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Any suggestions on what to do when drivers ignore my polite request to shut their car door?

As I ride, I will occasionally ask a driver of a parked car who has their door wide open to "Watch the door, please." There are times when I look over my shoulder and the door is still wide open. One time I circled back and wrote down the plate number. Does anyone have suggestions on whether it is worth calling 311, for example, and reporting them?

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Calling over an open door is a bit much, and I won't get a response. Calling about, say, a car parked in the bike lane or someone who is standing (idling) there and won't move is not too much. I thought that was a 311 thing, but the first time I called someone in the operator told me it was a 911 call since it would require an officer to be sent over to ticket them. Last time I did it (I got sick enough of this stuff that I do it whenever I see someone parked in the lane, etc.) the operator happily took my information and passed it on. Still feels weird, since I associate 911 with life-or-death kind of stuff.

so true, so true... I like it!

Kevin C said:

Who are you and what have you done with Adam?

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Let it go and move on with your day.

That seems reasonable.  Today on Elston I saw a driver zip around a line of four or five cars stopped at the light at Ashland in the bike lane.  I got her license (262 8630, green VW New Beetle - if you know her, please wag your finger at her in a very stern manner).  Later on, I had to move into traffic to get around a semi idling in the bike lane just north of McGrath Acura.

I suppose I could have called about either one.  Just would have slowed me down (I had no trouble keeping up with the VW lady), and the person at the other end of the 311 line would have probably just rolled their eyes...

That said, if an open car door, parked semi, or person driving briefly in the bike lane doesn't warrant a to call 311, where do you draw the red line?  Realize, of course, that you will often not generate any real action, especially if the offender was moving (gone by the time the police get there).


Rich S said:

I don't think reporting individual violators will accomplish much to be honest. Maybe if you saw a cop you could ask them to write a ticket or issue a warning. 

I also thought it was a 311 call until I made a call! That makes sense, though. 

David P. said:

Calling over an open door is a bit much, and I won't get a response. Calling about, say, a car parked in the bike lane or someone who is standing (idling) there and won't move is not too much. I thought that was a 311 thing, but the first time I called someone in the operator told me it was a 911 call since it would require an officer to be sent over to ticket them. Last time I did it (I got sick enough of this stuff that I do it whenever I see someone parked in the lane, etc.) the operator happily took my information and passed it on. Still feels weird, since I associate 911 with life-or-death kind of stuff.

I feel like I'm being anti-trolled.

;)

Tim S said:

so true, so true... I like it!

Kevin C said:

Who are you and what have you done with Adam?

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Let it go and move on with your day.

There seems to be perpetual confusion about this--- not really hard to figure out if you think about it for a moment... just think about what happens to a 911 vs. 311 call.  911-- dispatched.  311-- logged to be reviewed by the responsible department on the next work day. Open car door... something to be looked into next Monday or Tuesday? No.

 

Of course, there are those that will continue to call 311 for something that needs a prompt response... and they'll tie up both 311 and 911 after the call is transferred.

David P. said:

Calling over an open door is a bit much, and I won't get a response. Calling about, say, a car parked in the bike lane or someone who is standing (idling) there and won't move is not too much. I thought that was a 311 thing, but the first time I called someone in the operator told me it was a 911 call since it would require an officer to be sent over to ticket them. Last time I did it (I got sick enough of this stuff that I do it whenever I see someone parked in the lane, etc.) the operator happily took my information and passed it on. Still feels weird, since I associate 911 with life-or-death kind of stuff.

So if we're going to label the Adam Hersteins of the world "complainers" for giving a damn, we need a nice loaded derogatory term for the folks that tirelessly defend the status quo.

"Uncle Tom" is already taken....

Kassholes?

h' 1.0 said:

So if we're going to label the Adam Hersteins of the world "complainers" for giving a damn, we need a nice loaded derogatory term for the folks that tirelessly defend the status quo.

"Uncle Tom" is already taken....

OK, maybe I didn't frame that well.

Let's try.. "aggressively complacent cyclist who thinks everything we've gained just happened on its own."

Tony Adams 7 mi (dirtbag hipstr) said:

Kassholes?

h' 1.0 said:

So if we're going to label the Adam Hersteins of the world "complainers" for giving a damn, we need a nice loaded derogatory term for the folks that tirelessly defend the status quo.

"Uncle Tom" is already taken....

I always kick the door on them...that teaches them.

 

I think all of us don't have to imagine the circumstance you're talking about - we know it from first hand experience. The difference is this: nobody positioned in the left side of the lane in your scenario has to dodge an open door. The only way OP's scenario makes sense seems to be that she was riding into traffic, swerved to miss a door and somebody in a car came around the corner, not expecting to be facing oncoming (bike or otherwise) traffic.

Jeff Schneider said:

Drivers cut corners when they turn, that's how.

I had a guy in a giant SUV almost run me over at a stop light in this way.  I was standing in my lane and behind the white stripe at a stop light.  I was in the left side of my lane (preparing for a left turn).  He approached the intersection from my right, making a left turn.  He swore at me because the position of my bike prevented him from making a fast cut across my lane.  He had to slow down a bit, make a square corner, and stay in his lane.  So, I pretty much ruined his day, maybe his life.  I can see why he was angry...

Reboot Oxnard said:

Trying to figure out how this happened - unless you were salmoning...?

Anne Alt said:

Thank you!  Leaving a door open longer than necessary can be a hazard.  I had a crash last year when some dork was just sitting there with his door open - close to an intersection.  I had to swing wide to avoid the door - just as a car turned the corner and was coming right at me.  Fortunately her brakes and mine worked well, but I crashed trying to avoid the oncoming car.  If that dork hadn't left his door open, there wouldn't have been any near collision or crash.

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