L.A. plans crackdown on harassment of bicyclists. Are new laws necessary? [Updated]

The L.A. City Council is moving to get tough on harassment of bicyclists.

The council this week asked its attorneys to draw up an ordinance that would make it a civil violation to harass or assault bicyclists. The proposed law, which the council could consider in two months, would make it easier for  cyclists to sue those who allegedly harass them and recover a cash settlement. [Updated: In response to readers who asked for more information on the proposal, here are city documents on the issue.]

The bike rights campaign has been galvanized by the case of an L.A. doctor convicted a few weeks ago of purposely hitting bikers in Brentwood.

More people are turning to two wheels for commuting and recreation. Cyclists are asserting their rights as never before. In Los Angeles, advocates are pushing for more bike lanes and other road improvements, a cyclists' bill of rights and more protection from police.

Updated at 12:30: By noon this post had received more than 100 comments. Here is a sample, along with some social media reaction:

 

Is the proposed law a good idea? Share your views below.

Photo credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Lou]

Those who ride in the dark with no lights need to get cited.They are putting their's and ours lives in danger.

[Doug Caruso]

Cyclists should stand up for and have the same rights as any any other vehicle sharing the road, but that would require cyclists to obey the same laws as the others. Motorists have to take a test to prove their understanding of basic traffic laws and courtesies; most cyclists think that because they are not on a motorized vehicle, that they are an exception to these laws. When we all get on the same page, and share an mutual understanding and respect, we will start to make progress. I cycle several times a week, but I learned a long time ago that knowing the rules of the road for cyclists, (see link below), was imperative if I wanted to survive.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/bicycle.htm

[FKnochenhauer]

Oh, boy does this subject anger me and I'm an "old-timer cyclist" since 1973:

1) The doctor in question was CONVICTED Jan. 10th, 2010 for his actions on July 4, 2008. This is OLD news. This didn't happen three weeks ago! How could the writer and his editor be so misinformed?

2) Yes, I've been targeted by motorists as a cyclist. Dirty diapers, beer bottles, garbage and Slurpees have been thrown at me by motorists for no reason other than I'm on "their" roads. Even had a gun aimed and the trigger harmlessly pulled. So, what? I dealt with it.

3) This sh*t happens because of the MISBEHAVIOR of a few not the majority.

4) You cannot legislate "common-sense" or "good behavior." Laws already exist that protect the citizenry. Do not make "bicyclists/cyclists/riders" a "special or protected class." That is counter-productive. Let's all get along. Let's fit in. SHARE THE ROAD. Let's not be enemies out there.

[Dave]

Any law protecting bicyclists would be a BAD idea. In the city where I work, I see dozens of people riding in the bike lanes every day. I'm fine with that. But my problem is that many of these bicycle riders think they own the road because they aren't in a car. They swerve into vehicle lanes, don't use crosswalks, don't even look when crossing a street, ride in vehicle lanes, yell at you if they think you are driving too fast. Since when did they start owning the road?

On a busy 8 lane (8 lane!) street I had a bicyclist pull up in between my truck and another car at the stoplight at one of the busiest intersections in the city like he was on a motorcycle or something. Ridiculous. Just an accident waiting to happen. He perfectly could've use the available bike lane and cross walk. But no, he uses a major throughfare as his preferred route of transportation. And guess who's fault it is when they get hit?

[KENNETH JAMES PRICE]

I am a road bike rider in San Luis Obispo, but was a rider in the south bay for years, and rarely had a problem, because of the bike lanes, and the strand. If there was an infrastructure just for bikes, we would not be having this conversation. I also did not see any mention of the flagrant disregard for traffic laws that people have when driving cars. I lived in LA for many years, and it has just gotten worse with the passing decades.

[MTB-Boy]

I've ridden mountain bikes for 20 years and literally every day I see Bike Nazis blow through red lights, stop signs, making illegal turns, weaving in & out of traffic, etc. Complete disregard for all laws or others on the road. It makes me angry that police completely ignore them and allow them to aggravate others on the road to a point where someone gets hurt or killed. Enforcing traffic laws would go a long way easing tensions on the road.

[headjazz]

If they pass this law I am going to start making a decent living again!

[Teal]

I believe we need this in LA. There are way to many vehicles in this City and if we can get more people on bicycles I think all the better. Making it safer to ride will only encourage more people to abandon their vehicles at least some of the time. In a perfect world we could all get along, but LA is far from perfect. Maybe this is just what we need to get the ball rolling and give Cyclists' more rights.

