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
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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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Davo on
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Thanks, keep up the good work.
Active Transportation Alliance said:Hey Davo, thanks a lot...we do consider that and often send follow-up letters to the editor (some don't get printed, unfortunately) and blog responses. I know we have for previous Kass column's (here and here) along with the blog response posted earlier in this thread. Not sure if we will for this column, but please know that we do include this in our messaging and do public call people out for these things via blog or letters.
Thanks,
Ethan, Active Trans
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Permalink Reply by Mike Keating on
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Here is a Bill Analysis I did of the proposed changes to the Chicago Municipal Code. Please keep in mind that the purpose of a Bill Analysis is to provide a general summary for the purpose of understanding litigation. It is not in itself a formal, legal document. You can find the full post on my blog at www.IllinoisBicycleLaw.com. You can find the text of the proposed ordinance amendments here.
Amendment to 9-4-025 Bicycle Safety Violation - Penalty
Current Law: The penalty for interfering with a bicyclist while turning, riding in the bike lane or passing, was $150.00 total. The penalty for causing a collision while turning, riding in the bike lane or passing was $500.00. The penalty for not exercising due care and interfering with a bicyclist was $150.00; the same act that results in a collision was potentially $500.00. The penalty for interfering with a bicyclist with a car door could result in a penalty of $150.00, a dooring that results in a collision could be a penalty of $500.00.
Amendment: Not yielding the right of way to a bicyclist while turning, riding in the bike lane, or not yielding the right of way while passing or otherwise interferes with a bicyclist could result in a fine of $150.00 for EACH offense. The same acts that result in a collision results in a mandatory fine of $500.00 . A dooring that interferes with a bicycle will carry a mandatory fine of $300.00; causing a collision in a dooring would result in a mandatory fine of $1,000.00.
Amendment to 9-40-060 Driving, standing or parking on bicycle paths or lanes prohibited
Current Law: No vehicle may impede a bike path or lane.
Amendment: Language is added to clarify that a bus may stop in a bike lane at a bus stop to loan and unload passengers, if the bus has an emergency, or during overnight hours as necessary in an intersection if it is easier to load or unload passengers at that location.
Amendment to 9-48-050 Buses - Stopping, standing and parking
Current Law: Only buses may operate in designated bike lanes.
Amendment: If a lane is marked for buses AND bicycles, then the bus must yield to the bicycle until it is safe to pass the bicycle and the bicyclist.
Amendment to 9-52-010 Rights and duties
Current Law: A person riding a bicycle who violates the Chicago Municipal Code would be fined $25.00.
Amendment: A bicyclist, unless specifically provided elsewhere in the Code, would face a fine of $50.00 to $200.00 for each offense.
Amendment to 9-52-020 Riding bicycles on sidewalks
Current Law: Bicyclists over the age of 12 should not ride on sidewalks.
Amendment: Bicyclists of any age may ride on the sidewalks outside of the Loop if the sidewalks is marked as a bicycle route, is used to enter the nearest street or to get to a bicycle sharing station.
Amendment to 9-52-040 Yielding right-of-way
Current Law: A bicyclist should ride as near as is practicable to the right side of the road.
Amendment: A bicyclist may ride as near as is practicable AND safe to the right side, meaning a bicyclist can move to the left to pass another bicycle, in order to turn left, to avoid hazards, or to navigate a right turn. A bicyclist may also pass on the right of a slower moving motor vehicle or bike. However, if a vehicle (i.e. cab) is letting out passengers from its right side, the bicyclist must yield to pedestrians or pass on the left. If the street is a one-way street with two or more lanes, the bicyclist may also ride alongside the left side of that one-way street.
Amendment to 9-52-045 Bicycle operator's signals - Hand and arm - Manner
Current Law: This specific section as it pertains to bicycles is new.
Amendment: Adds precise language, specific to bicycles, as to the required hand and arm signals for a bicyclist. A left turn is with the left hand and arm extended horizontally; A right turn is the left hand and arm extended upward or right hand and arm extended horizontally; a stop of slow down is the left or right hand and arm extended downward.
Amendment to 9-24-030 Crosswalks - Pedestrians to have right-of-way
Current Law: Pedestrians have the right-of-way over vehicles at a plainly marked crosswalk at an intersection or between intersections.
