I usually try to ride about 4 ft out, on the outer edge of the bike lane, cause that's where car doors usually end. So I'm riding home tonight when out of nowhere I hear this familiar "snap" and saw something opening next to me, instinctively served maybe 6" to my left and felt the edge of the door brush pass my right knuckles.
So there you have it, saved! Had I been riding in the middle of the bike lane, I would've had to take a hard dive to the left possibly uncontrolled into traffic, or I would've been knocked off or rammed into the door.

Yeah when those doors don't seem so big. But when they open...man it's like somebody supersized it!

True dat.

thats probably the most useful lesson I have learnt on BF - cycling next to doors is like russian roulette

I have been yelling 'bike' when I go past cars with doors that could potentially open on me--anyone have any experience? Am I just yelling in the wind and making a fool of myself--or is it worth it?

In my experience if people are not looking for you or listening for you it is very difficult to do anything that will attract their attention- better to rely on yourself

I try to look through the rear windows of cars to see if there is anyone inside that could open a door. But, tinted windows, head-rests, and speed make it difficult to tell.

I think it's the single most frightening thing part of riding a bike. I'm locked on to the tires, looking for brake lights, looking at the side view mirrors, looking for someone in the drivers seat...

Large two-door sedans and even four-door SUVs can have huge doors, on the order of 4 feet. Stripe a 5 foot bike lane next to a parking lane and if the car is even parked 6" from the curb there is no useful area at all within the bike lane.

Add 1 foot for the idiot who jumps out of the door and stands out in traffic.