Car doors - a cyclist's worst nightmare

16 May 2011 06:16p.m.

Bazza wrote:

Just read the CAN website & how New York has a 'complete street' program. Big point to note is the cycle lane is between the kerb & parked cars. What a simple solution - a buffer zone between traffic & cyclists. Turns the onus onto car drivers - be alert or get whacked by a bicycle when you head for the footpath. For NZ an even cheaper solution is to cycle along the footpath that nobody uses. But for now we can hope that other vehicles allow 1.5M clearance when overtaking a cyclist, leaving a buffer zone if we do have to swerve to avoid a hazard.

05 Apr 2011 11:12a.m.

Patrick Morgan wrote:

I agree with Barb: it's best to ride more than a door's width from parked vehicles. At Cycling Advocates' Network we recommend that riders frequently look behind to let others know we are aware of them. Following drivers can wait a few seconds until it is safe to pass.

04 Apr 2011 08:49a.m.

taz wrote:

Goodness, gracious me! Are you serious!? How on earth, can anyone possibly relate, getting stabbed, walking alone down any dark alleway, day or night-time, to cycling and being smashed by passengers randomly opening their car doors. One is far more accidental, absent minded, pre-occupied with other things, than the other. The other is just, damn near, pre-meditated, purposeful act of wanton, blantant violence. Where is there any possible co-relation in that? The responsibility is clearly on the passenger exiting a parked veihicle. As if cyclists don't have enough to worry about and contend with on the road. THERE IS JUST ABSOLUTELY, AND JUSIFIABLY, NO GREY AREA IN HERE, WHATSOEVER!! It's pretty much saying like, those who walk down alleyways late at night, alone, are asking for trouble to come upon themselves. Cyclists, do not ask for this kind of attention, or trouble, and certainly not physical injury, to come upon themselves, ANYWHERE, they cycle. No matter where it is. Motorists, pay far more attention TO ALL ROAD USERS, cyclists and pediestrians alike!

03 Apr 2011 09:04p.m.

Jamie Lennon wrote:

Oh man ive had this happen to me before, sucks, was riding down our steep street and another car was coming so i went as left as i could not to hit it, and some guy in a white ute having a domestic with his wife opened up his door right in front of me sending me off my bike and almost getting run over by the oncoming car, hahaha fail, guess it shows you just gotta be more onto it on a bike aye, anything can happen and cars are alot more solid and faster than you

02 Apr 2011 08:55p.m.

Alex wrote:

This is highly offensive. Why would it EVER be the cyclist's fault? It's REALLY hard to avoid a door when it is opened half a metre in front of you, however it is really easy for a car driver to just LOOK. Most of the time there is no room to be a safe distance from the car door; if you cycle that far out from parked cars then it puts you in a great deal of risk of being hit by passing motor traffic. Car drivers resent giving cyclists room at the best of times, let alone when the cycle is a metre or two into the lane. The only way is to make it mandatory for all car drivers to experience rush hour traffic on a bicycle, whilst keeping a tally of all their near-death experiences. I have never been hit thanks to defensive cycling but I have had a LOT of close calls, always at the fault of the car driver.

02 Apr 2011 06:10p.m.

Jon Bridges wrote:

Yeah good point, you've really hit on a legal and moral grey area there. Very similar to another situation that caused a lot of debate. One guy stabbed another guy down a dark alley and it was hard to figure out who was responsible. On one hand you might say people shouldn't stab other people but on the other hand should someone really get stabbed in a dark alley? It's tricky so well done for asking the pertinent and provoking questions in this equally ambiguous case.

02 Apr 2011 02:17p.m.

Simon wrote:

Obviously when opening a car door people need to check, I know the rule applies if a door is opened into traffic and a car hits it, it is the door opener who is at fault, traffic and insurance wise - same rational applies if a bicycle gits taken out by a door. On a bike you are never safe riding close to parked cars but are more in danger riding a door width out into traffic especially in congested city traffic areas and drivers don't respect that distance either.

02 Apr 2011 01:24p.m.

Lynne wrote:

This reminds me of a similar incident many years ago when my Dad opened his door and a cyclist hit it..The cyclist was ok and got up and walked his bike home, he would have been very sore though.We offered to help him in any way but he said he was ok and left.It made us feel very sick though and have always thought about it since and try to be aware when we open doors... Can so easily happen though and bet it happens alot and just don't hear about it. I think cyclists have got to be aware as like my dad we didn't even think about it till it was too late! Hope Don will be ok.

02 Apr 2011 10:43a.m.

T wrote:

From the video (at approx 0:40) it appears the rider went between a car and a kerb. Pretty reckless as there would not be enough room to take an action to avoid a door opening let alone being safe action. Also looks like the footage was taken in a country other than NZ.

The reporter crashing (At 2:04), crashed to her right onto / towards a footpath, so she was either on the wrong side of the road, it was staged or she clipped the people that were in the clip on her left.

Come on three news what is the story there.

02 Apr 2011 09:11a.m.

Andrew wrote:

Why are we questioning this? It is the responsibility of anyone getting out of the car on the right hand side – and that includes rear seat passengers – to ensure the way is clear. Clear not only of cyclists but any passing vehicles, who have an absolute right of way. From a cyclist’s perspective it makes sense to ensure there is an adequate margin of safety when passing close to any stationary vehicle. Defensive driving entails anticipating dangers and other people’s errors.