Chicago’s City Council has passed new laws that are intended to send a serious message to motorists about operating safely around bicycles.
Mayor Richard Daley told the Chicago Tribune, “We are committed to making Chicago the most bicycle-friendly city in the country, and safety is a very critical part of the plan.”
Here are the four laws that were passed (and carry fines of $150 to $500 if a crash results):
- 1. Turning left or right in front of someone on a bicycle.
2. Passing with less than 3 feet of space between car and bike.
3. Opening a vehicle door into the path of a cyclist.
4. Parking or otherwise obstructing marked bike lanes.
In addition to political support, the ordinances were also backed by the Chicago chapter of the American Automobile Association (AAA).
Read more at ChicagoTribune.com.