Mayor wants to increase fines for reckless cyclists, motorists

Mayor wants to increase fines for reckless cyclists, motorists

BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter fspielman@suntimes.com May 7, 2013 6:32PM

Five years ago, then-Mayor Richard M. Daley threw the book at reckless motorists who endanger bicycle riders amid demands that he do the same to “cowboy cyclists.”

On Wednesday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel plans to do both.

The even-handed ordinance Emanuel plans to introduce at a City Council meeting would raise fines for cyclists who disobey the city’s traffic laws — from $25 for all offenses to $50-to-$200, depending on the severity of the violation.

The mayor’s plan also would double — to $1,000 — the fine imposed against motorists who open their doors without looking into the path of cyclists. The fine for leaving a car door open in traffic would also double — to $300.

Last year, there were 1,675 bicycle crashes in Chicago, 250 of them so-called “dooring” accidents.

In an attempt to reduce those bone-crunching accidents that send cyclists flying, City Hall is launching an awareness campaign to remind taxicab passengers of the need to look before they open passenger doors.

Stickers to be placed on the rear passenger windows of all 7,000 Chicago taxicabs were designed by MINIMAL design studios.

Neill Townshend, a 32-year-old MINIMAL employee, was killed last fall while biking to work on the Near North Side. He was hit by a semi-trailer after swerving to avoid an open car door.

Ron Burke, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance, applauded the mayor for his even-handed approach to making Chicago streets safer and his particular emphasis on preventing “dooring” accidents.

“With more and more people cycling in Chicago [and bike-sharing on the way], it’s imperative that motorists look for cyclists before opening car doors. This needs to become second nature,” he said.

Burke acknowledged that the city currently issues few tickets and mostly warnings against cyclists who text while riding and blow through red lights and that the higher penalties likely mean more tickets.

“We support that 100 percent. One of our over-arching goals is to see fewer crashes and injuries. One important way to do that is to issue tickets. Enforcement is crucial,” Burke said.

Emanuel’s decision to create a ground-breaking network of protected bike lanes in Chicago has increased tensions between cyclists, motorists and pedestrians.

But Burke said, “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 [across the board] as an important way to improve safety.”

In a news release, Emanuel argued that “everyone is safer” when traffic laws are obeyed.

“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,” he said.

“By increasing the fines for failing to obey the law, cyclists will behave more responsibly, increasing safety and encouraging others to ride bikes.”

Like Daley, Emanuel is an avid cyclist who campaigned on a promise to make Chicago the nation’s most “bike-friendly” city.

Emanuel installed Chicago’s first, of what he promised would be 100 miles of protected bike lanes over four years less than a month after taking office.

The city now has 204.1 miles of on-street bike ways. That includes: 18.6 miles of protected or buffered bike lanes; 134.2 miles of standard bike lanes and 39.8 miles of marked shared lanes.

Protected bike lanes are expected to be installed this summer on Milwaukee and on Clybourn.

More than 20,000 people bike to work each day to jobs in downtown Chicago. That’s a 200 percent increase since 2005, according to City Hall.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/19960894-418/mayor-wants-to-incr...

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on May 8, 2013 at 9:25am

In my visits to Paris and Rome the citizens did not cross against the lights and on main streets did not jaywalk.
 
Serge Lubomudrov said:

I know people fined for crossing a street on red light or not on pedestrian crossing. Guess in what country?

Julie Hochstadter said:

I've had people from foreign countries get so surprised when I jaywalk.  

Nelson Trautman said:

To be fair, I have never been to any city in the world where people don't jay walk constantly, and I do travel.

Julie Hochstadter said:

Has anyone seen mention of jaywalking tickets? In other cities around the world pedestrians don't run in the middle of the street cause they know they will get a ticket.

Permalink Reply by morebanjo on May 8, 2013 at 9:46am

This is merely lip service.  Does anyone know how to find out how many tickets CPD issued last year to cyclists?  The city should enforce the fines on the books first rather than increasing the fines and still not giving out any tickets.

Permalink Reply by Jason W on May 8, 2013 at 9:56am

More fucking hot air and taxes from the mayor's office and ATA. How about they actually start ENFORCING the laws that protect cyclists before they raise the fines? Why raise fines on cyclists at all? We don't kill anyone on the street, cars do. Who wants to make a bet that the tickets given for opening doors into the roadway still amount to almost none. I'm sure we'll see some bike sting operations though. And how about tickets for jaywalking? You could hand out hundreds in one morning on the dearborn path. I'm so fucking sick of these worthless bureaucrats. Fuck your new bike tax ATA.

Oh and in other news they are making a documentary to propagandize our idiot mayor.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on May 8, 2013 at 10:02am

The Netherlands of course!

I remember getting tickets for riding thru a red light in the Netherlands.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

I know people fined for crossing a street on red light or not on pedestrian crossing. Guess in what country?

Julie Hochstadter said:

I've had people from foreign countries get so surprised when I jaywalk.  

Nelson Trautman said:

To be fair, I have never been to any city in the world where people don't jay walk constantly, and I do travel.

