Dooring from a Cyclist's POV
#51
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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.
#52
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#53
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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.
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.
#54
apocryphal sobriquet
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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.
#56
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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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Other than roll into an obvious dooring situation at 20+ mph...
Maybe. But the one he startled hopefully LEARNED something.
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.
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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?
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?
#59
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#60
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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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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.
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.
#63
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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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#64
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"Too fast" is when one can't avoid contact with those irritations.
#65
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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.
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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#66
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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.
#67
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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.
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.
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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