Some list members know that I introduced an ordinance in Madison that would require motorists to check for traffic before opening their car door. Last week at the Bike Summit, I also told many people that Rush Limbaugh had mocked me by name. I feel so fulfilled!
Similar laws are quite common in many states and are part of the Uniform Vehicle Code. The laws were passed long before the term "dooring" existed, and generally were passed to assign fault if a car driver opened a car door in front of a CAR. But, of course, this has turned into a "bicyclists rights" debate. Despite my efforts to paint this as applying to all traffic, not just bicyclists - because anything protecting bicyclists gets the nut jobs screaming - every headline says that the ordinance means you have to "check for bicyclists." I guess the up side is the education it provides to motorists about bicyclists on the street. Fortunately, the local ordinance passed by a 19-1 vote at the Council last night, with only one alder voting NO. She went on a rant, which I suspect was taken word for word from another local talk show host, since most of her speeches are. Here are a few news stories and blog posts: Madison ordinance opens door on cyclists vs. Limbaugh dust up http://blog.silentsports.net/?p=748 Better check for bikes when opening your car door: http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/443400 Council OKs Fine For Opening Car Door Without Looking For Bicyclist http://www.channel3000.com/recreation/18957371/detail.html Robbie _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
