B.C. is ramping up its efforts to protect cyclists from the injurious and potentially fatal act of dooring.

Dooring refers to the collision between a cyclist and the door of a vehicle that has been opened by a vehicle occupant.

The B.C. Transportation Ministry issued a reminder that the fine for dooring increases over four times today (September 21)—from $81 to $368.

In addition, the ministry is also launching a public education and awareness campaign, as part of the provincial active transportation strategy.

According to the provincial government, B.C. has the highest percentage of active transportation to work out of all Canadian provinces. In 2019, 10 percent of B.C. commuters used active transportation, including 33 percent of school-aged children.

Under the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act, anyone—including drivers and passengers—opening a vehicle door on the traffic side of a vehicle is legally required to check if it’s safe to do so.

According to Reasonable Doubt law columnist Kevin Yee, physical contact with the door is not the only way to determine negligence—a person opening a door that causes a cyclist to swerve into traffic may be found partially or fully responsible for any collisions that occur.