[eric angeles]

What is the point of all this animosity between drivers and bikers on this comments page? In response to "jlee," not everyone wants to waste their money, ruin their health, and damage the environment (LA has the worst air quality in the country, thanks to your cars!) by driving everywhere. You blame bikers for contributing to clogged roads, but such roads would not be clogged if half the drivers either carpooled (most cars I peer into have NO passengers), rode bikes, or availed themselves of LA's fabulous public transportation system. Now, as a bicyclist AND a driver, I think the biggest problem in LA is not the individual drivers themselves but the backwards attitude toward cycling in general. This place could be a paradise for alternative transportation. The weather's great. It's mostly flat. What we really need if for the city to put just a smidge more money into painting some bike lanes (and filling some potholes!) and working a little harder on timing traffic lights (so that as a bicyclist you can keep up a good tempo without having to run red lights and stop signs) and we'd be set. Drivers like "jlee" need to adopt a more communal attitude and maybe ride a bike sometimes instead of sitting in gridlock traffic all the time. It might help you relax, it will be good for the environment, and for a brief time there will be one less car on the road, contributing to that very traffic that drives you mad!

[Nathan]

Until cyclists have a safe place to ride, I am not opposed to these laws. The fact is that the streets in LA are biased strongly in the favor of motorists. A car stands to lose nothing in a collision with a bike, whereas the slightest bump by a vehicle to a cyclist could be fatal. Bikes need more protection than cars do.

All the motorists complaining of cyclists just come across as crybabies. How tragic that you sometimes have to slow down for cyclists as you are sitting comfortably in your air conditioned vehicle. Cyclists are making an effort- to improve the air, their health, and not to mention reduce auto traffic. Don't be so ignorant.

[JohnMcCain]

Jlee you are an idiot. You really want MORE traffic in LA? You want MORE people driving cars, adding to congestion? I say get more people on bikes. It makes my morning commute shorter. People like Jlee are the reason I want to move out of my hometown: LA. These are the idiots who moved here from somewhere else and clog my streets, raise my housing prices and think they know whats best for the town they just moved to.

You know....morons.

[Jason]

Yes. I commute by car, motorcycle and bicycle. Once you step out of the safety and confines of a car, it becomes quite apparent how aggressive and distracted drivers are in SoCal. Many are down right hostel towards anyone one or thing that might impede their progress at all. In short, courtesy and respect have failed on the streets of southern California.

It doesn't take a genius to see that our dependence on the car is failing. So, we need alternatives. One is the bicycle and the bicycle right now needs a little help with safety from cars.

[Robert]

Give me a break. NO new laws for bicyclists. Go to YouTube and watch the Critical Mass Los Angeles videos of the hostile, aggressive, dangerous way these bicyclists treat motorists. They almost knock down pedistrians, kick in car doors to move for them, run red lights and hijack intersections, drink alcohol while riding and they have the nerve to talk about motorists. These bikers are most dangerous to the overall public with their dangerous riding and going in opposite direction of traffic many times at night. They refuse to accept LA isn't condusive to their hundreds of bikers riders on Friday nights. What type of grown adult men ride bikes at night in a group? I've met some of them and they are a totally different breed

[reubski]

I am a driver, cyclist, and pedestrian who loves to do all three. I don't think any new laws for cyclist will help, if there were any, it should cover anyone who's a target for assault and harassment on the road. As a cyclist knowing my road rights does not make it feel like I'm immortal, I know the risk associated with this activity and sport. Educating the public, drivers and cyclists of proper road behavior, respect and the need to share it will surely help. As a cyclist I take care to obey traffic laws and be noticed by motorists and as a driver I do likewise. Lets stop encouraging law suits and treating one another as enemies.

[Stephen Elton]

Right now a bicyclist (any person on a bike) does not need a license to operate a bike on city streets.
They are supposed to follow the same rules are motor vehicles.
But what if they don't? You can't get points and or tickets on a "bicycle license".

The serious riders I see tend to understand the rules of the road. It's the "jump on a bike" type who have no idea of the obligation to follow street and pedestrian rules.

[karen roseme]

Yes, bike riders can be rude at times but they are up against a 2,000 pound lethal weapon often driven by people who only care about their own agendas.
They need to be reminded that they can hurt bike riders, runners, children and pets very easily.

[J. Galt]

Make it illegal to ride bicycles during rush hour. These folks should move to rural areas if they feel the need to ride a bike.

JOIN A GYM,
RIDE A BUS
SAVE A LIFE
- YOUR OWN.

[Jesus H.]

YES. The laws need to be changed.

For example, it is unreasonable to expect bicyclists to stop at stop signs, which were created to protect people from cars----because cars are dangerous. Bikes are neither as dangerous nor is stopping at a stop sign an effortless thing to do when you are a bicycle. Laws were created with cars in mind; they need to be changed to reflect the fact that bicycles are also a legitimate (and superior?) mode of transportation.

