I just got doored today, what about you?

Alright, so I know there's been plenty of complaint/rant threads related to road biking these past few weeks, but I thought I would still put this one in here anyway. Today I was biking toward the loop on Roosevelt near UIC. I was biking on the bike lane, slowing down at an intersection to stop because of a red light, when suddenly a car in traffic next to me opens the passenger door and "doors" me. All I got was a bruise and a crappy start to my day. but the driver and the passenger both claimed to be obvlibious to the fact that there was a bike lane there! I just told them I was fine and to pleeeeassseee look back before opening a door in traffic.

Right after the crash I got a text from my roommate (we had been having a debate about whether its the law to wear a helmet when biking), she said: "btw, there is no law that you must wear a helmet. I'm right. As usual." To which I responded: "Funny you should mention that. I just got doored by a car in traffic. Law or no law, wear your helmet, grilllll!"

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on August 26, 2013 at 1:52pm

sorry to hear that.  Happy you made it out with just some bruises. 

Permalink Reply by Bez on August 27, 2013 at 2:28am

How would suicide doors (what you are referring to) make cyclists safer?

People would still fling them open, but we'd just have a ramp to shoot us into traffic.

The safest way is to have sliding doors (ala vans), but this is impractical on most cars.


peter moormann said:

Should make car doors hinged at the back, for biker safety.

There could be a big class action liability lawsuit against auto makers by biker forcing them to make

car doors less dangerous.

Whats Ralphy up to these days anyway?

Permalink Reply by yai danche on August 27, 2013 at 3:37am

they just repaved and restriped most of that stretch of roosevelt so actually the lines and decals are very bright!  

Permalink Reply by Heather on August 27, 2013 at 4:20am

Even if there's no bike lane people should always check their mirrors before opening their doors. Not just for us, but for any traffic. I wish that would be emphasized in driver's ed programs and license tests.

Permalink Reply by Davo on August 27, 2013 at 4:43am

That happened to me a few years back on Damen. You never expect to get doored on your left side.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on August 27, 2013 at 4:46am

driver's side rear passengers can be a problem. They cannot see anything.  This past weekend I was that passenger while we were in some bike friendly areas in Wisconsin.  Fortunately, the driver looked. I reacted to him.  If he did not look It would have been tough for me to figure out when it was safe to open the door.  I am not sure about a solution for this. The suggestion for a door hinged the other way creates a very dangerous mousetrap.  If you run into that door on your bike the offending person could be very seriously injured by being pinned by the door.  Notwithstanding their offense of opening the door they do not deserve to be crushed.

Heather said:

Even if there's no bike lane people should always check their mirrors before opening their doors. Not just for us, but for any traffic. I wish that would be emphasized in driver's ed programs and license tests.

Permalink Reply by Marcus Moore on August 27, 2013 at 4:46am

I believe it's illegal to open the door of a car that's in a traveling lane.  Some of the lawyers on chainlink will know for sure.

Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on August 27, 2013 at 5:54am

I hate to say this, but why not?  Opening a door into traffic exposes the person who has done NOTHING wrong to being crushed by a truck, bus or car in addition to the lesser harm of being thrown from the bicycle to the pavement.   Why should we argue that changing designs so that the wrong doer is harmed rather than the innocent person is a "bad" change in design.   

David Barish said:

.  Notwithstanding their offense of opening the door they do not deserve to be crushed.

Permalink Reply by Beans on August 27, 2013 at 6:03am

Good to hear you're o.k. Miguel.

Permalink Reply by Maurice on August 27, 2013 at 8:13am

Agree about rear passengers.  The only time I ever got seriously doored was by a cab in heavy traffic.  Dude felt guilty as hell.  He even said that he expected me to punch him, but I couldn't get mad at him.  There was really no way for him to see me coming.  If anything, it was the cabbie's fault for not pulling all the way to the curb.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on August 27, 2013 at 8:19am

just requires more education which it sounds like the city is doing.  I have seen decals on cabs now which is a step in the right direction.


Maurice said:

Agree about rear passengers.  The only time I ever got seriously doored was by a cab in heavy traffic.  Dude felt guilty as hell.  He even said that he expected me to punch him, but I couldn't get mad at him.  There was really no way for him to see me coming.  If anything, it was the cabbie's fault for not pulling all the way to the curb.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on August 27, 2013 at 8:59am

Mom parks in a parking lane.  She is correctly parked. Her six year old child is feeling like a big girl now.  She opens the door to the car because she figured out how to do it. She is proud of herself....

...sure we can then say that 20 year old college student who's parents have slaved to get her through school are in tears to find out [some horrible thing about their daughter being doored and killed]

...or more likely...was mortified when a door opened in the lane where she was riding. She tried to avoid the door but could not do so. She braced for impact and the newfangled thing closed upon the child like a guillotine.  The image of those blonde locks locks on the head on the street haunted her forever

Yes. Dooring is bad. It is horrible when cyclists are injured or endangered by doors opening.  No, people who open a door do not deserve to be crushed, impailed, drawn and quartered, crucified or given the comfy chair whether they are innocent little girls, unknowing grandmothers, or expletives in the backseat of a BMW. I may advocate a large cash settlement and or jail time in certain cases. However, I am not looking to hurt anybody else. I tend towards education and perhaps restitution rather than retribution.

Crazy David 84 Furlongs said:

I hate to say this, but why not?  Opening a door into traffic exposes the person who has done NOTHING wrong to being crushed by a truck, bus or car in addition to the lesser harm of being thrown from the bicycle to the pavement.   Why should we argue that changing designs so that the wrong doer is harmed rather than the innocent person is a "bad" change in design.   

David Barish said:

.  Notwithstanding their offense of opening the door they do not deserve to be crushed.

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