Actually the key phrase in my post was "Within three feet from the curb to be precise." Thats Quebec, Canada and I'm not disputing that legal reauirements may be different in other provinces or countries. What I AM disputing is that a blanket statement will cover everything.

The situation regarding 'dooring' is one of hot contention currently in this city because a bicycle is still clasified as a recreational vehicle and if a car is parked when the door is opened - the police will usually refuse to even take a report because its not considered a 'moving violation' involving a motor vehicle and therefore out of their jurisdiction. Currently that means a civil lawsuit and small claims court here.

Were not a "motor" vehicle but we are considered a "MOVING" vehicle by the laws here in Colorado. Now I do understand where the OP is coming from, it's HELL, having a crazy motorist on your six so close you can hear the motor or being screamed at, etc. We were in that situation a couple of rides ago and the motorist didn't give a flying !@#$ about what RIGHTS we had on HER road!! It's very rare to have police handy when it happens, so I don't BLAME him, if he can find a safer route, it makes sense to me. Being RIGHT can get you very hurt or dead, so let's let each bicyclist handle the situation in "their" own way. Let's face the facts, LAWS don't mean anything to someone who "thinks" they own the road in a 4000 lbs. "killing machine", being DEAD right sucks! JMHO, YMMV.

Glad you're okay. Technically, this was a vehicle collision and you should have exchanged insurance info. I found that my car insurance covers me in accidents involving cars even if I'm on my bike. In this case, she is totally at fault and should pay your medical bills and bike repair bills.

But yes, defensive riding is the best way to avoid these collisions. Ride farther out in the lane so you can avoid doorings in the future.

Glad that your not too badly damaged!

In re: dooring-although I know that the law has been changed, in wi. as recently as 2008 bicyclists had to ride at least three feet from a standing or parked car.

I take it this incident happened in Harrisburg? The law in Pennsylvania is "far to the right as practicable." I really don't think there is much controversy over the idea that lying on the ground in a pool of blood is not a practicable way to get to your destination on a bicycle. Most motorists that have a problem with cyclists riding out of the door zone really haven't put much thought to the matter. However, if you watch motorists, they rarely get very close to parked cars.

I am sorry, but there is nothing, and I repeat NOTHING in that document to which you linked that says anything like you stated in your post.I says several things about riding to the far right of the roadway, but nothing about curbs, kerbs or any other parts of the side of the road. In fact, it even highlights the danger of being doored.

The Quebecois want to be so like the French, maybe they should take a good long hard look at how the French treat their cyclists in law and on the road.

First, glad you not hurt to bad.
Second, I would have laughed(later) at the fact she couldn't close her door.
If you have to ride in the door zone, there are some things you can do to keep yourself safer.
Look into the cars, in the windows, or the side mirror. If you see a person move over or slow down.
Look for brake lights, if they come on, look out for something to happen, like the car pulling out in front of you.
Look for reverse lights flashing, as the gear shift goes ino park, it has to pass reverse. That may make the lights flash, if you see that assume the door is about to open.
Watch for people parking ahead of you, the door is about to open.
Take the lane.
Or go slow if you can't take the lane, give yourself so extra time to react.

Agreed - my information comes from some person to person conversations with the constables in charge of a number of police stations in the area, and those conversations as a result of concern about the number and nature of accidents that some of our clients have had and the difficulty they had getting any satisfaction.

If you read the last page on that document it clearly states: "This guide is not a text of law. For questions of a legal nature, please refer to the Highway Safety Code."

And please don't bring politics into this - the Quebec separatists aren't exactly popular in this province, and only won a minority government in the last election. And that only because the other parties are dispised even more. There are actually more immigrants of all nationalities in this province than there are French Canadians of any political standing.

Just to help you out with your discussions, here's what it says in the Highway Safety Code for Quebec on this:

487. Every person on a bicycle must ride on the extreme right-hand side of the roadway in the same direction as traffic, except when about to make a left turn, when travel against the traffic is authorized or in cases of necessity.

That word, "necessity" is the get out word for having to ride away from the door zone, because otherwise you wouldn't be allowed to actually pass vehicles. And in the advisory document you linked to in your previous post, weaving in and out of parked cars is actively discouraged.

This one might be useful, too, for a driver who squeezes or clips a cyclist while passing:

341. No driver of a road vehicle may pass a bicycle within the same traffic lane unless there is sufficient space to allow him to do so in safety.

And

430. No person may open the door of a road vehicle until the vehicle is stopped and he has ascertained that it can be done in safety.

The onus is pretty clear in this one.

Also interesting that removing wheel reflectors and installing pedals without reflectors is illegal.

Just trying to be helpful to our Quebec brethren.

Why can't you ride in the street?

