Originally Posted by
rmfnla
Four feet sounds like a lot; are you that worried about the parked cars?
If you pay attention to things like tail lights and side view mirrors you get good at spotting who's still in their car and might be about to open their door...
I passed a car with no lights on at night under a street lamp. 9:00 at night, long after the library across the street closed. Door opened into my handlebars. I passed a VW squareback I could see into and saw no one. The mom inside was bent forward gathering her kids toys from the passenger floor. She opened the door into my face.
Your advice works most of the time. The times it doesn't you will remember the rest of your life. Trust me. That second door was a concussion, wrecked shoulder and would have been a lost ear had my helmet not knocked my head aside. Both crashes I was deposited in the middle of the car lane, rather quickly. Those were 1969 and 1982. I learned. I give 4 foot berth often. (Edit: I just measured 4'. It is a lot. I give it more like three.)
Ben