Commuting - A Tragic Reminder

Watch out for those doors.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/06/23/2007-06-23_biker_dies_as_car_door_throws_him_under_.html

ooh, I wince already and I haven't yet clicked the link.

This is my one big fear. It's happened to me twice already.

Curse you, a thread like this six days before I return to the UK, where said previous doorings occurred. On omen? If I die in the next 6 months it's on your head, you scurvy dog.

Thats just depressing.

I hate riding within 5 feet of drivers side doors. If I have to, I always try and see if anyone is inside the car. Hopefully she'll sit behind bars a while for negligence causing death.

The only way this will ever be prevented is by making it known that you'll go to jail if you do it.

I would like to one day be on my mtb, not going too fast, and have someone open their door on me. I'd love to run into the door and bend it all the way around to the front bumper. Then get a picture when they find that 1) it's their fault, 2) they get a ticket, 3) they will have to fix their door, 4) they will also have to fix my bike should it have any problems.

Priceless.

Socializing this scenario is the only way to prevent it.

OMG, traggic.. one of my fears too..

This happened a few years back to a woman biking in Brooklyn on 5th Ave. Terrible to see it again. I am sure that the woman who doored this poor kid will likely not even get a ticket. Cars kill cyclists and pedestrians all the time in NYC and unless the driver is drunk, they get off without even a ticket (even if they run red lights).

Wonder what happens in cases like that, do they go to jail or is just an "accident" ?

Just this morning I am so struck and saddened by what happend to this kid that I post the link and the warning/reminder.

I have another, watch out for left turners! I was riding home tonight and a car took an abrupt left turn at the intersection as I was passing through (with the light) didn't see me, didn't halt one bit until the last minute -which couldve been my last minute- when I yelled like it was and the tires shrieked and I made it through with less than an inch to spare.

I am a die-hard all year round, all weather, all purpose cyclist and a life long New Yorker. Every once in a while after incidents like these I pause to consider how at any moment I could be squashed like a bug. Doesn't stop me ever. I wonder if I am brave, crazy or if I am just plain stupid, probably a mixture of all three.

not to open a can of worms, but what happened to the woman door opener?
legally? criminal negligence causing bodily harm and death?

This is tragic. She's at fault, but who knows if the police will charge her or even give her a ticket. "I'm sorry" and crying is woefully inadequate for killing someone. To me, this isn't an accident because that implies no one's at fault. She made a mistake and while I don't think she meant to door anyone, there should be some sort of civil obligation for causing someone's death.

Sigh. Found this while looking for more info on the original story.
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=71036

I never understood why people don't just check their rearview mirror before opening their door. It should be instinctive. It always was for me. I was always worried about opening it up and a passing car taking it off.

I never understood why people don't just check their rearview mirror before opening their door. It should be instinctive. It always was for me. I was always worried about opening it up and a passing car taking it off.

+1 to this, why take the risk of losing the door.

I've never had a crash involving a car door, but about 2 years ago I decided I'd try to avoid ever riding where someone could get me with a car door. I know that I have made the mistake of opening a car door without looking more than once, and I see people do it all the time. Part of the reason it happens is that on many roads there's less than one bicycle for every hundred cars... and people may know that the typical path of a car on the street they're on doesn't take it into their door zone. If the lanes are wide, moving cars just don't go all that close to parked cars.

Riding a bike with the assumption that you require a couple feet of space on the right and left for safety can make bicycling much less stressful. Some people will get irritated if you ride in the middle of the lane, but some will actually be relieved that you have made it clear what they must do (stay behind you, or move over one full lane before passing) and have not encouraged them to drive too close to you for their own comfort. Once you realize that it is often safe (and safest) to ride in the middle of the lane, biking among cars can be a bit more relaxing. Bicycles (and motorcycles) are not quite as noticeable as cars but when you position yourself in the middle of the lane, even drivers who are pretty inattentive will notice you-- as they would notice a car in the same spot. As long as they have noticed you, they will have no difficulty avoiding running you over.



Since acquiring the habit of (almost) always staying 3+ feet from parked cars' doors while riding a bike, I've noticed that I do the same thing while driving when I can. When the car is too wide to stay out of the door zone I really notice it, and then remind myself (with a bit of mischievous glee) that if someone opens their door and i drive into it, I won't be injured but the person who threw their door in front of me will have learned a lesson.