Originally Posted by
FBinNY
So I guess the policy thinking, is first paint a narrow, dangerous bike lane down the door zone. Then when that causes problems, put a patch on it with a meaningless anti-dooring law. I feel much safer in the free for all we call NY traffic.
You've got the order wrong - the anti-dooring law has been in place for years, working to protect cyclists who are legally allowed to filter in many kinds of traffic conditions and road setups . Its far from meaningless and the cab driver and passenger should both know what the passenger did was wrong. A key point that JonnyHK has explained is that its a no-stopping zone - passengers are not meant to alight from vehicles in no-stopping zones.
Anyway, the passenger has come forward and made a media statement. The guy, Jeff Hunter, runs a company importing IMHO crappy toys from asia and is notable for selling his 10million dollar home to a cricket player last year. In his statement he claims he wasn't aware it was an infringement and that the cyclist was "irate"... thats bogus. There is guarded, half apology, probably advised by his lawyer for reasons of damage control. Even if he wasn't aware of dooring, why flee the scene, not provide details and insult the cyclist? He's scum.
Cyclist-dooring man 'not proud' of reaction