City Council OKs Cyclist Protection Law

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to pass a law on July 20 that protects cyclists from verbal or physical harassment by drivers. Councilman Bill Rosendahl sponsored the ordinance, which he said is one of the toughest protecting cyclists in the country.

The ground-breaking law lets harassed cyclists seek damages in civil court—a first.

Under the law, they can recover up to three times the cost of their injury or $1,000—whichever is greater. They can also recover attorney’s fees, which experts say may make it easier to get legal representation.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a number of cyclists showed up at City Hall Wednesday to share stories of harassment before the vote. They described motorists who threw objects, shouted insults and tried to run them off the road.

Brentwood Has Its Own History of Bicycle Harassment

Last year, a doctor was convicted to five years in prison for a 2008 assault in Brentwood that left two cyclists hospitalized. Christopher Thompson, the doctor, said during his trial that the incident began when he asked the two cyclists to ride single file.

Thompson said he stopped the vehicle in front of the riders to take pictures to identify the pair after they cursed at him and flipped him off, the Los Angeles Times reported.

However, the cyclists testified during the trial that Thompson was aggressive from the very start and was honking angrily and that as they were attempting to move into a single file position, the doctor moved in front of them, slamming down his breaks.