Woman Assaulted in Berkeley by Bicycle-Hating Driver Flinging Door Open

Date of Incident: August 2008
Received: August 2008

A woman reports while cycling legally and responsibly down a hill in Berkeley, a driver in a parked car
made eye contact in his side mirror and then angrily flung his door open in her way, forcing her to 
swerve in the path of an overtaking vehicle.

The driver of the overtaking vehicle was a witness and stopped, asking the assailant why he flung the 
door open in her path.

He reportedly shouted that he hates bicyclists and that if a bicyclist runs into his door it's her fault.

This directly contravenes the California Vehicle Code which states:

  22517.  No person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side
  available to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so and
  can be done without interfering with the movement of such traffic,
  nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle
  available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than
  necessary to load or unload passengers.

The motorist is guilty of an assault and can be charged as such.