Los Angeles law protects cyclists from harassment

As cities all over North America continue to create both separated and integrated bicycle lanes, the assumption seems to be that the relationship between motorists and cyclists will grow organically into one of pragmatic harmony. But any cyclist who’s been hollered at through a car window or has been a passenger in a vehicle driven by someone who doesn’t know you’re a cyclist knows there’s a certain amount of driver anger directed at riders perceived to be aggressive. When driving, I myself have been so vexed by irresponsible, clueless cycling that I’ve been tempted to honk an expletive in Morse Code.

As the 80’s New Wave band Missing Persons noted, “Nobody walks in L.A.” But apparently enough cyclists have taken to the car-centric streets of L.A. to incite a palpable contempt from drivers. This has in turn spurred the Los Angeles City Council to adopt a law protecting cyclists from motorist harassment. On July 20 the ordinance was passed, making it a crime for drivers to threaten cyclists verbally or physically. Riders can sue motorists for harassment in civil court, as well.

This pioneering law was written and advocated by councilman Bill Rosendahl, inspired by a 2008 incident when a physician deliberately braked hard in front of two cyclists on a windy road. The cyclists were seriously hurt when they slammed into the back of the vehicle and the driver was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon.