Chapel Hill’s small town feel is bolstered by the fact that it is easily navigable by bicycle. As the town becomes more and more populated by bike-riders, it becomes increasingly important that cyclists in Chapel Hill are protected by laws intended to ensure their safety.
Raleigh recently passed a law that requires drivers to look before opening their doors while parked streetside. The town of Chapel Hill should follow suit.
It seems almost too simple to require people to pay attention before opening their doors, yet the power of this ruling comes after accidents occur. If a biker gets blindsided by a driver opening his door just as she rides by, this law would hold weight if the biker wanted to press charges for negligence.
Even considering a law such as this would get people talking enough to remind the general public that door-related crashes can happen in places like Chapel Hill where bike usage is common.
Opening discussions on how to make the roads safer for cyclists is important for the town right now.
As developmental projects are being scheduled across the town, it is vital to include conversations on how to make a place known for its bike friendliness equally as known for its bike safety.
Over the past couple of months, the deaths of cyclists on streets in Chapel Hill have proven that both drivers and bikers need to be more cognizant of one another while traveling throughout town.
A law requiring people to pay attention couldn’t hurt and would lead to some meaningful consideration being taken by drivers on streets with heavy bike traffic.
In the end, what really matters is that bikers and drivers alike take the safety of the general populace into their own hands, and laws like this one would encourage residents of Chapel Hill to be more mindful of one another.
