The Chainlink

SRT - Safe Riding Techniques

While we can compile a list of all the possible hazards we face while biking in the city, I want to focus on what cyclists can do to be more pro-active and try to minimize hazards that lead up to dooring crashes.

What are some things you personally do while riding in Chicago, or anywhere, to avoid car door crashes?

How do you utilize SRT while riding?

Thanks,

@lookchicago

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Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on December 5, 2012 at 9:18pm

My exception to this rule is when I hear heavily revving engines behind me. That indicates to me that the driver is being reckless/drunk/homicidal and won't hesitate to take any opening to squeeze between me and and oncoming traffic, and come within inches of hitting me. A lot of my close calls have been that way. When this happens, I try to ride as far as I can to the right, even in the door zone, and reduce my speed to a walking pace until I deem the danger is over.

ilter said:

"Ride Wide¨ is real :)

On my way back home, after a relaxed ride on the lake front, I took a darker one way street with cars parked on both sides. Strangely this thread came to my mind, just as I thought "now, how would ya answer that safe riding question for a street like this?" someone swung open their car door! 
What saved a close call or worse is that I was riding wide, 3 ft or so away from parked cars.  Riding that way, closer to the middle of the road, narrows the road for approaching cars, and slows them down (to the speed limit actually).  If I was riding close to the side, it is not difficult to imagine the car behind not slowing, and even speeding up to make the green light & clipping me when I swerve to avoid the door..

Permalink Reply by ilter on December 6, 2012 at 9:04pm

That`s right! Ride wide is not always possible. When I think about the incident again, it was lucky that the driver behind me was not aggressive at all. They were giving me enough room and approaching very slowly. Otherwise feeling a fast approaching car from behind would either make me slow down a bit and hug the side, or start sprinting right in the middle of the road, both not great, as in either case, you have less time or space to react to any obstacles.. Seems like there is no ultimate way to escape dooring, except of course if no one opened doors w/o looking for cyclists.

Like how it is second nature for most people to put on the seat belt when they sit on the car seat, looking out before opening the door could become an habit, hopefully one day.

MagMileMarauder said:

My exception to this rule is when I hear heavily revving engines behind me. That indicates [snip]

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