Car Dooring

[just_david]

Anyone seen this on the BBC today:

car dooring

 

Since when is it the responsibility of the person in the car and not the person on the bike to leave room?

 

I've been taught since i was old enough to ride that you always left enough room when passing cars for someone to open the door, and that if you hit it you're the one to blame.

 

It fell under the, always assume everyone is an idiot area of driving.

[3s-gtech]

If you open the car door into the path of another car and it's ripped off, the person who opened it is responsible for any damage. Same then applies with the cyclist. Rightly so, too.

[mthomas08]

I think this is one of those common sense things. You generally check your blindspot/mirrors before opening up. I've always done it.

 

I always watch out for cars, pedestrians and bikers. No different to turning in. I don't want my car scratched or torn doors!

[Bompalompalomp]

I've been taught since i was old enough to ride that you always left enough room when passing cars for someone to open the door, and that if you hit it you're the one to blame.

 

The problem worsens when filtering comes into play, and this rule can't always be applied. When motorcycling, I've had more than once a driver swing open his driver side door while in a single file queue to "quickly" get something out of their boot or back seat, causing me to emergency brake instead of swerving into oncoming traffic.

[just_david]

The problem worsens when filtering comes into play, and this rule can't always be applied. When motorcycling, I've had more than once a driver swing open his driver side door while in a single file queue to "quickly" get something out of their boot or back seat, causing me to emergency brake instead of swerving into oncoming traffic.

 

 

Yeah I guess that does come in to it.

 

I always do my checks, and don't really see the dutch oven method or whatever they are calling it as being a bad thing, its just genuinly the first time I've heard about this talked about as the cars/vans fault etc.

 

the door and a halfs width is one of the things my instructor really rammed in. and unlike shuffling the steering wheel it actually stuck with me

[dry]

The Dutch Reach is a really good habit to get into if you can- only open your door with the arm furthest from the handle. This forces your body to turn so you naturally look behind your car and see if you're about to door someone.

 

I always leave a doors width when overtaking parked vehicles on the road, much to the upset of a lot of motorists who sadly think I'm solely out to delay their journey by being in the 'middle' of the road.

[jmak]

 

I always leave a doors width when overtaking parked vehicles on the road, much to the upset of a lot of motorists who sadly think I'm solely out to delay their journey by being in the 'middle' of the road.

 

I do my best at this, although it's not always practical. The same should apply to driving a car, but there are plenty of streets where if both drivers applied that rule, they'd have a head on collision...

 

I used to think that when I was cycling, I'd take care of what's happening in front of me - by doing things like keeping clear of car doors - and I could trust car drivers not to be so dumb/criminal as to just drive into the back of a bike in the correct position on the road. My experience working in a bike repair shop showed me that I was too optimistic.

 

I'd never heard of the Dutch Reach method either, but it sounds like a good idea.

[FN-GM]

There are problems with passengers in a car.

 

1. Mirrors are adjusted for the drivers so passengers might not be able to see properly.

2. The passenger might not have a licence so not in the habit or trained to use them.

3. Back doors do not have them.

 

The first 2 reinforce the importance of not passing on the left. Many cyclists do this. Last week I was turning left at a junction with my left indicator on, I started to move and a cyclist came around a bus on the right and then passed me on my left right into my path. Luckily I spotted him.

 

As a kid I got hit on the head by the school bus wing mirror. It was over hanging the pavement quite a bit!

Edited September 11, 2017 by FN-GM

[nicholab]

I think it can be hard not being on a power machine also it easy to end up in the wrong place as you don't just have power on tap. Also with the way drivers treat cycles they are not necessarily taking their road space they are entitled to.

[FN-GM]

I think it can be hard not being on a power machine also it easy to end up in the wrong place as you don't just have power on tap. Also with the way drivers treat cycles they are not necessarily taking their road space they are entitled to.

 

I wasn't having a pop at cyclists by the way

[mikeprice]

Whenever I open a door into the road I try to do it fairly slowly - i.e. open it a bit first and then the rest (after looking!)

 

on several occasions when I have been on a bike thi sort of thing has given me warning of someone up ahead opening a door and I've been able to move out or stop

 

It has also helped when I have been driving - some roads are so narrow that the extra foot or so makes a lot of difference

[arwen]

There are problems with passengers in a car.

 

1. Mirrors are adjusted for the drivers so passengers might not be able to see properly.

2. The passenger might not have a licence so not in the habit or trained to use them.

3. Back doors do not have them.

 

The first 2 reinforce the importance of not passing on the left. Many cyclists do this. Last week I was turning left at a junction with my left indicator on, I started to move and a cyclist came around a bus on the right and then passed me on my left right into my path. Luckily I spotted him.

 

As a kid I got hit on the head by the school bus wing mirror. It was over hanging the pavement quite a bit!

 

There is a very easy way anyone in a car can check their blind spots. It requires no special equipment nor modification to the vehicle.

Turn their head and look out the windows!!!

 

As a driver you should be monitoring your blind spots by looking over your shoulders anyway. So should be no change for drivers. But how many drivers do actually check their blind spots before indicating or moving?

[FN-GM]

There is a very easy way anyone in a car can check their blind spots. It requires no special equipment nor modification to the vehicle.

Turn their head and look out the windows!!!

 

Many vans do not have back windows.

 

As a driver you should be monitoring your blind spots by looking over your shoulders anyway. So should be no change for drivers. But how many drivers do actually check their blind spots before indicating or moving?

 

 

You're assuming the driver is in the car, in a parked car the driver might not be present, so they are unable to check for a passenger who wants to open the door.

[elsiegee40]

If only because I don't want the door ripped off by a passing van, I am very cautious every time I open a vehicle door.

 

I am surprised others aren't too.

[jmak]

As a cyclist, I've always been aware of the issue and make sure I look properly. I hadn't heard of the Dutch Reach method until the news story this week and I've given it a try. It really works - you're forced to look in exactly the right direction - and really easy to do. Definitely going to try and make it one of those things I do by habit, like locking my PC when I get up from my chair 😀

[dry]

I hadn't heard of the Dutch Reach method until the news story this week and I've given it a try. It really works - you're forced to look in exactly the right direction - and really easy to do. Definitely going to try and make it one of those things I do by habit, like locking my PC when I get up from my chair 😀

It's surprising how effective it is. I heard about it through a Dutch youtuber I sub to. He said it's taught during driving lessons to all Dutch learners- so it's as much as a habit for them as putting on a seatbelt is for us.

[arwen]

Many vans do not have back windows.

Side windows exist too you know.

 

 

 

You're assuming the driver is in the car, in a parked car the driver might not be present, so they are unable to check for a passenger who wants to open the door.

 

Passengers have necks and eyes too?