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 physis 8.2 on August 27, 2013 at 10:33am

I try and educate anyone around me (and particularly when I'm a passenger in a car) to open their door with the hand farthest away from the door they're wanting to open.  This forces the person to look out the window!  This lesson should be doubly important for kids so they can get in the habit of it and make it muscle memory.

If someone retorts that they can't because they don't have enough free hands, I ask them nicely if the well-being of their: cellphone, breakfast, coffee, or suitcase/bag is more important than someone's life.  That usually makes them pause and stop their riposte.

Permalink Reply by Miguel Alvelo on August 28, 2013 at 3:47am
Apparently, Illinois is a pretty lawless state: http://www.iihs.org/laws/HelmetUseCurrent.aspx Where have I moved to?! :p

Anyway, thanks everybody for your kind thoughts. The bruise is a little bit bigger than I thought it was (I guess I was shocked full of adrenaline and didn't feel anything) and it hurts bad when I touch it now---making it hard to carry my work bag. But, details, details. I told what happened to a good friend of mine and he told me about a mutual friend in New York who got doored by a taxi passenger and was catapulted into the street. He spent a month in the hospital and has recovered since. After hearing that story I felt extra lucky my accident happened the way it did.

h' 1.0 said:

Miguel, sorry this happened.

And FYI it is absolutely the law that one has to wear a helmet while biking in the city of Chicago*

 

*(if working as a bike messenger in the "central area.")

Permalink Reply by Kaz on August 28, 2013 at 3:59am

Considering my friend has pictures of a car with a ruined door because she opened her door INTO THE SIDE OF A CTA BUS I feel like we have no hope of drivers or passengers ever seeing bikes. Sigh. 

Permalink Reply by Kara on August 28, 2013 at 7:06am

Sorry this happened to you. I got doored from the left a few months ago on Clark St. The guy went running and the car drove off. Luckily I was not hurt and my bike was fine but it scared the living hell out of me.

Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on August 28, 2013 at 10:29am

I look for heads in cars. If there's tint, I assume they're going to open the door into me. If I don't see their eyes in their mirrors, I assume they're going to open their door into me, and either reduce speed, or go wide if I have room. 

Permalink Reply by Barry Niel Stuart on August 28, 2013 at 10:31am

I was doored May of last year on Highland Blvd. in Milwaukee.  You'd think that with Harley-Davidson just dow3n the road, motorists would not only look once, but twice before they opened up, but in my case, I got caught unawares when I was looking to see if the way was clear for me to go left.  It cost me $150 for a new fork, Blackburn Low-Riders, and labor.  Motorists should be looking twice for two-wheelers, especially here in Milwaukee when we'll be hosting the Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary party.

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on August 28, 2013 at 1:58pm

Most of humanity must have everything efficiently designed for their mindless daily actions.

Dann B (5.25 mi/8.75 mi) said:

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?

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