By the way, I both bike and drive. I commute to work by bike every day and I drive a few times a week for work-related purposes and to run personal errands.

[It's for 4 wheels]

If you ride a bicycle on the street, you're taking your life in your own hands. Bikes are too slow, too hard to see and take up space in the lane preventing cars from driving around them.

It there's a bike lane, then ride in it and enjoy. If not, then drive a car. Face it: Few of our streets were ever designed to be wide enough for bicycles and cars.

I've ridden a bicycle on the strand for over 22 years and the thought of riding a bicycle on city streets during rush hour is unnerving and life threatening.

[Stanley]

It's about time. Also they need to update certain laws. Like Stop signs. Bicyclists should be able to do a rolling stop. Most riders ride at 10-15 mph, THAT is more than safe to do a rolling stop. It requires lots more energy for riders, to stop and start than cars, BECAUSE WE LOSE SO MUCH MOMENTUM.

The law also needs to be changed to allow riders to user the sidewalks without worry of getting a ticket. At certain locations a bike rider is no match 3000 lb. car and it's much safer to ride on the sidewalk.

They need to use the River Washes to create a network of bike paths around the city, that's what Las Vegas did. Now they have one of the best connected bike paths around. Currently only the larger river beds are paved for riders. And the riders can enter / exit just like a freeway on-ramp / off-ramp at the nearest major intersection and take surface streets to their final destination.

[Denny Crane, Esq.]

One might think that the present laws are sufficient, but the laws were designed primarily to regulate interactions between motorists and cyclists, and presumes that both will behave civilly. Unfortunately, we now need laws to regulate intentional acts. From the tone of the comments posted here, it is apparent that a significant number of people are hostile (or at least indifferent) toward cyclists and their well-being. ("Every single person I know hates bicyclists"). Some bicyclists may disobey the law. And it is probably frustrating to be stuck in traffic and watch bicyclists pedal on down the road ahead of you. But those minor annoyances seem to serve as justification for some to react with hostility toward all bicyclists. The Vehicle Code gives bicycles the same rights and responsibilities as cars and trucks. Cyclists need to obey the rules, and drivers need to respect the fact that cyclists have equal rights with motor vehicles.

[plaidjack]

Just look at these comments and it becomes extremely apparent that this ordinance is direly needed.

Cyclist often break the rules of the road for one reason: they are trying not to die!

The best thing a cyclist can do is take up the whole lane and obey the rules of the road.

[Longevity MD]

As an avid bicyclist, I am amazed by the bravery of cyclists riding on the roads to work and recreationally especially during commute time. There are tremendous numbers of distracted drivers still using hand-held cells and texting.
I notice signs on bus stops recommending a 3 foot rule. Should be law. Motorists should give bicyclists 3 feet distance when passing.

[effelarr]

I ride everyday, not usually in spandex (jlee), to get to school and work and I follow the traffic laws. Yet it's a rare day that some driver doesn't honk at me or yell at me for taking the lane, which is perfectly within my right to do if it's safer for me. We do need a law against harassment, because despite several gross generalizations about bicyclists in the comments here, many drivers needlessly honk or otherwise harass riders.

Yes, some bicyclists are at fault, too, but rolling through a stop sign--something known as a California stop and not because bicyclists do it--is not on the same level as speeding past with inches to spare, cutting people off, honking, or throwing things, all just for doing what is legal.

Drivers' overwhelming attitude seems to be that they are entitled to drive with complete disregard for anyone else, and that bicyclists don't belong on the road and that drivers' convenience takes priority over someone else's life. This can no longer be an instance of "no harm, no foul," where except in especially egregious instances such as that of the doctor in Mandeville Canyon, motorists are allowed daily to harass and endanger the lives of other road users.

Instead of having some driver protected in a few tons of steel "teach me" about why I don't belong in their way, the law needs to hold drivers of potentially deadly vehicles accountable for the safety of others.

[Bob Abrahams]

On a TV news story about this yesterday, an advocate for bicyclists said that bicycles riders have the same privileges as motor vehicles. What she didn't say was that bicycle riders have the same *responsibilities* as motor vehicle drivers.
Many bicycle riders obey the traffic rules, but many bicycle commuters - including those with helmets, etc. - do not. Stopping at stop signs, signaling for turns and other rules apply to bicycle riders as well as cars.
The bottom line is that it works both ways. It's easier to respect each other if we all work together and follow the easy-to-follow rules. And, as others have said, I don't think we need new ordinances so much as encouragement to work together. How about rallies with bicycles *and* motor vehicles together?