And for the OP, extracted from the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code:

§ 3705. Opening and closing vehicle doors.
No person shall open any door on a motor vehicle unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on a side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.

You have a case if you wanted to pursue it. Your bike is classified as traffic.

If I take any objects and throw them out into traffic in the street, I'd be liable for what that would cause, and if the law doesnt say so, then something is deeply wrong. Its not rocket science.

I really don't think it matters who is liable or at fault. The important point is to be careful when you are in the door zone. Either "own the road" or be sure to go slow and be paranoid. Paranoid for opening doors, but also for pedestrians (or pets) popping out from out of view beyond a truck, van, or SUV, or small cars pulling out suddenly, from a hard to see spot beyond a truck, van, or SUV.

In very light traffic, I'll claim the road, to give parked cars plenty of clearance. In moderate to heavy traffic, I switch to "pedestrian on wheels" mentality, and go dead slow in the door zone, so I can instantly stop just by putting my feet to the ground, and keep a paranoid hawk-eye out for surprises.

Of course, it's not paranoia, when they really are out to get you! ;)

I don't ride on the roads, so I respond to this as a driver rather than a cyclist:

I have twice been 'involved' in near accidents between a car and a bike (once as a driver and once as a passenger). In both cases the cyclist was making a third lane between traffic and a row of parked cars -- and actually moving faster than traffic so he came up from behind the car on the driver's right side.

In one case, (when I was driving) I started to make a right turn into a parking garage when the cyclist zipped past me. I had no idea he was there.

In the other case, the driver swerved to the right (in his own lane) to avoid a pothole. Again, the cyclist had come up from behind on the driver's right side and he had no way of knowing that he was there.

And, again, the cyclist was making his own lane in what would also be called the 'door zone'.

So, yes, as a driver, I agree: take the lane. If you can safely ride on the birm or off to the side so cars can safely pass, then fine. But, if you can't, then take the lane. It's better for everybody.

That's a good point: the cars don't ride in the door zone and don't consider a part of their lane. So why should cyclists?

Lots of varied and interesting advice here. Thanks. To me it makes the most sense to take a less travelled route. I think it's easy for cyclists to become a little agressive in carving out their territory, but people are pretty edgy and impatient at quitting time, and they're not attentive. This young lady was on her phone, too. I've had situations in the same spot where people cautiously open doors and I've been able to stop. She threw the thing open, almost as if she'd kicked it. A couple of blocks up there are more stop signs, less traffic, and less chance of being clipped.

You really will need to be careful because she might just try to come after your for damage to the door. If she's young, there could well be parents looking at the situation, and you know what they can be like!

Carving out territory includes knowing your rights when stuff like this happens.

as others have said,stay out of the door zone,law here is to ride as far to right as is safe,door zone is not safe(as others have also said,,,
bud

Yep, but bad laws...are still the law.

Different thoroughfare designs are optimized for different uses. Freeways and interstates are optimized for carrying high volumes of high speed motor vehicle traffic. The alley behind my house is optimized for large service vehicles to lumber down at a walking pace once a week. I often see cyclists fighting the good fight, riding on high traffic volume, shoulderless arterials when just a block or two away is a parallel neighborhood street optimized for low volumes of slow speed traffic.

I think every state in the US has a law that says a driver can only open a car door into traffic when it is safe to do so. A quick search turned up this:
Maryland Vehicle code 21-1105 Opening and closing vehicle doors

What laws are in effect for other countries, I can't say, but at least in the US the person opening the door is liable for not checking first.

BTW, it's not too late to file an accident report. The driver would then be guilty of a hit-and-run, since it was an injury accident and must be reported. If you didn't get the name and license, it'll be easy to find her because the police can simply search the body shops for a door frame repair.

I almost got doored by a cop once and told her that she had better look out before she opened her door. She surprised me by admitting that I was right. :)

I think that would be a difficult case: she was parked and out of her car -- and she spoke with the OP and he let her leave without any protest. But, it does sound like she bears liability for the accident.

1. Glad you were not seriously injured.
2. It's the drivers fault. Period. At least here in California and I expect most states.
3. Your mistake was in riding in 'The Door Zone"
4. Did you get her contact information? IF not, you certainly should have.
5. I would see a doc for a checkout.

Ride safe,
Jeff

I almost got doored on this morning's commute. Off the bike trail and just two blocks into the "city streets" section of the commute, a man flings his door open as I'm going by. I was out of the door zone. So, I was safe. Had I been eight inches closer it would have been another story. BTW, I frightened the daylights out of him. As he looked up getting ready to stand, I went flying by, missing him by inches. I'm sure all he saw was a blur. I heard a surprised, "Whoa!" from him as he staggered back. I was tempted to shout that he should look next time, but I figured the ATCH released from his pituitary as I flew by was message enough.