Amendment: Pedestrians have the right-of-way over vehicles (including bicycles) at any crosswalk, plainly marked or not.
Amendment to 9-60-050 Pedestrian to yield right-of-way when
Current Law: Pedestrians had to yield right-of-way to vehicles unless crossing in a marked crosswalk.
Amendment: Pedestrians have the right-of-way over vehicles (including bicycles) anytime they are in a crosswalk, whether or not that crosswalk is marked.
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Permalink Reply by Duppie on
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Thanks for summarizing the changes!
Mike Keating said:Here is a Bill Analysis I did of the proposed changes to the Chicago Municipal Code. Please keep in mind that the purpose of a Bill Analysis is to provide a general summary for the purpose of understanding litigation. It is not in itself a formal, legal document. You can find the full post on my blog at www.IllinoisBicycleLaw.com. You can find the text of the proposed ordinance amendments here.
Amendment to 9-4-025 Bicycle Safety Violation - Penalty
Current Law: The penalty for interfering with a bicyclist while turning, riding in the bike lane or passing, was $150.00 total. The penalty for causing a collision while turning, riding in the bike lane or passing was $500.00. The penalty for not exercising due care and interfering with a bicyclist was $150.00; the same act that results in a collision was potentially $500.00. The penalty for interfering with a bicyclist with a car door could result in a penalty of $150.00, a dooring that results in a collision could be a penalty of $500.00.
Amendment: Not yielding the right of way to a bicyclist while turning, riding in the bike lane, or not yielding the right of way while passing or otherwise interferes with a bicyclist could result in a fine of $150.00 for EACH offense. The same acts that result in a collision results in a mandatory fine of $500.00 . A dooring that interferes with a bicycle will carry a mandatory fine of $300.00; causing a collision in a dooring would result in a mandatory fine of $1,000.00.
Amendment to 9-40-060 Driving, standing or parking on bicycle paths or lanes prohibited
Current Law: No vehicle may impede a bike path or lane.
Amendment: Language is added to clarify that a bus may stop in a bike lane at a bus stop to loan and unload passengers, if the bus has an emergency, or during overnight hours as necessary in an intersection if it is easier to load or unload passengers at that location.
Amendment to 9-48-050 Buses - Stopping, standing and parking
Current Law: Only buses may operate in designated bike lanes.
Amendment: If a lane is marked for buses AND bicycles, then the bus must yield to the bicycle until it is safe to pass the bicycle and the bicyclist.
Amendment to 9-52-010 Rights and duties
Current Law: A person riding a bicycle who violates the Chicago Municipal Code would be fined $25.00.
Amendment: A bicyclist, unless specifically provided elsewhere in the Code, would face a fine of $50.00 to $200.00 for each offense.
Amendment to 9-52-020 Riding bicycles on sidewalks
Current Law: Bicyclists over the age of 12 should not ride on sidewalks.
Amendment: Bicyclists of any age may ride on the sidewalks outside of the Loop if the sidewalks is marked as a bicycle route, is used to enter the nearest street or to get to a bicycle sharing station.
Amendment to 9-52-040 Yielding right-of-way
Current Law: A bicyclist should ride as near as is practicable to the right side of the road.
Amendment: A bicyclist may ride as near as is practicable AND safe to the right side, meaning a bicyclist can move to the left to pass another bicycle, in order to turn left, to avoid hazards, or to navigate a right turn. A bicyclist may also pass on the right of a slower moving motor vehicle or bike. However, if a vehicle (i.e. cab) is letting out passengers from its right side, the bicyclist must yield to pedestrians or pass on the left. If the street is a one-way street with two or more lanes, the bicyclist may also ride alongside the left side of that one-way street.
Amendment to 9-52-045 Bicycle operator's signals - Hand and arm - Manner
Current Law: This specific section as it pertains to bicycles is new.
Amendment: Adds precise language, specific to bicycles, as to the required hand and arm signals for a bicyclist. A left turn is with the left hand and arm extended horizontally; A right turn is the left hand and arm extended upward or right hand and arm extended horizontally; a stop of slow down is the left or right hand and arm extended downward.
Amendment to 9-24-030 Crosswalks - Pedestrians to have right-of-way
Current Law: Pedestrians have the right-of-way over vehicles at a plainly marked crosswalk at an intersection or between intersections.
