Overview

• Perdelwitz crashed on September 28 on An der Verbindungsbahn in Hamburg‑Rotherbaum when a Ford Transit passenger door was opened into the bike lane, causing severe head injuries.
• She died on October 6 at the University Medical Center Eppendorf, as confirmed by a family death notice, and she leaves a young son.
• Roughly 800 people joined an ADFC-organized vigil at the crash site, where a white ghost bike was installed and calls for stronger cyclist protections were renewed.
• Advocates highlight frequent 'dooring' risks in Hamburg and cite narrow lanes at the site, urging protected cycling space and techniques like the Dutch Reach to prevent similar crashes.
• Legal experts point to Section 222 of the Criminal Code with a theoretical penalty of up to five years in prison, though comparable cases often end in fines and insurance-covered damages.