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Dooring from a Cyclist's POV

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Dooring from a Cyclist's POV

Old 09-15-14, 07:35 PM
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Originally Posted by achoo
Watching that video, and the moment I saw that cab pulled near the bike lane, flashers on, I thought, "I bet he gets doored by a passenger getting out of that cab."

If it's that obvious...
I live out in the country. I have 100% more chance of a cow walking out in front of me than to get doored by anyone. It was even obvious to me as soon as I saw a cab with its blinkers on.
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Old 09-15-14, 08:21 PM
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Originally Posted by JonnyHK
That being said he didn't do anything wrong.
Would you ride at that speed under those conditions?
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Old 09-15-14, 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by kickstart
Would you ride at that speed under those conditions?
I'd ride at varied speeds as the conditions vary. I noted the cab with the hazard lights on and I would have slowed for that (and moved a little, watched for the passenger, hit the bell or shouted).

He was quick at times - but the immediate conditions were fine for that. He was slower at other times.

Despite being caught out by this cab I wouldn't say he was riding dangerously.
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Old 09-16-14, 02:56 AM
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Originally Posted by JonnyHK
[snip]
Despite being caught out by this cab I wouldn't say he was riding dangerously.

"So, other than that, how did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?”
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Old 09-16-14, 04:30 AM
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Originally Posted by dynaryder
I did,although the settlement wasn't quite enough to replace the bike and equipment. If it were to happen again,in addition to calling the cops,I would insist on replacement value.
Glad you were able to get some compensation. Bummer you weren't able to be made whole. The law is sometimes really weird.

In my case (small claims) the judge said damages were way over their limit and recommended it go to a higher court. The guy who injured me in NYC (rabbi in training) split town and disappeared before I could get my case into a higher court.
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Old 09-16-14, 05:55 AM
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Originally Posted by dynaryder
I did,although the settlement wasn't quite enough to replace the bike and equipment. If it were to happen again,in addition to calling the cops,I would insist on replacement value.
I'm disappointed that you didn't get enough to replace the bike and equipment. I know that they are only obligated to pay you replacement value, but considering you weren't asking for anything relating to injuries, that's a real bummer.
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Old 09-16-14, 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by JonnyHK
...

That being said he didn't do anything wrong.
Other than roll into an obvious dooring situation at 20+ mph...

My only other thought is that I'd be a bit louder with my shouted warnings. It could just be his cam/mike set up, but the warning to the jaywalking girl sounded a bit weak.
Maybe. But the one he startled hopefully LEARNED something.
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Old 09-16-14, 01:53 PM
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I'm really surprised people are blaming the bicyclist. He's in the bike lane, he has right of way. The taxi had its four ways on, but I missed that the first time through the video. The taxi shouldn't be letting people out in the middle of the road.

I'm glad the peds took the rider's side. I half expected them to start yelling at him to get off the road.

I want to know what happened with this. Did the police show up?
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Old 09-16-14, 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by spivonious
I'm really surprised people are blaming the bicyclist. He's in the bike lane, he has right of way.
.
right-of-way is an obligation, not a possession. he made mistakes, we either learn from them or repeat them ourselves. which do you choose?
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Old 09-16-14, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by spivonious
I'm really surprised people are blaming the bicyclist. He's in the bike lane, he has right of way. The taxi had its four ways on, but I missed that the first time through the video. The taxi shouldn't be letting people out in the middle of the road....
I totally agree that the door-opener was at fault. But any bicyclist who depends on "right or way" is just plain foolish. An experienced, thoughtfull rider rides as if right of way doesn't exist, and rides slowly in dangerous and unpredictable situations - which is exactly what the bike lane offered - predictable danger and predictable unpredictability (yes I wrote predictable unpredictability). I'd say the door-opener was guilty of opening the door carelessly, but the bike rider was equally, or nearly equally as guilty of riding carelessly.
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Old 09-16-14, 06:18 PM
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I have a car door equivalent in NYC. As a pedestrian in Manhattan you have to be very careful of the person walking in front, or to the side of you. Sometimes they stop, or turn suddenly. Sometimes you crash into them. Sometimes you are just stopped and someone crashes into you.

At the end of the day - even a walker has to have a head on a swivel and must walk a cautious speed to avoid collisions. This cyclist was being a hard-riding numbskull, as well was the girl opening the door without looking.
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Old 09-16-14, 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by kickstart
lost all sympathy from the get go the way he shot the gap between the two jay walkers. Karma can be a b......
+1 - guy is riding like an ass.
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Old 09-16-14, 08:36 PM
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Thanks to this thread, I realize that half of the irritating incidents that happen to me can be attributed to my riding too fast. Thanks, folks.
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Old 09-16-14, 09:58 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
Thanks to this thread, I realize that half of the irritating incidents that happen to me can be attributed to my riding too fast. Thanks, folks.
I think it would be fair to say "irritating incidents" can very often be attributed to others doing the wrong thing.

"Too fast" is when one can't avoid contact with those irritations.
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Old 09-16-14, 10:20 PM
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There is considerable grey area. When someone cuts me off, it's either a frightful emergency or something that leads me to roll my eyes. The severity of the situation does depend somewhat on my speed.

Saturday night, a pedestrian jumped out in front of me from between parked cars in the middle of the block. He had his back turned to me as he was getting into a car. I yelled at him to look before he leaps. He apologized.
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Old 09-17-14, 04:14 AM
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Originally Posted by kickstart
I think it would be fair to say "irritating incidents" can very often be attributed to others doing the wrong thing.

"Too fast" is when one can't avoid contact with those irritations.
Agreed, with many situations.

But folks popping out from between cars, or flinging open a door ... those two scenarios are very often not capable of being anticipated, beyond simply riding/driving by such areas (strings of parked cars). Vehicles in the roadway don't slow down to 5mph in anticipation someone's going to appear between parked cars; IMO, nor should a cyclist in a legitimate lane, either. Yes, be on guard against such circumstances, to the extent possible. But often it's simply not possible to regroup from the instant lunacy many present to us, while on the roadways (either in a car or on a bike). We've all been there.
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Old 09-17-14, 08:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Clyde1820
Agreed, with many situations.

But folks popping out from between cars, or flinging open a door ... those two scenarios are very often not capable of being anticipated, beyond simply riding/driving by such areas (strings of parked cars). Vehicles in the roadway don't slow down to 5mph in anticipation someone's going to appear between parked cars; IMO, nor should a cyclist in a legitimate lane, either. Yes, be on guard against such circumstances, to the extent possible. But often it's simply not possible to regroup from the instant lunacy many present to us, while on the roadways (either in a car or on a bike). We've all been there.
Yes, it's impossible to predict or allow for all possibilities.
But that's different from riding in a way that relies on luck or the actions of others to avoid them, especially when one knows there's a high likelihood of encountering them.

As a cyclist, why a hazard is present isn't important, its presence is all that matters.
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