Door openers
- Thread starter porridge
- Start date
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John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
You're reading the wrong version, Mikey.BentMikey said:
There's a secret drivers' version of the Highway Code, that one that says you have to be in the cycle lane, and that overtaking 3 inches from your handlebars is just fine, among other things.
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
domtyler said:Believe me, it is when it's my missus is the one doing it!
Seriously, I think you need to have some confidence and assertiveness and some natural ability and in some people it is just not there. Cycling on the roads is not for everyone Mikey.
Jeez, do you let her drive? If she doesn't have the ability to learn to cycle safely, perhaps driving isn't a good idea either...
Have you thought of booking her some proper adult training sessions? She may take stuff in better from a professional than from you.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
I think he keeps her tied up in the living room! 
PBancroft
Senior Member
- Location
- Winchester
Also, best wishes to Mrs Porridge.
The thing with doors is that drivers don't always look, because they're people and people are stupid (myself included). Sometimes people do really crazy stuff without thinking, and blame other people for the outcome.
Yes, the driver should have looked, and was bloody stupid that he didn't... bet it doesn't make the wife feel any better.
The only thing that she can do is to try to expect the unexpected - keep her distance from doors at all times, keep away from the gutter, move out to turn right within plenty of time... sometimes the safest place to be isn't always out of the way of traffic.
The thing with doors is that drivers don't always look, because they're people and people are stupid (myself included). Sometimes people do really crazy stuff without thinking, and blame other people for the outcome.
Yes, the driver should have looked, and was bloody stupid that he didn't... bet it doesn't make the wife feel any better.
The only thing that she can do is to try to expect the unexpected - keep her distance from doors at all times, keep away from the gutter, move out to turn right within plenty of time... sometimes the safest place to be isn't always out of the way of traffic.
nilling
Über Member
- Location
- Preston, UK
See http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=19193 Door Zone
Glad to hear Mrs P in back on the bike
Glad to hear Mrs P in back on the bike
domtyler said:Believe me, it is when it's my missus is the one doing it!
That is the attitude Mr Radger used to have toward my cycling. Now, even he admits that I am a more confident and better cyclist than him, and that's just through getting on and doing it.
Maybe encourage her to do a cycle training course - I know I took sweet f.a. advice in from him indoors' 'helpful' comments, but reading Cyclecraft was a revelation
I hate it when people open doors without checking their mirror,but it's one of those things that cyclists have to prepare for, by leaving a good distance between themselves and cars.
Your wife will have learnt a valuable lesson today.
It doesn't matter that it's the door-opener's fault, if you end up dead. Do what you can to avoid getting injured of killed, never mind whose fault it is.
Your wife will have learnt a valuable lesson today.
It doesn't matter that it's the door-opener's fault, if you end up dead. Do what you can to avoid getting injured of killed, never mind whose fault it is.
Riding in Circles
Veteran
- Location
- EDINBURGH
I agree, regardless of fault it is the cyclist that suffers so the optimum solution is to ride further out, a little inconvenience for following traffic can make the difference between life and death for the cyclist, it's a no brainer.
02GF74
Über Member
As has been said, a hard lesson to learn.
Pretty sure highway code mentirons this. Aslo should have repoprted to police, not that I expect much action from them.
on a bike you have to keep an eye out for potential hazards such as door opening.
Also look out for front wheels pointing outwards and right indicator on as all of those may be sign of driver pulling out.
What part of Watford does she need to get through?
Most of it is not too bad until nearing the town centre where there are roads with parked cars on both sides.
As for holding traffic up? Then tough. Let them wait, they will anyway due to traffic lights and other cars so in reality the journey time will be the same.
Pretty sure highway code mentirons this. Aslo should have repoprted to police, not that I expect much action from them.
on a bike you have to keep an eye out for potential hazards such as door opening.
Also look out for front wheels pointing outwards and right indicator on as all of those may be sign of driver pulling out.
What part of Watford does she need to get through?
Most of it is not too bad until nearing the town centre where there are roads with parked cars on both sides.
As for holding traffic up? Then tough. Let them wait, they will anyway due to traffic lights and other cars so in reality the journey time will be the same.
Hi02GF74 said:
She travels from Croxley green (nr Harvester) so cycles up through Cassiobury Park (rather than Rickmansworth Road, to avoid traffic) then cycles down through the town to Lower High Street (just past Watford High Street Stn) the incident occured outside Maplins, this area is dangerous for a few reasons, that stretch of the road is also very dangerous on the bend outside Mcdonalds, cars seem to presume that evryone is going to turn left with the road and cyclists are vunerable from the left hook, that cyclist layout for that part of the town is also very strange, there seems to be a cycle lane for cyclists going down through the town, but cyclists have to chance it on the road if they travelling in the opposite direction. The other obvious dangers come through the vast amount of pedestrians who walk knowingly and unknowingly in the cycle lanes, or the numpties who suddenly step out- yes yes I know that this is overcome by travelling at the appropriate speed.
