D.C. Council weighing fines for drivers who drift into bike lanes
By Taryn Luntz
Examiner Staff Writer 10/9/08
The bill’s introduction comes three months after 22-year-old Alice Swanson was struck and killed by a garbage truck in Dupont Circle while riding her bike to work, an event that intensified advocates' calls for increased city measures that protect cyclists and pedestrians.
“Alice was doing exactly what we encourage residents to do — get out of their cars in favor of healthier, lower-cost, environmentally friendly transportation options,” said D.C. Council Member Jim Graham, who introduced the bill. “We are not doing enough to protect people who make that choice.”
D.C. law prohibits cars and motorcycles from using bicycle lanes but does not impose a fine on violators, the lack of which discourages enforcement, Graham said.
Washington Area Bicyclist Association director Eric Gilliland said the law would be a big step in the right direction for a city with such a large number of walkers and bikers.
“I think it’s a great bill,” he said. “I think this will help address part of a problem that we see.”
But Gilliland said the measure would be toothless without the help of D.C. police, who are often criticized for failing to enforce traffic laws.
If passed, the law would be the second this year to impose increased fines on drivers who endanger pedestrians or bikers.
The Council last month approved a $250 fine for drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians and a $65 fine for double parking if the violation occurs in a bicycle lane.
The new bill would also require that city-owned, heavy duty vehicles be quipped with blind spot mirrors, reflective blind spot warning signs and side-underrun guards to prevent crash victims from sliding under the vehicles’ rear wheels.
4 Comments
Reader Comments:
POSTED Oct 9, 2008
WufPup: "does this mean that the fine will also apply to cyclists who weave in between cars in the regular traffic lanes (especially when everyone is stopped at a light?) I'm all for fines when car drivers violate the bike lanes, but the rules of the road also need to take into account that cyclists sometimes are the cause for their own accidents."POSTED Oct 10, 2008
DC: "No wolfpup, weaving in between cars - or lane splitting - is legal. That will not change with this law."POSTED Oct 14, 2008
Examiner Reader: "I wish this bill would fine cyclists who ride aggressively on sidewalks without courtesy and humility, but it won't. Riding on sidewalks is in this city unfortunately legal. It shouldn't be. Sidewalks are for pedestrians. In this 'thing' between cars and cyclists, the ones who lose are the pedestrians, and pedestrians are the ones who make a place civilized."POSTED Oct 14, 2008
Taxpayer: "I recommend enforcing the laws and weighing fines on the drivers as soon as the laws for bike riders weaving in between cars, lane splitting, failing to stop at the lights and stop signs is enforced. I also recommend that bike riders be forced to pass a safety test and acquire licenses that help pay for the maintenance of the streets. Since we are creating specific lanes for bike riders they should be held to the same standards and fees as drivers considering the costs associated with changing the current traffic patterns."