The family of a San Francisco cyclist who died after being struck by a city worker’s car door is nearing a $2 million settlement. Steven Bassett, 70, was cycling in the Bayview neighborhood in May 2024 when a city employee opened the door of a parked car, hitting him.
Bassett died twelve days later from his injuries. His sister, Lisa Baker, subsequently filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging that the worker was negligent and should have been aware of cyclists in the area. The lawsuit stated that as a “direct and legal result of the negligence, carelessness, and wrongful conduct,” Bassett suffered fatal injuries.
The proposed settlement of $1,975,000 was recommended by City Attorney David Chiu and Public Utilities Commission General Manager Dennis Herrera. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the settlement in the coming weeks.
Bassett was an active member of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, which hosted a vigil in his memory after his death. The coalition released a statement in 2024 highlighting the dangers of "dooring" on unprotected infrastructure and called for mandatory training for all city employees operating city vehicles on safely sharing the road with cyclists. Beyond his passion for cycling and advocacy for safer biking infrastructure, Bassett was also a dedicated fan of the San Francisco Giants.