Why do motorists do this?

tunguska

First off I'd like to apologise in advance for the rant I'm about to lay down. I realise nobody likes somebody who bitches and moans but I really gotta say something about the epidimec that is people lashing their car doors open on the road side whilst parked at the side of the road or even in the cycle lane.
This is so dangerous, why do motorists persist in doing this? Theyre not even looking in the mirror. They just park and lash open the door! This is incredible stupitidy. So many times(3 so far today and I still have a journey home to make) Im cycling along and theres a car parked in the cylcle lane and the door will fly open just as Im passing by. Its only because I actually expect this to happen that I havent been killed. I mean if I was on a motorbike or driving another car, the people who persist in opening their doors like this would, at best get their arms ripped off along with their car doors and at worst I suppose they could be killed and cause the death of other people.
So folks if youre a driver and youre reading this, please look in your mirror before you open the car door. And even better, get out on the passanger side. Dont be lazy, just jump over to the passenger side and get out there.
Thanks

Thomas_S_Hunterson

When cycling by parked cars you just have to move out into the centre of the lane tbh.

Raam

I almost got taken out by a car stopped in traffic outside Connolly earlier this evening. The rear passenger door was opened just in front of me. I was ready for it and I was moving slowly at the time so no harm done. The girl who opened it got a shock though when she realised how close it was. I'm glad I was paying attention.

Yeah, what Sean said. Go around a metre or more from the door, be ready to brake and shout.

Was chatting to a mate today about how he keeps seeing people parking on the hard shoulder of motorways and then opening the door onto the left-hand lane. It's just best to assume that everyone is going to do something stupid when on the roads.

NewDubliner

tunguska wrote: »

First off I'd like to apologise in advance for the rant I'm about to lay down. I realise nobody likes somebody who bitches and moans but I really gotta say something about the epidimec that is people lashing their car doors open on the road side whilst parked at the side of the road or even in the cycle lane.

The original DTO design guide made no provision for placing parking bays immediately to the left of cycle tracks, with no safety margin for the car door.

The current design is based on Dublin City Council's whims.

xz

I've really become aware of my old bad driving habits since I started cycling,observation and checking your blindspots is a must, even if you are sat in traffic going nowhere.

victorcarrera

Passengers tend to open left side doors because they may be unaware adults or kids being dropped off. They dont think bike.
Drivers who open their door without checking their rear view mirror dont get away with it for too long. Maybe you are approaching the car from behind while the driver is checking their door mirror and cant see you. I would use hand signal early, pull out and give them a wide berth. Maybe wear high viz vest also.

buffalo

Would you not be better off posting this in the motoring forum?

Buddy12

I was actually taken out by a car door whilst cycling home from work last year. I was cycling up to a red light when the passenger door flew open and I smacked straight into it. The girl who got out said sorry and disappeared as did the car when the lights went green.

To be honest if I'm cycling alongside a car and there's someone in it I always move out in case a door swings open.

fugazied

Sean_K wrote: »

When cycling by parked cars you just have to move out into the centre of the lane tbh.

Yeah I do that if there is someone in the passenger seat. I'm always watching those parked cars intensely as I ride along.

I so prefer riding in the country

petethedrummer

If you leave enough space between you and parked/stationary vehicles, you won't ever get doored. don't mind the markings on the road.

Jonnykitedude

Yeah as the guys said give yourself plenty of space and be alert!! Was on the way home last week and a taxi man parked in the cycle lane did this, i knew he was about to so made plenty of space between myself and the car, but i did give a frendly shout to watch out... he nearly kacked himself.

alfalad

xz wrote: »

I've really become aware of my old bad driving habits since I started cycling,observation and checking your blindspots is a must, even if you are sat in traffic going nowhere.

Like wise, even though i would think i gave plenty of time to cyclist before i am certainly a lot more wary of them now and always give plenty of space and time!

blorg

petethedrummer wrote: »

If you leave enough space between you and parked/stationary vehicles, you won't ever get doored. don't mind the markings on the road.

Good advice but note this is actually illegal if it means you have to not cycle in a cycle lane immediately beside parallel parking.

tunguska

Yeah the obvious thing to do would be to give a parked vehicle a wide berth. Unfortunately this is not always possible as a lot of the time as you approach a stationary vehicle theres a moving vehicle on your other side. Which means movement out into the centre of the road is blocked.

I realise that in an ideal world motorists would check their mirrors and exit their cars on the passenger side. But I also realise that its not an ideal world and a lot of people are effectively asleep behind the wheel and that people are lazy and will always do whats easy as opposed to whats safe. I cant change this so I reckon the best thing to do would be to accept that stuff like car doors flying open is always gonna happen and all we can do is be hyper aware and expect motorists to do stupid things.

So for people who cycle now but used to just drive, do motorists not think bike at all? Do they just think other cars?