Julie Hochstadter said:

Has anyone seen mention of jaywalking tickets? In other cities around the world pedestrians don't run in the middle of the street cause they know they will get a ticket.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on May 8, 2013 at 10:17am

Sehr Gut! It must be Germany then. That "Ordnung must sein!" mentality never left them, even though they no longer slam their boot heels together ;)

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Close. I'm adding you, Frank, and the Low Countries to my list of the civilized (no sarcasm ;)

Duppie 13.5185km said:

The Netherlands of course!

I remember getting tickets for riding thru a red light in the Netherlands.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

I know people fined for crossing a street on red light or not on pedestrian crossing. Guess in what country?

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 8, 2013 at 10:40am

Or Switzerland.  I could easily picture it happening there on the rare occasion when someone might choose not to wait.


Serge Lubomudrov said:

I know people fined for crossing a street on red light or not on pedestrian crossing. Guess in what country?

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on May 8, 2013 at 10:50am

We've done several TV interviews about this today (CBS, NBC).

Thankfully some of these reporters are also asking about the doubling of the dooring fine from $500 to $1000, which in addition to the Look sticker campaign, is probably the best news here.

I wish more people were talking about that effort that came from Neil Townsend's death, the Look group on Chainlink, Minimal Design and CDOT.

Here are dooring and ticketing stats from CDOT:

Dooring crashes

2011 – 309

2012 – 251

 

Bike crashes

2011 – 1434

2012 – 1398 (Chicago Police Dept. estimates)

 

Tickets Issued for Cyclists

2011 – 1508

2012 - 1267

Also, here's our complete blog on the new ordinances, fines and dooring education effort copied/pasted below.

Please note this paragraph:

Like motorists and even pedestrians who use roads recklessly, people who ride bikes recklessly should also be ticketed. We don’t endorse ticketing cyclists and drivers for minor violations that put no one at risk. Let the police focus on more important matters. But if you’re putting people at risk, a ticket is warranted whether you’re biking, walking or driving.

Submitted by Rburke on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 9:21am

Anti-dooring stickers, increased traffic fines highlight new bike safety initiatives in Chicago

The back-story behind Chicago’s announcement that anti-dooring stickers will go onto taxi windows (and if all goes well, parking pay boxes) is both tragic and inspiring.

Last fall, Neil Townsend was killed on his bike when he swerved to avoid an opening car door. Colleagues from his employer Minimal Design, and others from the local bicycle community via Chainlink.org, formed the Look! Chicago group to encourage anti-dooring strategies.

Their efforts inspired us to take the message to the commissioner for Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), Rosemary Krimbel. BACP regulates taxi cabs and is responsible for the training of taxi drivers on how to share the road with cyclists and pedestrians.

We asked Commissioner Krimbel to put dooring warning stickers on taxi windows. After coordinating with Chicago Department of Transportation, she agreed, and also expressed an interest in adding anti-dooring PSAs to the rolling video content for cabs with video screens. That is still being explored.

Minimal designed the sticker that will go into cabs (pictured). Active Trans modified this slightly for the stickers that will hopefully go onto parking pay boxes, assuming an arrangement can be reached with Chicago Parking Meters, LLC.

Unfortunately, the contractor that manages their pay boxes wants the city to pay them to install, maintain and eventually take down worn stickers. Active Trans has asked them to waive the charge and donate the service.

The city also announced a proposed fine increase for motorists who cause doorings, going from the current $500 fine to $1,000. Active Trans is glad to see these anti-dooring initiatives because, with more and more people riding bikes in Chicago, it is imperative that motorists look for oncoming cyclists before opening car doors. This needs to become habitual for drivers.

The ordinance that would increase motorist fines also increases fines for rogue cyclists, from the current $25 fine to a range of $50 to $200. Too often we see people on foot, on bikes and driving cars traveling recklessly; Active Trans supports increased traffic fines as an important way to improve safety (along with better education and infrastructure).

Like motorists and even pedestrians who use roads recklessly, people who ride bikes recklessly should also be ticketed. We don’t endorse ticketing cyclists and drivers for minor violations that put no one at risk. Let the police focus on more important matters. But if you’re putting people at risk, a ticket is warranted whether you’re biking, walking or driving.

There is some other “clean up” language in the ordinance, like clarifying that cyclists don’t have to stay in bike lanes on streets that have them. The ordinance also officially sanctions what many of us already do, “taking the lane.”

Progress!

Here's coverage of the ordinance in the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Please note: an incorrect version of the sticker was posted initially. The correct version is shown above. 

Permalink Reply by Rich S on May 8, 2013 at 10:57am

In Krakow pedestrian cops will hide around corners to catch and ticket people who cross against the light. My cousins wouldn't even do it at 2am with no cars in sight! 

Permalink Reply by Jason W on May 8, 2013 at 11:04am

So what are the numbers on tickets issued for opening a door into traffic?

Active Transportation Alliance said:

We've done several TV interviews about this today (CBS, NBC).

Thankfully some of these reporters are also asking about the doubling of the dooring fine from $500 to $1000, which in addition to the Look sticker campaign, is probably the best news here.

