getting doored
being a bike rider in new york city, i've become obsessed with what action to take when someone abruptly opens their car door, forcing me to make a quick decision that could affect the rest of my life.
i've had several friends get doored and read many articles about people being killed by this action. i remember this being part of the driver's ed curriculum, but most drivers shrug off this action as inconsequential. they don't care as long as they don't get hurt. however, if they door a bicyclist, it's the bicyclist's fault for riding too fast, or riding a bike in the first place.
when this situation arises one is faced with 3 options of where to go.
if you are lucky and there is no traffic in the adjacent lane, or traffic is stopped, you could use this option and either swerve out of the way or run into one of the automobiles in that lane. this option isn't available when traffic is whizzing past you. there was a situation recently where this happened to a 63 year old man and he was thrown into this lane and was run over and over and over by the autos in that lane. since you probably won't have time to look over your shoulder to see if a car is coming, this option should only be used unless you are positive that there are no cars coming.
the second option is to run into the door of the car. this isn't so much of an option, but a potential end result if you don't make up your mind in time.
i have come to the conclusion that the only option, besides swerving into the next lane, is to actually run into the person who is dooring you.
think of it this way. their body is a cushion. flesh is softer than metal or asphalt. when people get out of cars, they tend to exit the car as they open the door, so their body will most likely be available for you to use and lessen your impact.
in my hypothetical situation, i lift my hands from the handlebars and basically run into them, like i am sliding into home plate - head first, using every available square inch of their body as a pillow and reducing the contact my body will inevitably have with the ground below.
i ride very defensively. and that goes double when riding next to parked cars. in fact, i've taken on the growing opinion that riding in bike lanes and next to parked cars is actually a bad idea and now ride most of the time in the middle of the next lane. bike lanes are simply parking lanes for delivery trucks and double parkers anyway. but even still, almost every day some asshole opens their door without checking to see if anybody is coming.
riding a bike in this city makes this situation inevitable. i only hope the person eats a lot of mcdonalds and never walks or works out. that'll be a nice cushion.
more bicycling goodies:
true story about hipsters
a true story about stupid williamsburg hipsters.
» read | posted: 2009-09-22
critical mass
i'm tired of hearing about bicyclists being arrested and beaten up by cops high on overtime pay.
» read | posted: 2008-09-06
the bikes of new york
bikes, bikes everywhere. track bikes, 3 speeds, delivery bikes, messenger bikes. williamsburg, east village, etc.
» view gallery | posted: 2008-08-31
more williamsburg fixed gear attitude
another encounter with a williamsburger
» read | posted: 2007-09-24
the pine creek trail on bicycle
pennsylvania's pine creek trail in 2005. a very nice trail, one of my faves.
» view gallery | posted: 2007-04-25
great allegheny passage on a bicycle
rode my bicycle from pittsburgh to washington d.c. through some of the worst flooding in pennsylvania in 100 years. all told, a fantastic trail, highly recommended.
» view gallery | posted: 2007-04-20
biking disaster-part 1
my first bike tour was a disaster. don't go on vacation in france in august. you are only asking for trouble.
» read | posted: 2006-05-12
