Breakthrough for "Radlobby", the Austrian member of ECF, and their campaign "Abstand macht sicher" (Distance for safety): "Radlobby" won a one-year court fight for the right for cyclists to keep a distance of 1,2 to 1,8 meters to parked cars in order to avoid dooring accidents. 

Austrian legislation says cyclists have to keep on the right side as far as possible, without endangering yourself, but often the infrastructure doesn't allow you to keep a safe distance to parked cars. In 2015 one Austrian cyclist held a safety distance of 1,2 to 1,8 meters to parked cars, which left him cycling in the middle of the road. Policemen saw him and fined him on spot for not cycling on the right side of the road. "Radlobby" approached the cyclists and suggested to make a court appeal, since it is covered with "Radlobby"s bicycle legal cost insurance. Finally the court dropped the lawsuit and said that keeping a distance of 1,2 to 1,8 meters is a "reasonable distance to parked cars to avoid the risks of being injured by an open car door".

Thanks to "Radlobby", their enthusiastic lawyer and one brave cyclist who went to court, Austrian cyclists now have the right to keep a safe distance of 1,2 to 1,8 meters to parked cars in order to avoid dooring accidents.

Read more about the court decision here

About the campaign "Abstand macht sicher"

The campaign "Abstand macht sicher" (Distance for safety) is a campaign to raise awareness that cyclists need to keep a distance of at least 1,5 meters to parked cars in order to avoid accidents. The campaigns target group are not only cyclists, but also car drivers to explain the risk of accidents. The campaign is an awareness raising campaign and consists of stickers for cars, jersey for cyclists and a video.

More information on the campaign "Abstand macht sicher" here