Both D.C. and Maryland specifically mandate that drivers and passengers in cars not swing open their doors into traffic, a practice that could easily fell a passing cyclist. But Virginia? Nope, not Virginia.

A bill that would penalize throwing open a door into a traffic lane—known in cycling parlance as being “doored”—was voted down by a House of Delegates panel yesterday after having been approved by a Senate committee last week. Opposition came from legislators who feared that kids could be fined; sponsor Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) said the bill would not apply to anyone under 14.

Cycling advocates said that the bill was a common-sense measure that has been applied in 40 states and would allow cyclists to file insurance claims if they are doored by a driver.

In related news, the Washington Post wins the day for the worst possible way to open a story on the issue: “State Sen. Chap Petersen’s bike safety bill has met the fate of an unlucky cyclist in a bike-vs.-car collision: instant death.” Yeah, that’s not a good way to start an article about cycling safety.