow street instead of 3 feet as specified in the state statute. See the attached letter to Sen. Risser that includes the relevant state statute. I specifically asked the officer the next day about the discretion issue; she claimed she had none, even though her colleague disagreed with her and thought it was a stupid state law. What are the chances that bike federation types will support a change in the law and make motorists at least equally liable for opening car doors without checking for bikers? If I had been riding a motorcycle or moped, she would have been cited. Linda > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 15:30:21 -0500 > Subject: Re: Bicycle laws > > What was your ticket for? Officers have descretion. > > Mike > > ************************ > > On 4 Aug 2008 at 14:45, Linda Willsey wrote: > > Hi Mike, > > I ended up on the pavement after a bicycle-car door incident on Henry St (in > front of the > federal courthouse) a couple of weeks ago, and was shocked to be ticketed by > the > responding officer while the woman who opened the door into me was held > blameless. I'm > inclined to challenge the ticket; I think the law is absurd in an urban area. > I am also amazed > that the officer felt she had no discretion in issuing the ticket (her > colleague disagreed), but > I guess I should be grateful that Madison PD > officers are not following the example of the > NYPD rookie who body-slammed a bicyclist on July 25th. Any comments or advice > from you? > > Thanks, > > Linda Willsey > > > Reveal your inner athlete and share it with friends on Windows Live. Shar ------- End of forwarded message -------
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