Constantly scaring would be doorers. A guilty accidental pleasure.

Having learned the hard way about getting doored before the bliss of buffered bike lanes. Riding the streets since then has me riding slow enough on tight busy streets, looking into cars to see if there are people.So far with that habit, I always manage to stop on time as the occupants push the door open and they see me right there. I don't intend to scare them but it always turns out that way, with them screaming in fright at times.

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Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on January 8, 2013 at 4:34pm

Riding with my ski goggles on when this happens feels like Halloween all over again.

Permalink Reply by Mark Potts on January 8, 2013 at 6:01pm

Some folks just purely aren't paying attention.  Some definitely are, though, I've seen alot of cracked doors in front of me as they wait for me to pass.

There is danger is all facets of life, all we can really do is keep our eyes open and learn how to deal with the world that surrounds.

Permalink Reply by Noah Weiss 1.2 km on January 9, 2013 at 2:51am
I wonder if using a whistle would get people's attention better than a bell.
Permalink Reply by Jose Zayas on January 9, 2013 at 3:33am

Definitely, that is what I use and it works a lot better. Louder and more effective. It is what we use in Puerto Rico for riding and after moving to Chicago brought it with me. 

Noah Weiss 1.2 km said:

I wonder if using a whistle would get people's attention better than a bell.
Permalink Reply by dan brown on January 9, 2013 at 3:44am

whistle : short answer is 'yes'. Bells are too "gentle" for

I have used a whistle in the past (I retired it a few years ago); it (I had a very loud one) can really

startle people. On the plus side : it is more effective to "door-ers"; it saves your voice (if you are

prone to yell something (like "YO!"); but the downside is when it is that loud other folks (peds, other cyclists and even the motorists/car passengers) become annoyed.

Permalink Reply by Juan Primo on January 9, 2013 at 5:36am

I think Juan is converting would-be-repeat-doorers one scream at a time.  They might check their mirrors one more time, not so much to save cyclists' lives, but to avoid seeing that scary Goggle-Man again!

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 9, 2013 at 6:05am

The first time I ever got doored (back in the 80s), I had just started rolling after the stoplight turned green.  I was still going slow when I reached a big car parked across the intersection.  The door opened right in front of me, but I was going slow enough that I just bumped it, jumped off the seat and put my feet down.  The old lady sitting in the driver's seat was a lot more startled than I was.  Turned and looked at her and quietly said, "Please look next time before opening your door. You could hurt someone." 

I backed up far enough to get around the door and rode away. She was still sitting there looking stunned.

Permalink Reply by Juan Primo on January 9, 2013 at 6:27am

A long time ago I was walking down Wacker and I heard a terrible crash.  Some taxidriver had thrown his door open and his door was ripped off by another passing taxi.  The whole street stood silent until we figured out that thank goodness no one was hurt.  Lucky.

 

Maybe if they promoted "look before you open your door" as a way to save your own self from harm rather than save some poor cyclist, the message would be more effective.

Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on January 9, 2013 at 6:27am

I typically yell/say - 'Door!'

I love it when someone is walking toward their car, looks right at you, and then opens the door rather than wait for you to pass.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 9, 2013 at 7:58am

Priceless!

Another perspective on the "save your own self approach" - I've seen an increase in the number of drivers who drive towards the LEFT side of a narrow (lane and a half) two-way street, apparently to stay clear of opening doors.  WTF!?!  We're not in the UK, folks!  We drive on the RIGHT side here.

Juan Primo said:

A long time ago I was walking down Wacker and I heard a terrible crash.  Some taxidriver had thrown his door open and his door was ripped off by another passing taxi.  The whole street stood silent until we figured out that thank goodness no one was hurt.  Lucky.

 

Maybe if they promoted "look before you open your door" as a way to save your own self from harm rather than save some poor cyclist, the message would be more effective.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on January 9, 2013 at 8:36am

I've been yelling ***BOOM*** or ***CRASH*** for years, simulating what could have happened.  I do believe it's effective.  Without fear, they don't learn.  Thanx for validating Juan.

Permalink Reply by Thinman on January 9, 2013 at 11:01am

I have been using a whistle for about 8 months.  It is hard to tell if it works, but I have not been doored.  I had an accident (cutoff) on Dearborn which prompted the purchase.  I would rather have it and use than ride without it.  I use it a lot on the new Dearborn bike lane going south (from the north) to get the pedestrians out of the bike lane, they refuse to look to the north.  Sometimes it works to keep buses and taxis from cutting me off on Grand going west.  (I was considering sirens but no pays any attention to those either).   

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