Peter Wilborn, founder of mybikelaw, got a call this summer that really put mybikelaw to the test. Here’s what happened: a cyclist on a Sunday morning ride – the one day and time of the week he usually feels safe – was pedaling on rural River Road on Johns Island, SC. The cyclist explained that a van drove up beside him, opened the passenger side window, and started yelling and harassing him. When a car approached in the other direction, the van’s driver over-corrected toward the cyclist, causing the bike to crash.
A law enforcement officer soon arrived, charging the van driver with illegal passing. The cyclist asked if the man would be also charged under a new law that makes it illegal to harass or taunt anyone riding a bicycle (passed in 2008 in South Carolina). The officer didn’t know about the law, so she called into the station to see if anyone there had information, but they didn’t.
The cyclist later contacted Peter, who was able to provide details of the law to the officer and sergeant involved. After the sergeant double-checked everything, he agreed to amend the ticket to include criminal charges against the van driver. If found guilty of the misdemeanor crime, the driver’s penalties may include a fine or jail time.
Now that’s mybikelaw in action.
4 Comments
My partner and I – avid everyday transportation cyclists – recently moved to Charlotte, NC. Almost every time either of us is riding here, we are verbally harassed through a passenger-side window. It’s annoying and oppressive. Is there a similar law in North Carolina? Thanks.
No, there is no similar law in North Carolina, outside of regular criminal laws (and this can be a crime). Call Ann Groninger in Charlotte (contact info on mybikelaw site) when it happens again.
Thank you Peter for advocating for cyclists! I wonder why more police officers do not know the law as they are the ones enforcing it…
Great blog and nicely designed.
I had a question. I use a couple of forums
to post classified ads or post nerdy technical questions about bike stuff and I was wondering
if there are similar forums to stay abreast of changes in laws affecting bicyclists, pedestrians
and drivers in the North Carolina area.
If you don’t I am going to suggest on the meeting
that we start a such a forum at the CABA February 5th meeting at Dowd YMCA
Best,
Andrew