'Dooring' Bill Passes General Assembly

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RICHMOND, VA - A measure to protect bicyclists from the open doors of parked cars has passed the Virginia General Assembly and is awaiting the governor's signature.

Known as the "dooring" bill, it calls for a $50 fine for motorists if they open their car door into the path of an oncoming bicyclist, and the bike rider hits it.

The same penalty would apply if the door is hit by another car, a motorcycle or even a bus.

The bill's sponsor, state Sen. J. Chapman "Chap" Peterson, D-Fairfax City, told radio station WTOP that the bill establishes fault in a dooring accident. If the bicyclist is injured, the car's driver or his insurance company would pay the medical bills.

Groups like the Virginia Biking Federation have been pushing for a dooring law for years, the Washington Post reported.

One supporter cited figures from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, which showed that from 2010 to 2015, a total of 233 crashes occurred that involed people in vehicles who opened or left open a door in the path of passing traffic. Seventy-four people were injured, including 15 bicyclists.