The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday that allows the city to fine motorists from $150 to $500 for endangering cyclists. The new fines would apply to motorists caught parking or otherwise obstructing a bike lane, turning left or right in front of someone on a bicycle, passing within less than 3 feet from a cyclist or opening a car door into the path of a cyclist.
In 2006 in Illinois, 24 bicyclists were killed and nearly 3,200 were injured due to a crash with a motor vehicle, according to the states department of transportation. The majority of these crashes happened in urban areas.
Chicago was named the nations second best city of more than 1 million for bicycling in 2005 by Bicycling Magazine.
While many questioned whether or how police would enforce the new ordinance, most agreed it would at least raise awareness.