I wish more people were talking about that effort that came from Neil Townsend's death, the Look group on Chainlink, Minimal Design and CDOT.

Here are dooring and ticketing stats from CDOT:

Dooring crashes

2011 – 309

2012 – 251

 

Bike crashes

2011 – 1434

2012 – 1398 (Chicago Police Dept. estimates)

 

Tickets Issued for Cyclists

2011 – 1508

2012 - 1267

Also, here's our complete blog on the new ordinances, fines and dooring education effort copied/pasted below.

Please note this paragraph:

Like motorists and even pedestrians who use roads recklessly, people who ride bikes recklessly should also be ticketed. We don’t endorse ticketing cyclists and drivers for minor violations that put no one at risk. Let the police focus on more important matters. But if you’re putting people at risk, a ticket is warranted whether you’re biking, walking or driving.

Submitted by Rburke on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 9:21am

Anti-dooring stickers, increased traffic fines highlight new bike safety initiatives in Chicago

The back-story behind Chicago’s announcement that anti-dooring stickers will go onto taxi windows (and if all goes well, parking pay boxes) is both tragic and inspiring.

Last fall, Neil Townsend was killed on his bike when he swerved to avoid an opening car door. Colleagues from his employer Minimal Design, and others from the local bicycle community via Chainlink.org, formed the Look! Chicago group to encourage anti-dooring strategies.

Their efforts inspired us to take the message to the commissioner for Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), Rosemary Krimbel. BACP regulates taxi cabs and is responsible for the training of taxi drivers on how to share the road with cyclists and pedestrians.

We asked Commissioner Krimbel to put dooring warning stickers on taxi windows. After coordinating with Chicago Department of Transportation, she agreed, and also expressed an interest in adding anti-dooring PSAs to the rolling video content for cabs with video screens. That is still being explored.

Minimal designed the sticker that will go into cabs (pictured). Active Trans modified this slightly for the stickers that will hopefully go onto parking pay boxes, assuming an arrangement can be reached with Chicago Parking Meters, LLC.

Unfortunately, the contractor that manages their pay boxes wants the city to pay them to install, maintain and eventually take down worn stickers. Active Trans has asked them to waive the charge and donate the service.

The city also announced a proposed fine increase for motorists who cause doorings, going from the current $500 fine to $1,000. Active Trans is glad to see these anti-dooring initiatives because, with more and more people riding bikes in Chicago, it is imperative that motorists look for oncoming cyclists before opening car doors. This needs to become habitual for drivers.

The ordinance that would increase motorist fines also increases fines for rogue cyclists, from the current $25 fine to a range of $50 to $200. Too often we see people on foot, on bikes and driving cars traveling recklessly; Active Trans supports increased traffic fines as an important way to improve safety (along with better education and infrastructure).

Like motorists and even pedestrians who use roads recklessly, people who ride bikes recklessly should also be ticketed. We don’t endorse ticketing cyclists and drivers for minor violations that put no one at risk. Let the police focus on more important matters. But if you’re putting people at risk, a ticket is warranted whether you’re biking, walking or driving.

There is some other “clean up” language in the ordinance, like clarifying that cyclists don’t have to stay in bike lanes on streets that have them. The ordinance also officially sanctions what many of us already do, “taking the lane.”

Progress!

Here's coverage of the ordinance in the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Please note: an incorrect version of the sticker was posted initially. The correct version is shown above. 

Permalink Reply by S on May 8, 2013 at 11:10am



Chi Lowe 12.5+ mi said:

Because of this FACT, when a cyclist makes an error in judgement and hits a ped, the ped gets... mad.  *Maybe* injured.  I'd be willing to bet the stats on bike/ped fatalities is effectively zero, though.  Hypothetically of course, because I'm sure betting is against both state law *and* city ordinance.

Uh...not quite.  Although it's rare, there are cases where cyclists have killed pedestrians.  The ones I'm familiar was a 68 year old women killed about 2 years ago and a 71 year old man killed about a year ago, both in SF.  There are probably other instances where peds have gotten injured.  Frankly, if the ped just gets knocked down or breaks a bone, that's not going to engender much good will to cyclists.

Frankly, I think it comes down to the perception of fairness for everyone.  Drivers are not going to be open to sharing the road if it seems like cyclists are willing to flout the laws and it takes just a few cyclists to tar the broader community at large.

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on May 8, 2013 at 11:12am

Jason, good q, I will look into it and get back to you.

Thanks,

Ethan, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by David P. on May 8, 2013 at 2:09pm

Every time I am in California I am struck by how noooobody jaywalks at all, ever. I haven't been everywhere, but I have been to a fair number of cities in NorCal adn SoCal. I mentioned it to a friend of mine who is a retired LAPD officer and he confirmed that they've ticketed this for ages.

Nelson Trautman said:

To be fair, I have never been to any city in the world where people don't jay walk constantly, and I do travel.

Julie Hochstadter said:

Has anyone seen mention of jaywalking tickets? In other cities around the world pedestrians don't run in the middle of the street cause they know they will get a ticket.

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