Andre - then I guess anyone going 1 MPH over the speed limit should be cited. It IS the limit and with your reasoning should be enforced as such. Case Closed.
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Hannah, I'm not saying they don't need to follow the rules, I'm saying citing a bicyclist should be low on the priority list. See my previous post, I stated that when people decide which rules to follow, they run the risk of being cited or arrested. Not everything can or should be enforced equally.

If someone individually decides which laws they don't think should be enforced, they take a risk of getting a citation, getting arrested, etc. I sure as heck hope cops aren't citing bicycle riders for running stop signs when there are MUCH bigger fish to fry, just like you aren't going to get pulled over for doing 27 in a 25. If you want cops citing bicyclists for running a stop sign while some kid is driving 50mph racing other vehicles down Milton Ave. in mom and dad's new car and doesn't get stopped because the cop was giving a citation to a bicyclist causing no one else harm, you have your priorities wrong.

darwin1: Sorry, the number one rule on the road is not, nor ever has been, to avoid an accident. All we have to do is to drive safely and follow the laws. Accidents cannot by their very nature always be avoided: that's why they're called an accident. Our country focuses too much on prevention, and in doing so, they make us all presumptively criminal (or morally culpable for what we might have prevented) and ensure that we're all guilty of something if the law wants to prosecute us.

Remember. SINGLE FILE LINE!

Opening your door is not illegal and still is not.
Harming or injuring some one out of stupidity has always been illegal and driving off is just malicious.

So who really benefits here? Not the person injured as you can't fix or prevent stupidity. The court system once again collects on stupidity with nothing going to the injured.
Brilliant.

The number one rule of the road is to avoid an accident. Sometimes I violate the other codes because if a car hits me I die, if I hit a car I die. Its not rocket science. I was pulled over in Madison by a police officer for going around an intersection because it just wasn't safe in my opinion to go through it. The officer was skeptical but gave me the benefit of the doubt and didn't write me a citation.

I always check my rear view mirror before opening my car door in a city irregardless. Its just common courtesy. The problem is that unless you make it illegal someone will do it, someone will be hurt and because they broke no law they will just drive off.

I believe California is the seventh largest economy in the world and pays more to the federal government than it gets. We could only hope that more states were like California (blue) unless of course you like poor and dumb (red).

I got your point and I disagree with it. This law will likely be enforced only when an incident occurs like many other - such as driving too fast for conditions. It's called discretion and management of resources - why cite someone for running a stop sign on a bicycle when chances are they're endangering no one but them self? If the resources are spent citing bike riders for blowing stop signs, those resources are being kept from citing individuals driving a dangerous weapon (automobile) recklessly.

http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?s...
The story I referred to earlier about the woman bicyclist who was ticketed for hitting a car door, oddly enough, was mentioned on the news tonight. There is an article at the link above on the Madison Channel 27 website.

andre - a car running a stopsign is a deadly weapon, a bicycle running a stopsign isn't (except maybe to the rider).

witsend... seriously? The bike rider got the ticket? OK, that's simply moronic!!! Wow!

The reason these laws are written is because people have been injured.

This is the same reason McDonalds had to post that their coffee was hot. Thanks to that woman that won a lawsuit because she was burned after "crotching" her coffee.

I think this is a valid statute though, bikers are supposed to have rights to the road as well.

Its all a matter of people being aware of their surroundings....

As a bicyclist who has dodged his share of car doors, I can't wait until this is a state law.
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The complainers are probably the same type of people who harass bikers. I've had people intimidate me with their vehicles, blow air horns at me, throw garbage at me, and so forth. Nowadays I carry a cell phone camera, so we'll see what happens this summer.

I think this law passed because on many Madison streets there are "bike lanes", sort of like Jvl has on Milwaukee Street just before it intersects with Milton Avenue. Last summer I remember hearing of a woman on a bike that ran into the door of a parked car that opened up in front of her while she was riding in one of those bike lanes. The woman was taken to the hospital (she was wearing a helmet) and was treated for a concussion. She received a ticket! It angered a lot of bike riders in Madison.

justsaynotomath-- your turn.

I still haven't heard how the "population has almost dropped by half". Perhaps a little fuzzy math?

