., FEB 9, 2009 - 9:51 PM Effort would make 'getting doored' fault of motorist, not bicyclist By DEAN MOSIMAN 608-252-6141 [email protected]
Bicyclist Linda Willsey, whose bruises and fracture have healed and court fight is over, hopes a proposed law will save others from her traumas. Madison and state officials want to make it illegal for someone to open the door of a parked or standing car into oncoming traffic without checking to make sure it's safe. Last summer, Willsey was biking on Henry Street when someone opened the door of a parked car, the crash sending her to the emergency room with multiple contusions and fractured vertebra. Bicyclists, who say it happens too often, call it "getting doored." Adding insult to injury, police issued Willsey a $10 citation - while she was in the hospital awaiting an X-ray - for violating a state law that requires cyclists to ride at least three feet away from parked or standing vehicles. The city attorney eventually dropped the charge. Now, Alds. Robbie Webber and Mike Verveer want to make it illegal for anyone to open a car door into traffic without checking to see if it's safe, or to leave a car door open facing traffic for an unreasonable time. Failure to check would cost $100 and leaving a door open too long would cost $50. Meanwhile, state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, and others have introduced a similar proposal in the Legislature that would also wipe out the state rule that makes bicyclists ride at least three feet away from a parked car. The three-foot rule, Risser said, can force cyclists from a bike lane or the side of the road into traffic. The Webber-Verveer proposal is before committees and could move to the City Council for approval in March. "A lot of people just assume this is already the law," Webber said, noting that many other cities and states have such rules. "It's basically a safeguard. It's basically self-enforcing. This is just common sense." Chicago and the state of Illinois, for example, have laws that make people check before opening car doors. Madison Police Traffic and Support Capt. Richard Bach said the department is studying the proposal to see how it might be used and enforced. "I don't think we're opposed to it," Bach said, adding that police do not have data on car door-bicycle incidents. "We're trying to learn more about it." Risser's proposal has been referred to four committees. "There's a real problem out there," Risser said, adding that he had his own close call with an opening car door. Under current law, no matter the circumstances, "the bicyclist is at fault." Risser's bill carries a $20 to $40 fine for a first offense and $50 to $100 penalty for the second offense in a year. Willsey, a pharmacist, has recovered from the crash and still bicycles but said she is still dealing with lingering back problems and is extra wary when passing parked vehicles. She is pleased with the city and state proposals. "I was shocked when I was the person ticketed," she said of her accident. "The goal is to treat bicyclists and cars the same on the roadway." Steve Meiers Safety educator (608) 267-1102 [email protected]
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
