Take note, Canada; British Columbia just quadrupled the fine for "dooring" a cyclist, which means that the next time a driver opens the car door in a cyclist's face, they'll have to cough up $368.

The law goes into effect September 21, 2020.

The province's original dooring fine of $81 was among the lowest in Canada, but the new, heftier fine will put B.C. on par with Ontario ($365) and Quebec ($200 plus applicable fees).

"Dooring" can seriously injure cyclists. As of Sept 21, anyone opening the door of a parked car when it's not safe to do so will face a fine of $368 - quadruple the current fine of $81.
Learn more: https://t.co/NcTz13s7jV#ActiveTransportation pic.twitter.com/KHUAt0opMU

— BC Transportation (@TranBC) July 23, 2020

Given the massive uptick in cycling during the pandemic, the need to protect cyclists in Canada has never been greater — particularly in British Columbia.

B.C. has the highest percentage of active transportation trips for commuters out of all the provinces, with 10 per cent of the population using active transport to get to work in 2019.

"Dooring can cause serious injury, and the new fine reflects that," said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, in a press release. "But it is preventable, which is why we are also investing in public education."

The new fine comes over a year after North Vancouver resident Mike McIntosh lost his life in January 2019, when a driver opened their door without checking for people in the bike lane first.

Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale where McIntosh lived, said, "It is enormously dangerous to carelessly open a door into the pathway of a person moving on a bike."

"This increased fine sends a strong signal of the level of accountability that is expected of people who are operating a vehicle, even when the engine is off."