Common sense is no longer common.

ustsaynotomath-You said I don't support the state, just parts of it. Do you know how dumb that sounds? Do you realize it makes absolutely no sense? Not to mention, when did I ever say that? When did I say I hate democrats or that I hate anyone period? Please think before you speak. You will sound much smarter and it sounds like you could use the help.

You could post them here, or if people really care all they have to do is click on my name and read all my posts. I use fact and reason, you throw around nonsense, it's all there in writing.

Big Deal.

Mountie???SP What are we now in Canada?

True story: I saw a Janesville police bike mountie last summer who was riding down the side of the street talking on a cell phone. Totally blew me away.

i've seen plenty talk on phone on bicycles, skateboards, anything with wheels. then, they look around like a fool when they crash and/or fall.

I saw this happen to a woman on a bike last summer. She was injured and had to call for a friend to come get her. Car driver felt horrible, and helped all he could. Awareness is probably the point of this law as it isn't something people think about until it happens to them (or in front of them). It may not be enforced, but will hopefully raise awareness.

MrScott-I'm starting to gather that. I love it when people go back and find old posts and copy them in another post too. Classic. Guess it would be fine if it actually proved something, but it made absolutely no sense at all in this case.

spark - justsayno constantly makes snide remarks about anyone who doesn't agree with his/her far left viewpoint, and never backs anything they say with facts. Nothing but continuous spouting about how liberals are so great and blah blah blah, it's kind of disgusting.

Uhhh...how has the population dropped by half?? Wisconsin is growing, and Janesville was one of the fastest growing cities in Wisconsin in the 90's. The reason young people (especially college graduates) leave Wisconsin is a horrible job market for young professionals, and sky high taxes...better weather elsewhere helps too.

i would think you would automatically check when you are backing out of your driveway that it is clear, i know that there might be some incidents that a person does not see the biker and does ACCIDENTLEY hit them but i look back when i am backing out i have to or i will hit something or someone

Rocky
Not to mention the damage to the bike. I ride a nice bike and they are not cheap.

terry
That is why I called them drivers. Bike riders do not talk on phones. Car drivers do.
If your mom or dad ever let you bike off the sidewalks, you will understand what we are talking about.

Even if this law is passed, I still will not ride within a doors width of parked cars. Their $100 fine won't touch the deductible on my insurance, and I'd rather not have the injury or the proceeds from the resulting lawsuit.

Is it not the law for bikes to stop at stop signs and lights? 90% don,t.. Just like madison the yuppy capital to get a law like this passed.

Chalk up another win for the lawsuit happy people in Madison.

beefy,
What i mean is that people should be smart enough to not open their door into the path of a bicyclist.
Unfortunately, the general population isn't that dependable. Hence the law.
Needed? Yes.
Needless? Should be.
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I think I'm confused now........

justsaynotomath-The last place on earth I would ever want to be like is California. Are you kidding me? If you want your freedom removed than by all means, pack up your stuff and move out there. Enjoy yourself.

Big mike. i never see bike riders talk on the phone its only car.

bunch of illiterates...
justsaynotomath "we could use to be a lot more like them !"
bennetonf1 "I agree, this SHOULD be a needless law."
Just what are you trying to say?!?!?

"The City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday that imposes the fine and also sets a $50 fine for those who leave the door of a parked vehicle open facing traffic for too long."

Please tell me what "too long" is?
Please tell me who is going to enforce this ordinance?

This is as ridiculous as the law on the books that Adultery is a felony. When is the last time you heard of someone being prosecuted for that?

I'll bet there are a lot of politicians slapping high fives over this one.

justsaynotomath: good, then stay there.

I agree, this SHOULD be a needless law.
We SHOULD be able to depend people to do the right thing.
Thats where the trouble starts.
THATS why we need laws like this.

Madison is turning WI into the midwest California. We all know how well that turned out.

You might also want to check for trucks before opening your car door.

DUH..This should have been the law from the start.

biggirl--It's only a needless law if you've never been on the bike that's speeding towards a car that's 20 feet away whose driver just opened the door without checking for cyclists.

I wonder how this law will be promoted so that people are aware?

Yeah. This is needed. Too many idiot drivers talking on cell phones not watching out for bikes. Fine should be 500.

Give me a break! We write just too many needless laws.