Amendment: Pedestrians have the right-of-way over vehicles (including bicycles) at any crosswalk, plainly marked or not.
Amendment to 9-60-050 Pedestrian to yield right-of-way when
Current Law: Pedestrians had to yield right-of-way to vehicles unless crossing in a marked crosswalk.
Amendment: Pedestrians have the right-of-way over vehicles (including bicycles) anytime they are in a crosswalk, whether or not that crosswalk is marked.
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Permalink Reply by spencewine on
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Anyone feel like this came out of the blue?
I'm not pointing my finger at any one or any organization, but it seems like there is some information disseminated to the public before it's getting signed by the Mayor. I'll be the first to admit that I'm ignorant to the process behind a lot of these things, but shouldn't there have been some warning so that some collective action could've been taken? No offense to Active Trans, but everything they've responded to with regards to this legislation seems reactionary.
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Permalink Reply by Juan Primo on
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Chicago has been under one party rule for longer than the CCCP was around. You want input on your lawmaking? Look at the parking meter deal. Look at the parking meter deal redux. Look at Meigs Field.
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Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on
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IMO Meig's Field got destroyed in the middle of the night for 2 reasons: George Ryan reneged on his end of the deal that was keeping it open regarding expanding O'Hare (or something related to O'Hare), likely due to loss of clout as it was increasingly clear he was headed to the clink. Second, Daley was PO'd at how much money it cost the City to fight the Soldier Field preservationists in court. Daley may not have the brightest bulb in the shed, but he did understand that if he wrecked Meig's there wouldn't be anything worth suing for.
Why he then made those ludicrous explanations about terrorism protection are beyond me, all he needed to say was Chicago owned it, the agreement to keep Meig's open had expired, end of story. And of course, he probably should have let the airplanes actually leave before wrecking the field, but see the parking meter deal to be reminded that he wasn't always the greatest at thinking through long term consequences. Or perhaps he was smarter than he gets credit for, and he knew that the airplanes would never leave if they knew he was destroying the field.
This is *not* to say I approve of one-party rule or much of what our ex-dictator did, but time has blurred those details, and they are important. Chicago owns NI/owned Meig's Field, and I could care less whether private airplane owners and legislators in Springfield feel like they lost something that was theirs - Northerly Island is ours, all of ours, and giving it back to the public was the right thing to do.
/off topic 2 cents
Serge Lubomudrov said:Regardless the ex-mayor's actions, I really prefer a park on the Notherly Island.
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The current mayor is the same as the ex mayor in terms of power, secrecy, yesmen, and voters. Glad you like your concert venue on your "park". You're sure to get more.
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Worse, IMO. He's like Daley, but even more steeped in international banking/fundraising. This shift we've had to corporations running the world since Reagan has got to be stopped, where the hell is Teddy "trustbuster" Roosevelt when you need him?
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Permalink Reply by Jason W on
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I was just there yesterday. They are putting in a huge pavilion and some huge towers and shit. Just another eyesore. They can't have one piece of green space that isn't making them money.
Juan Primo said:The current mayor is the same as the ex mayor in terms of power, secrecy, yesmen, and voters. Glad you like your concert venue on your "park". You're sure to get more.
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Permalink Reply by tex on
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Keep in mind that The Chailink audience is typically frequent riders who are informed and most of us are already concerned about traffic safety. The rest of Chicagos 2wheeling population can be reckless and give all of us a bad name. You see them every day....texting on a bike??? Darting into traffic"they see me they will stop"??? Hauling ass past the driverside of a line of parked cars not even considering that a door could open.....no helmet or lights riding home wasted at 2am.....we have all seen this. .this is for the other ones who dont value their brakns staying in their heads as much as us....the higher standard is one many of us already hold ourselges to and already wish others would.
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I can tell you need a beer ;)
Serge Lubomudrov said:Well, I can not comment on riding home wasted that late without a helmet on (never done so in that combination), but lights . . .
Just out of curiosity, I counted people riding bicycles on my way home day before yesterday (I started past 8 p.m., after sunset). On average, 19 out 20 didn't have head light (required by law), though some of those did have (optional) rear red blinkie.
Now, really, people. Are head lights really that fucking expensive? What the fuck are you trying to prove riding after dark without so much as a reflector on your handlebar?
Don't excuse my French.
tex said:[. . .] no helmet or lights riding home wasted at 2am [. . .]
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