Door openers

[porridge]

My wife has also taken up commuting to work, she's not as confident as I am, but she's having a go !, but she got quite shook up today when she got knocked off her bike when so idiot opened his car door on her.

She was knocked off her bike and was quite shook up !, worse still !, the car driver never made an attempt to help her up or apologise, instead he blamed her for not looking where she was going .

She was already a bit nervous but this has shaken her confidence even more, I told her that she should have taken his reg number and reported it to the police.

 

[Dayvo]

What a prick!

It's the driver's responsibility to make sure it is safe and clear, before opening the door.
Most drivers are pretty good with regard to this; unfortunately there are a lot of tossers around!

 

[porridge]

What a prick!

It's the driver's responsibility to make sure it is safe and clear, before opening the door.
Most drivers are pretty good with regard to this; unfortunately there are a lot of tossers around!

I always assume that behind every car door is a complete tosser ready to just open his/her car door, but she was in a situation where she was riding through Watford town centre where it was a single file one way road, and had she ridden wider than the parked car doors she would have held up any traffic behind her.

 

[Bollo]

Probably too late now but its the driver's fault. Someone will be along in a minute with the relevant bit of the highway code about checking before opening car doors. As for matey, dismiss him as an peanut. Irrespective of whose fault it is, its a simple human kindness thing to help someone after an incident like that.

Now to the practical stuff. Your wife was cycling in the 'door zone', the cyclist's DMZ. In all but a very few low-speed scenarios, you should always cycle far enough away from any parked cars so that, if a door is opened, its not going to hit you. This means taking a more assertive position on the road, which in turn is linked to confidence. If you want to see it all in proper writing, rather than the ramblings of some anonymous internet idiot, buy yourself a copy of Cyclecraft by John Franklin. It contains advice for this and many other situations that any cyclist is likely to face.

If her confidence is really shot, how about finding a local cycle training course. Have a look on the interbob for local providers. These days they're not just about cycling proficiency for kids; most do adult urban-survival type courses.

And don't forget the hug. The hug!

 

[porridge]

Probably too late now but its the driver's fault. Someone will be along in a minute with the relevant bit of the highway code about checking before opening car doors. As for matey, dismiss him as an peanut. Irrespective of whose fault it is, its a simple human kindness thing to help someone after an incident like that.

Now to the practical stuff. Your wife was cycling in the 'door zone', the cyclist's DMZ. In all but a very few low-speed scenarios, you should always cycle far enough away from any parked cars so that, if a door is opened, its not going to hit you. This means taking a more assertive position on the road, which in turn is linked to confidence. If you want to see it all in proper writing, rather than the ramblings of some anonymous internet idiot, buy yourself a copy of Cyclecraft by John Franklin. It contains advice for this and many other situations that any cyclist is likely to face.

If her confidence is really shot, how about finding a local cycle training course. Have a look on the interbob for local providers. These days they're not just about cycling proficiency for kids; most do adult urban-survival type courses.

And don't forget the hug. The hug!

Agree with your points, felt really sorry for her !, she purposely avoids traffic and has chosen a longer but safer route.

but yes hugs and sympathy

 

[BentMikey]

And if there's ever another accident, always take a photo of the car, bike, driver, and make sure you know their details. That way she could have claimed for damaged parts off his insurance.

Stupid tosser of a driver, it's his fault for opening the door, says so in the highway code and a lot of legal cases. Next time, though, always ride at least 5 foot out from parked cars, yes, even in the traffic, because this is the single biggest cause of killed or seriously injured cyclists in London.

 

[Trillian]

My wife has also taken up commuting to work, she's not as confident as I am, but she's having a go !, but she got quite shook up today when she got knocked off her bike when so idiot opened his car door on her.

She was knocked off her bike and was quite shook up !, worse still !, the car driver never made an attempt to help her up or apologise, instead he blamed her for not looking where she was going .

She was already a bit nervous but this has shaken her confidence even more, I told her that she should have ragged his door off its hinges and stuffed it round his neck .

 

[redjedi]

I hope Mrs Porridge is alright, don't let her give up cycling.

I think everyones covered all the basics. It was the driver's fault, but a more assertive position on the road is needed.
Don't worry about holding up a bit of traffic, her saftey is important, and she has every right to take her place on the road.

 

[BentMikey]

How's Mrs P today? Hope she's feeling better about it all, here's a virtual hot cuppa and ginger nut biscuit for her.

The skill of negotiating in and out of the traffic stream to get into the right position to pass parked cars is not to be underestimated either. Needs to be done well in advance, and timed with the gaps in between cars.

Really, I'd spring for a few cycling lessons for her. Getting the instruction from someone else, who's confident and assertive in traffic will make all the difference, IMO.

 

[Blackandblue]

Bad luck. Driver's fault as indicated above. That said, try not to cycle in the door zone. Try and look for people in parked cars and don't be afraid to scream at the top of your lungs at people opening doors - even if it's too late to avoid an accident, it will attract attention and maybe even garner a witness or two.

 

[LOGAN 5]

The offence is "opening a door to danger" and he can be prosecuted for it. Agree with the above comments about cycling well clear of the door zone. Also Mrs Porridge needs to be aware of passengers getting out of cars in stationary traffic queues - particularly near bus stops, tube stations. Got wiped out several years ago when this happened to me. Result broken collar bone.

Hope Mrs P gets back on the bike soon.

 

[domtyler]

I'm afraid I have done everything I can to discourage my wife from cycling to work as I just don't think it is suitable for someone who does not have the skills and confidence to negotiate the traffic in London, or indeed anywhere in the UK.

On the few times she has gone out on her own I have drummed in the importance of not cycling in the door zone and I think she has got that, but still fear that she could easily be bullied into cycling there by impatient car drivers.

Hope your wife is okay, it could have been far worse as many cyclists have been killed through the years in this way.

 

[porridge]

Thanks for all the comments, Mrs P is back in the saddle today, a little sore and still a bit shaken up, I have tried to drum it into her to be more assertive, but its easier said than done, for example, I can easily accept a few toots on the horn if im holding up traffic, however, its not so easy for a woman as this makes her feel intimidated, i've also said to ride at the appropriate speed and be aware that any stationary vehicle poses a danger, i.e. car/bus may move off or car door may open, look for occupants in the vehicle.

Her safety is important and she has therefore planned a route that brings her into very little direct contact with traffic, her journey to work is little over 2 miles, only half a mile of that journey brings her into any direct contact.

The worst thing for me was the lack of any consideration for the welfare of another human being, especially a woman !, I suppose his attitude would have been the same if he had knocked off a child?.

Dom

I read your comments and gave it some thought, certainly something to ponder, but Watford (although a busy little town) doesn't quite compare with the streets of London.

 

[BentMikey]

I'm afraid I have done everything I can to discourage my wife from cycling to work as I just don't think it is suitable for someone who does not have the skills and confidence to negotiate the traffic in London, or indeed anywhere in the UK.

I think this is utter poppycock. Cycling is nowhere near as dangerous as dom is making it out to be. FUD.

 

[Origamist]

I think this is utter poppycock. Cycling is nowhere near as dangerous as dom is making it out to be. FUD.

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