Yes, it is essential to keep 3 feet distance from stopped vehicles (esp cabs w passengers) to avoid being doored. Glad you didn't get hurt.
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Yesterday I was riding my bike in mid town and a person in a taxi randomly opened their door(The cab had just barely stopped) and I almost ran headlong into it. I would have been pretty messed up with the glass and the door. Since moving to NYC my cycling has become more dangerous
Yes, it is essential to keep 3 feet distance from stopped vehicles (esp cabs w passengers) to avoid being doored. Glad you didn't get hurt.
People are always throwing their cars doors open without looking behind them. Especially taxi passengers! You can depend on people to fling their car door open at the least expected moment....so best to try to avoid riding in the 'Door Zone' at all costs. Cyclists get killed this way regularly- they hit the open door, fly over it, and land in the path of a moving car.
Keep safe!
Last edited by BleeckerSt_Girl; 07-07-2009 at 07:34 PM.
Lisa
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I am sure you will be supervigilant from now on (like I am) It's not just taxis!
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Since it's usually impossible to avoid the door zone in NYC, I recommend slowing down a bit and being very vigilant.
I recently saw a "watch for bikes" sticker in a cab. That's good, but I doubt it will make much difference.
Pam
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One of the best demonstrations I've seen is the way that LCIs are taught now to demonstrate the door zone hazard and how to deal with it... This is the way I teach it in traffic skills classes, at any rate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TQ7aID1jHs
And then you have two-door sedans...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YixMuZpm88
Ride your bike, ride your bike, ride your bike
Fausto Coppi
When a reporter asked him what it takes to become such a great champion.
Bike rentals in NYC