Drivers are being urged to shoulder check before opening their car door, as the fine for “dooring” a cyclist is set to quadruple next week.
“Dooring” refers to opening the door of a parked car when it’s not reasonably safe to do so, according to B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
As of Monday, Sept. 21, the fine for dooring will increase to $368, about four times higher than the current fine of $81, which is among the lowest in Canada.
The province first announced the change earlier this summer.
“(The increased fine) will help increase safety by making drivers more aware of how opening their car door unsafely can seriously injure an approaching cyclist,” a statement from the ministry reads.
The fine will be accompanied by a public education and awareness campaign around the issue.
Increasing safety and helping reduce cycling collisions is an initiative under Move. Commute. Connect., B.C.’s Active Transportation Strategy.
